Dear Members,

First of all I hope that you all had a good Christmas and I should like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Although I was unable to attend this year I have been informed that our Christmas party was, once again, a great success. Members have commented that the meal was superb and our thanks go to Jane Gibson. I would also like to thank the entertainers, Ken Radcliffe & Dot Tilbury who keep us all amused during the evening each year and to everyone who gave their time so willingly once again.

It is with sadness that I report the deaths of member Pat Kind & long time ex-member Edith Drake. They each contributed to our exhibitions for many years.

Our congratulations go to one of our members, Jean Buck, who has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to wildlife and conservation in the Isle of Man.

The committee have decided to set up a ‘charity donation’ table in Thie Ellyn. Members are invited to bring in any unwanted art materials that can be ‘sold’ to other members for a charitable donation. Please only bring in art materials that you think others would like as we will be removing and disposing of any items that remain unsold after 6 weeks. A recent ‘Silent Auction’ of unwanted books and art materials raised almost £300 and has been rounded up to donate this sum to the Hyperbaric Chamber.

We are now starting to prepare for the 2011 Easter Exhibition. With this in mind, please find enclosed the Rules for the Exhibition and an Entry Form. I have included a sheet of labels that you can print on to card if you wish, or let me know and I will post out labels to you.

We will also have Car Stickers and Posters available in Thie Ellyn shortly. Please can everyone take a few to display in cars, local shops, supermarkets, waiting rooms and wherever else you can think of. This provides excellent advertising for the Exhibition all around the Island. If you are unable to get to Thie Ellyn, please give me or any other committee member a ring and we will post some out to you.

Please bear in mind that we MAY again have to hold back one exhibit due to space restrictions. When completing your Entry Form, please place your exhibits in order of preference. Please be prepared to sign up to the rota for manning the exhibition when you hand your exhibits in. This is your Exhibition so please try to help out for at least one session and remember that this is a great way to get to know other Society members.

This year the exhibition will once again be held in the Villa Marina Arcade. Handing in Day will be on Saturday 16th April between 10am and 4pm. We will require plenty of volunteers to help with the exhibition set up and exhibit hanging so please ask your friends and relatives if they would be willing to help. We would also appreciate some ‘younger’ volunteers to assist with transporting and setting up the picture boards if possible.
The Exhibition will run from Thursday 21st to Thursday 28th April this year as the Royal Wedding is to be held on Friday 29th April. Collection of unsold paintings will be from 1.15pm to 4pm on the 28th.

Our raffle prize this year will be very kindly donated by Michel Tramontana, and we are very grateful to him for this valuable support.

Please remember that the Artist, in Nelson Street and the Art Gallery in Bucks Road, offer a 10% discount on art materials and framing to members, just show your membership card.

Mrs Angela Pickard, manager of the Bridge Bookshop, Shore Road, Pt Erin, would like to inform members that she is also offering 10% discount to all members on the production of their membership card (the annual programme of events card that is issued on payment of annual subscription). She has a good range of watercolour, acrylic and oil paints, as well as papers and canvasses.

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: 612176 / 407402 (after 6pm)  jackiekelly@manx.net