History
The Clay Connection began shortly after Jane Cullum, George Brown, and Linda Boman participated in the 1991 Fairfax County Fair during a hot, slow day. They were able to spend a lot of time talking and exchanging insights and ideas about pottery in the local region. All were local potters: Jane was teaching in the basement of her Fairfax home, George was teaching in Alexandria at Lee District Recreation Center, and Linda was throwing pots in Reston.
They had such a good time at the Fair that they decided to meet again to discuss the possibility of establishing an inclusive forum for potters to meet, talk, and generally network among themselves. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They held a planning meeting, put together a list of all the potters they knew (about 100 names), and invited these potters to meet in Jane’s family room. About 20 potters attended the first meeting.
Organization
The Clay Connection exists as an organization because our members generously donate their time and energy to support our numerous programs. Volunteers from the membership perform all leadership tasks, including administrative functions and management activities.
Founded in 1991, The Clay Connection became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1996. Its Board of Directors, consisting of the Executive Committee and Members-at-Large, is responsible for conducting the normal and routine day-to-day business of The Clay Connection. Its members are elected by the membership for a one-year term during the annual elections meeting.
Planning Teams and the Communications Team ensure that The Clay Connection remains an active and focused organization. Organization Liaisons ensure that The Clay Connection and its interests are represented to Artisans United and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington.A Volunteer Coordinator matches organizational needs and volunteer capabilities and interests.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of the Executive Committee (President, President-Elect, Past President, Vice-President for Programs, Vice-President for Membership, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer) and several Members-at-Large.
The President presides at all meetings. The President appoints individuals to serve as planning team chairs, to fill vacated elected offices and directorships, and to assist the organization as appropriate.
The President-Elect fills in during the absence of the President.
The Vice-President for Programs oversees educational program planning and development.
The Vice-President for Membership tracks membership.
The Recording Secretary maintains written records of all meetings, prepares and mails meeting notices, and drafts correspondence as needed. The Treasurer monitors all receipts and disbursements, provides a financial report during each meeting, prepares the annual budget, maintains the bank account, and arranges for audits as needed and required.
The Members-at-Large serve in a variety of capacities, to include maintaining the lending library, serving as liaisons to local organizations, and providing advice and consent on matters related to The Clay Connection.
Current Board of Directors, 2008-2009:
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President: Marianne Cordyack
President-Elect: VACANT
Vice President for Programs: Dana Lehrer Danze
Vice President for Membership: Barbara Oksanen
Recording Secretary: Aileen Reading
Treasurer: Curtis Haymore - 2004-2009: Roberta Couver
2003-2004: Sheila Ford
2001-2003: Jennifer Dinkelmeyer
2000-2001: Diana Manchek
1999-2000: Pam Eisenmann
1998-1999: Marilyn Geldzahler
1997-1998: Beth Kendall
1996-1997: Fran Newquist
1995-1996: George Brown
1991-1995: Jane Cullum
Previous Presidents:
Planning Teams
Various planning teams supplement the elected leadership to ensure that The Clay Connection remains a stable and active organization. Volunteers from the membership serve on these teams.
Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference Planning Team
Organizes the Biennial Mid-Atlantic Clay Conference, which is held during the Fall of odd-numbered years at the 4-H Recreational Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The conference is designed to provide educational and fun events for attendees. All expenses associated with the conference are paid through member registration fees.
High School Student Clay Competition & Exhibit Planning Team
Organizes the annual High School Student Clay Competition & Exhibit, which is held at the Tyler Gallery on the Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria Campus. Participation in this event is open to all high school students in the Northern Virginia area. Local and national clay-related businesses and organizations donate the awards presented during the opening reception. The public is invited to attend the awards ceremony as well as visit the exhibit while displayed at the Tyler Gallery.
Empty Bowls Charity Event Planning Team
Organizes the annual Empty Bowls Charity Event, which is held to collect and distribute funds to local charities that assist in the fight against hunger. Expenses associated with the Empty Bowls Charity Event are relatively low because of the generous donations of time and materials from our members and the public-at-large. Unavoidable expenses (normally less than 10 percent of the total donation) are paid out of the contributions collected during the event.
Exhibits Planning Team
Organizes exhibits, to include selecting the venue, coordinating with the site host, canvassing the membership for participants, working with the External and Internal Publicity Chairs, and coordinating with the Hospitality Chair.
Holiday Dinner Planning Team
Organizes the annual dinner, to include selecting the site, providing the beverages, and inviting the membership. Food is provided by the membership at this pot-luck event. A "gift-exchange" allows members to receive a hand-made piece made for a member potter.
Hospitality Planning Team
Organizes refreshments for Clay Connection events.
Marketing Planning Team
Develops and distributes press releases. Notifies the membership of upcoming events.
Membership Planning Team
Processes new memberships; forwards membership dues to the Treasurer; maintains the membership directory; mails reminders to members with expiring memberships.
Nominating Planning Team
Convenes annually to develop a slate of candidates to serve on the Board of Directors during the upcoming year.
Shows & Sales Planning Team
Organizes the Spring Clearance Sale and the Fall Holiday Show & Sale. All expenses associated with these events are paid through member registration fees. Provides opportunities for members to sell their work and learn the basics of marketing their ware.
Communications Team
The Communications Team uses a variety of methods to fulfill its responsibility of communicating information on past and upcoming events and opportunities to the membership.
The Newsletter Editor writes, edits, and publishes The Cracked Pot Newsletter. This individual solicits inputs for the newsletter from the membership and consolidates them into a cohesive document filled with information on past activities, upcoming events, and member accomplishments. The newsletter is usually published quarterly, depending on the amount of newsworthy information to be sent to the membership.
Post cards are used as event reminders and as a publicity mechanism to alert members and non-members of upcoming events. The web site and email notifications are also used to transmit information to the membership. The phone tree is designed to spread information on late-breaking and time-sensitive information.
Lending Library
Contains over 30 separate tapes organized into 6 separate categories (biography; business; decoration; firing methods; forming methods; and history). Tapes are available at monthly meetings for current members to borrow for a four-week period. A small fee ($4 per tape) covers the cost of a pre-stamped and addressed mailer used to return the tape to the lending library. If the tape and unused mailer are returned in person, $3 of the fee is refunded. The remaining $1 is used to expand the titles in the library.
Organizational Memberships
The Clay Connection has organizational memberships in three local art-related organizations: Arts Council of Fairfax County, Artisans United, and the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington.
Arts Countil of Fairfax County
Founded in 1964, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Inc. is a not-for-profit membership organization designated as Fairfax County's local arts agency. Through partnerships with schools, individual artists, and other cultural and community organizations, the Arts Council creates and supports programs, activities, and policies that integrate the arts into the lives of all Fairfax County residents. Arts Council funding is provided by the Fairfax County Government, the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA), the National Endowment for the Arts, corporations, organizations, and individuals. The Arts Council is located in the Fred M. Packard Center at 4022 Hummer Road in Annandale, Virginia.
Artisans United
Artisans United is a not-for-profit organization serving as a network for local artists and crafters. Located in the Fred M. Packard Center at 4022 Hummer Road in Annandale, Virginia, it is involved in a number of activities and offers a variety of benefits to its individual and guild members, including community outreach opportunities and a cooperative craft gallery.
Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
The CAGW is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and increasing regional leadership, appreciation, support, and resources for arts and culture. Located in Suite 103 of the M.A. Winter Building at 1436 U Street, NW, Washington, DC, its programs include health care, arts management workshops, the National Arts Marketing Project, Washington Business Volunteers for the Arts, TICKETplace, and the JOB Bank.
The Organization Liaisons attend meetings hosted by these organizations and obtain information on benefits available to the membership.
Volunteer Coordination
Volunteerism is the backbone of our organization’s success. Without the generous donations of time and talents that our members offer, we would be unable to sponsor our many programs.
Every individual who participates in a leadership role does so on a volunteer basis. The Clay Connection does not provide monetary compensation to those members who generously help The Clay Connection fulfill its charter and meet its goals. Our sole source of income is from annual membership dues used to cover such unavoidable administrative costs as office supplies, postage, and web hosting as well as healthy refreshments served during meetings and other functions. Each and every event that The Clay Connection sponsors is designed to be self-supporting.
Our ability to continue supporting these numerous projects depends on the continued generosity of our members. The number of programs sponsored and the amount of work required from each volunteer is directly related to the number of members who volunteer.
Our volunteer coordinator serves as a liaison between the leadership and the membership. The Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, and Communications Team let the volunteer coordinator know which jobs need to be filled. Members contact the Volunteer Coordinator to find out how they can contribute to the on-going success of The Clay Connection. Our Volunteer Coordinator matches needs and capabilities.
Public Events
The Clay Connection sponsors a number of events that are open to the public. All are designed to support our mission of promoting clay arts in the Washington Metropolitan area. For information on our public events, scroll down this page, or click on the hyperlink below to skip to the event that interests you.
Empty Bowls
The Clay Connection sponsored its first annual Empty Bowls Charity Event in 1993 and has held follow-on events almost every year since this inaugural event. This event combines hand-made bowls donated by local potters with a simple soup supper to collect donations for local charities involved in the fight to end hunger.
Exhibits
The Clay Connection participates in exhibits to promote community awareness and appreciation of pottery as a hobby, a profession, and an art form.
High School Student Clay Competition & Exhibit
As a part of its charter to promote clay art in the Washington Metropolitan area, The Clay Connection sponsors an annual High School Student Clay Competition & Exhibit open to students attending high schools in the Northern Virginia area. Admission to the Exhibit and the Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public.
Shows & Sales
Each year, The Clay Connection sponsors two show and sale events. These semi-annual events allow The Clay Connection to promote clay art in the Washington Metropolitan area by offering the opportunity for the public to view work from and chat with local potters. Admission is free. Work displayed in the show is available for purchase by the public. All income from the sale of these pieces is distributed to the participating potters.