Coordinator
Ed Check
Greetings everyone. Thought I would quickly bring you up-to-date on some issues that
are of concern to you. First, if you haven’t already, please renew your membership.
There have been problems in the past as to how to handle lapsed memberships. If you
last renewed your membership in April of 1995 and have recently renewed, your membership
should read April 1998 (even if you did not pay dues for ‘96 or ‘97). In the past,
members were asked to pay for delinquent years--but that has only bred confusion.
Our new policy is that only members in good standing receive the journal. It is an
expensive document to produce. Evidently, many ex-caucus members assumed that non-payment
was a way of canceling a membership. Unfortunately many current members have a difficult
time remembering to renew their memberships. If anyone out there has any ideas as
to how we can better handle this situation, please pass your suggestions along to
me.
Second, if anyone is interested in becoming more involved with the caucus, please
email me with your interests. We need people to become more involved in our newsletter,
as journal reviewers, future board members, as NAEA News columnists, and with producing
an exciting itinerary (e.g. deciding on social events) at the annual conference.
From time to time, papers get lost in multitudes of shuffles. If you volunteered
to do something for the caucus and have not been contacted to date, please drop me
another line with your request, suggestion or contribution.
Third, because of prior financial problems, certain changes were made to contain
costs. We limited the production of the newsletter from four issues per year down
to two--a fall issue and a spring issue (you should receive the spring issue before
the annual conference). Members have since responded well to our requests for membership
renewals and we are in much better financial condition this year than last. Rather
than send journal copies to lapsed members, we have found that we can sell those
copies at the annual conference to interested NAEA members at various sessions. We
will continue this practice. It’s not only a great way to generate income but a wonderful
way to spread the word about the caucus. Which reminds me--if your school library
does not subscribe to the caucus journal--how about talking to your library resource
committee person or a librarian about ordering the journal. It is an incredible value--both
financially and educationally. The institutional rate is incredibly low. That is
one positive way you can spread our message at your school and expose students to
our excellent journal.
Fourth, I tend to view my life, art, teaching and research as collaborative works
in progress. Within such a frame, I am free to rework and rethink what I do, how
I do it, etc. Part of my pedagogical creed is to extend opportunities to others--whenever
and wherever I can. For example, I am purposefully presenting with art education
students at our Texas State Art Conference. I feel it’s an important way to model
and practice what I believe. I would like you to extend invitations--encourage your
undergraduate and graduate students to become active caucus members. Part of my introduction
of art education to students is a perusal of opportunities within our professional
organization. I let them know about opportunities to grow as artists, teachers and
researchers via the NAEA and its affiliates. I remember way back when the caucus
and its members appeared daunting to me. Members seemed to be aware of so much and
connected in so many ways that I felt I really wouldn’t have much to offer anyone.
This is how I perceived the caucus. But not everyone feels that way (thank goodness).
Help us broaden our message, image and appeal to other NAEA members and future teachers.
We can’t function without you.
Finally, as we prepare for the Chicago convention, suggestions are requested for
a social event (any ideas members from the Chicago area?). Please contact either
Karen Keifer-Boyd or me. I’ve been noticing a significant drop in member attendance
at our social events the past few years. Maybe it’s time to reinvent what we do.
What about the possibility of having a social event at a local gallery for caucus
members?
Email or phone me with any suggestions you may have. I look forward to the upcoming
year and especially to our itinerary at the Chicago conference. Please consider or
reconsider getting involved in the caucus. Here’s to a successful year. Sincerely,
Ed Check |
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