Dear Members,

As we are nearing the beginning of September, can I remind everyone that the annual subscription is now 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 remember to pay to post cheques every year. I have included a standing order form at the end of this newsletter and they are also available at Thie Ellyn and can be downloaded from our website (http://www.isleofmanartsociety.com/).

The 2010-2011 Thursday evening winter programme will be included on the 2010 membership cards. These cards will be issued upon receipt of your subscription payments. Anthea has again done a 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.

‘The winter programme will open on Thursday 16th September with a ‘Silent Auction’ of art materials and books. This is an opportunity for members to re-cycle items they no longer use or require and for others to obtain them at a reasonable price. Items for auction can be left at Thie Ellyn whenever it is open prior to the date. Supper will be provided subject to a small charge and the entire proceeds will be donated to charity.’

A tribute to Mrs Betty Savage Betty had been an enthusiastic member of the Society for over 40 years when she died on 5th June. Her delicate watercolours of local scenes and flowers were much admired and sort after, and she was a consistent exhibitor at our annual exhibitions. Although she had known that she had only a short time to live, she continued almost to the very end to attend workshops at Thie Ellyn on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and even after she was admitted to Hospice she continued to paint. She will be sadly missed by her friends in the Society, many of whom attended her funeral at St. Matthew's Church in Douglas.

Our Autumn Exhibition is fast approaching and will be held at Mylchreests Motors (Millmount, New Castletown Road, Douglas) this year. Handing in day will be on Wednesday 27th October, between 1pm and 3pm. The preview evening will be held on Thursday 28th October, at 7pm. The exhibition will run from Friday 29th until Sunday 31st October, when any unsold exhibits must be collected between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

The Rules for the Exhibition are enclosed along with an entry form. Labels will be available at handing in.

Posters advertising the Autumn Exhibition can be collected from Thie Ellyn for distribution throughout the island. We shall once again need volunteers to help in hanging the exhibits and manning the Exhibition over the period when we are open. Please put your name down on the rota at Thie Ellyn. This is YOUR exhibition, please offer whatever help you can – don’t leave it to the same few.

Another important date for your diaries is Thursday 11th November. This will be our AGM. 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 4th December when we will hold our Christmas Party. Details of the theme for the evening will be confirmed nearer to the time. Please remember that Life Drawing sessions are held every 2nd Friday afternoon at 1.00pm to 4.00pm in Thie Ellyn. Anyone who would like a place should contact Liz Brand on 833196.

So get those paintings finished, we look forward to seeing you all at the Exhibition, if not before.

Kind regards,

Jackie Kelly (Hon Sec) Tel: 407402 / 824817