Dear Members,

As we are fast approaching the beginning of September, can I remind everyone that the annual subscription will soon be due? If you wish to pay by standing order, please submit a form to our Membership Secretary, Mr Stuart Houghton, 9 Ashlar Drive, Union Mills, Isle of Man, IM4 4LJ. Paying by standing order reduces the work required by the committee members and also means that you do not have to pay to post cheques every year. Standing order forms are available at Thie Ellyn and can be downloaded from our   About Us page. Forms will not be sent to your bank before 1st September 2009.

Although our summer painting week with Tony Beresford has received mixed reviews, the Tuesday evening demonstration was well attended and a lovely supper was supplied by some of our regular members.

The 2009-2010 Thursday evening winter programme will be included on the 2009 membership cards. These cards will be issued upon receipt of your subscription payments. Anthea has done another fantastic job organising a wide range of different activities and we hope to see plenty of you taking advantage of these during the winter months.

As advised in my last newsletter, Dr Keith Armstrong is a poet from Newcastle who has devised a one man touring show on the life of the artist John Martin who was born near Newcastle and died on the Isle of Man. Dr Armstrong will be giving a presentation to the Isle of Man Art Society on Thursday 17th September at 7.30pm - 9pm. I hope to see you there.

Due to the low numbers attending the preview evening and volunteering to help run the event last year, we have decided not to do an Autumn Exhibition this year. We are looking into the options available with regards to a new, more accessible venue for next year. If anyone has any suggestions please let me, or any other committee member, have the details.

New members (since last newsletter):

• • Miss Elizabeth Cowin
• • Mr D V Ciappelli
• • Ms Chris Corrin
• • Mrs Enid Colby
• • Mrs A Squires
• • Mrs Ann Irene Rooney (re-application)
• • Mrs Helen Richardson

Deaths (as advised):

• • Mr Charles Miller April 2009
• • Mr Bill Cook 22 June 2009

Our AGM will be held on Thursday 12th November this year. We again plan to hold it in the morning, finishing with a lunch. Full details will be issued at the end of September.

A final date for your diaries is Saturday 6th December when we will hold our Christmas Party. Details of the theme for the evening will be confirmed nearer to the time.

Kind regards,

Jackie Kelly (Hon Sec) Tel: 407402 / 824817