Contacts and Committees
Quick Links
We'd like to hear from members (and potential members!) on any topic related to origami. Since we are a volunteer organization, our activities are dispersed among different people and committees. This page lists who's reponsible for what, and gives contact links to send us feedback. Please look through the descriptions below to find the best match for your question.
Home Office (Membership questions, general information) - send message
Our Home Office is the center of OrigamiUSA activities, managed by Rachel Langley, our administrator. If you have questions about membership, renewals, or just can't find the appropriate category below, send Rachel a note by clicking the link. Or, if you want to contact the Home Office via other methods, here's our mailing address and phone contacts:
OrigamiUSA
15 West 77 Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
phone: (212) 769-5635
fax: (212) 769-5668
The Origami Source - send message
The Origami Source is our one-stop-shop for purchasing books, paper, and other origami supplies. Use this link to send any questions about your order to The Origami Source manager, Phyliss Meth.
Calendar/Event Requests - send message
To get an event or exhibition on our Calendar of Events, please send an email with a full description of the event to our Calendar coordinator.
OrigamiUSA Annual Convention June, 2009 - send message
The next convention on our calendar is the OrigamiUSA Annual Convention. Click here for information about the convention. If you have a question about the upcoming convention and/or would like to volunteer, use this message link to send an inquiry to the Convention Committee.
Website - send message
If you have a question or comment that doesn't fit any of the categories above (or fit any of the committees listed below) or you find an error or broken link, please tell us about it.
The Board
The OrigamiUSA Board governs and manages the organization. Board members are elected by the membership for 2-year terms, with half the Board members elected in alternate years. Board members appointed to fill a vacancy only serve until the next election. Board members are elected as either Local members, who attend Board meetings in person, or Remote members, who attend Board meetings via teleconference. Board members serve on and chair various committees, which is where most of the organization's activities happen.
Board Officers are elected annually after the Board election. Board members must serve one year before being eligible to serve as an officer.
President: Wendy Zeichner
Local Vice President: Marc Kirschenbaum
Remote Vice President: Robert J. Lang
Third Vice President: Ruthanne Bessman
Treasurer: Wendy Zeichner
Secretary: Ros Joyce
Marcio Noguchi (2008-2010, local) - send message
Marc Kirschenbaum (2008-2010, local) - send message
Shrikant Iyer (2008-2010, local) - send message
Wendy Zeichner (2008-2010, local) - send message
Eric Gjerde (2008-2009, remote) - send message
Janet Yelle (2008-2010, remote) - send message
Ros Joyce (2007-2009, local) - send message
Toby Schwartz (2007-2009, local) - send message
Margaret van Sicklen (2007-2009, local) - send message
Ruthanne Bessman (2007-2009, remote) - send message
Robert J. Lang (2007-2009, remote) - send message
Committees
The following is a list of OrigamiUSA's current standing committees, their chairpersons, and their purposes. Other committees are formed as needed. Committees are open to all members. If you are interested in working on one, or if you have any concerns in these areas, please contact the chairperson at the link provided, or send a note to the Home Office, who will forward your message to the appropriate committee. Joining a committee is a wonderful way to dip your toe into volunteering.
Annual Gift/Holiday Tree Committee - send message
Ros Joyce (Chair), Delrosa Marshall, Sok Song, Kathryn Wagner.
Designs and implements the Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History. This committee solicits models, coordinates the installation of the Holiday Tree and selects, diagrams, and distributes the Annual Gift for the Tree Lighting.
Archives Committee - send message
Kathryn Wagner (Chair), Robert J. Lang (Board Liaison), Ruthanne Bessman, Marc Kirschenbaum.
Organizes and maintains the archives of OrigamiUSA. OrigamiUSA has a rich history that is full of amazing photographs, diagrams and models. The Archives Committee is responsible for the storage and cataloging of these materials, and is also looking for ways to bring materials from the Archives to the members.
Awards Committee - send message
Rachel Katz (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman (Board Liaison), Judy Hall, Penny Sing, Florence Temko.
Administers the awards given by OrigamiUSA. This committee solicits nominees and judges entries for the Ranana Benjamin and Florence Temko awards. (The Michael Shall Volunteer Recognition Award is administered by the Board.)
Business Committee - send message
Mark Kennedy (Chair), Ros Joyce (Board Liaison), Tony Cheng, Gay Merrill Gross, Jan Polish, Maria Velazquez.
Sets policy and makes decisions regarding stock and operation of The Origami Source, which is managed by Phyliss Meth. The Business Committee is always looking for new and exciting additions to The Origami Source List.
Computer Committee - send message
Jan Polish (Co-chair), Marc Kirschenbaum (Co-chair), Rachel Langley.
Maintains and suports the computers and peripherals owned by OrigamiUSA. Computers are used in the Home-Office to organize nearly everything we do, from membership to convention registration to diagramming. This committee recommends hardware and software purchases, and supports the existing configurations.
Convention Committee - send message
Jan Polish (Chair), Wendy Zeichner (Board Liaison), Jean Baden-Gillette, Tony Cheng.
Subcommittee heads: Housing (Martha Winslow-Cole), Volunteers (Mary Williams), Teaching and Schedule (Tony Cheng, Maria Velazquez, Jan Polish), Exhibition (Ruthanne Bessman), Gold Mine (Maria Velazquez and Tony Cheng), Silent Auction (Janet Yelle), First Timers (Delrosa Marshall), On-Site Registration (Rachel Katz), Ticketing (Wendy Zeichner), Model Menu (David Shall), Logistics (Jean Baden-Gillette, Mike Montebello, Mike Hamilton), FIT Coordination and Catering (Jan Polish and Jean Baden-Gillette), Hospitality (Anne LaVin), Publicity (open), The Source (Phyliss Meth and Mike Hamilton), Photography (Susan Dugan)
Plans and directs OrigamiUSA's annual convention. 700+ people attend our convention each year, with 240+ classes in 30+ rooms, and 150+ volunteers who make it all happen. This committee organizes the activity, from recommending official guests to finalizing the schedule. In addition, many other people volunteer to support specific areas of responsibility for the convention.
Copyright Committee - send message
Robert J. Lang (Chair), Tony Cheng, Marc Kirschenbaum, Jan Polish.
Develops and maintains the copyright policies of OrigamiUSA. The committee works with our intellectual property lawyer to develop policies and permission forms that are consistent with U.S. and international copyright law protecting origami artworks, diagrams, and related works.
Development Committee - send message
Jan Polish (Chair), Margaret Van Sicklen (Board Liaison), Delrosa Marshall, Kathryn Wagner.
Develops and supports income-producing activities and to ensure they are within the mission statement of OrigamiUSA
Election Committee - send message
Shrikant Iyer (chair), Michael Naughton, Margaret van Sicklen, Tricia Tait.
Plans and coordinates the election of Board members. The Election Committee sends out the call for nominations, coordinates the statements of the candidates into an election mailing, and arranges for the counting of the votes by a non-Board member.
Exhibition Committee - send message
Marcio Noguchi (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman, Ros Joyce, Delrosa Marshall.
The Exhibition Committee works on exhibition opportunities as they occur (including Origami by Children, see below). It is also responsible for maintenance and storage of our exhibition collection.
Finance Committee - send message
Robert J. Lang (Chair), Tony Cheng, Jan Polish, Margaret Van Sicklen, Maria Velazquez, Wendy Zeichner.
This committee manages the annual budgeting process and provides oversight of financial matters handled by the Treasurer.
Fundraising and Grants Committee - send message
Shrikant Iyer (Chair), Tom Hull, Ruthanne Bessman.
Seeks opportunities and raises funds/resources through grants, corporate sponsorships and incentives for members and outside agencies.
Library Committee - send message
Ros Joyce (Chair), Tony Cheng, deg farelly, Dor Jeong, Vyda Liaugaudas, Delrosa Marshall, Toby Schwartz, Maria Velazquez.
The research library is housed in the Home Office of OrigamiUSA, and the committee is responsible for maintenance and storage, plus adding new books. The Library Committee also oversees the Lending Library, which provides borrowing access for our members. Information on items in the collection is available via this link.
Local-Area Groups Committee - send message
Lori Gregory (Chair), Janet Yelle (Board Liaison), Eric Gjerde, Shrikant Iyer.
This committee ensures that local area groups are listed in The Paper and assists members interested in establishing new groups. It also maintains a calendar of origami events around the world.
Membership Committee - send message
Kathy Wallace (Chair), Rachel Langley (Board Liaison), Jan Polish.
The Membership Committee defines membership guidelines and procedures. The committee maintains the existing database and fulfills membership.
Membership Policy Committee - send message
Toby Schwartz (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman, Tony Cheng, Tom Hull, Marc Kirschenbaum, Jan Polish, Maria Velazquez, Janet Yelle, Wendy Zeichner.
The Membership Policy Committee defines benefits of membership and looks for new ways to increase membership.
Museum Activities Committee - send message
Rachel Langley (Chair), Toby Schwartz
Works with the American Museum of Natural History on all museum-related functions except the Holiday Tree and Annual Gift. Committee functions include: arranging teaching tables and demonstrations, and folding models for special events.
Online Presence Committee - send message
Robert J. Lang (Chair), Marc Kirschenbaum, Anne LaVin, Jan Polish, Janet Yelle, Wendy Zeichner.
This committee is responsible for OrigamiUSA's websites, mailing lists, and email services.
Origami By Children Committee - send message
Clara Onishi (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman (Board Liaison), Delrosa Marshall, Frances Matsuo, June Sakamoto, Sok Song.
This committee manages the annual Origami By Children exhibition. Every year children (18 and under) send in models for a judged competition. The winning entries become part of an exhibition that starts at our Annual Convention, is displayed at the Donnell Library in New York during the holiday season, and then travels around the country to libraries and schools.
PCOC (Pacific Coast Origami Conference) Committee - send message
Vicky Mihara Avery (Chair), Robert J. Lang (Board Liaison), Lori Gregory, Jan Polish.
The Pacific Coast Origami Conference is held in (usually) odd-numbered years in venues on the West Coast of North America. Past conferences have included San Francisco (1998, 2000), San Diego (2003), Phoenix (2005) and Vancouver (2007). The PCOC Committee works with a local sponsoring group to organize and manage the conference.
The Paper Committee - send message
Toby Schwartz (Chair), Karen Houston, Shrikant Iyer, Ros Joyce, Delrosa Marshall.
Oversees the production and publication of OrigamiUSA's magazine. This committee is responsible for hiring and supervising the Design Editor (Mark Wilson), for bringing in content, and for editorial decisions.
Policies and Procedures Committee - send message
Robert J. Lang (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman, Tony Cheng, Marc Kirschenbaum, Wendy Zeichner.
Gathers, develops and documents policies and procedures for the operation of the Board and its committees.
Publications Committee - send message
Marc Kirschenbaum (Co-chair), Daniel Scher (Co-chair), Ken Shih (Co-chair), Seth Friedman, Marcio Noguchi, Omer Shalev, Bob Stack, Nathan Zeichner.
This committee is responsible for OrigamiUSA's main publication, the Origami Collection, which comes out every June. The publications team also reviews and tests diagrams for The Paper. Smaller publications are also designed and planned, most recently Origami Unusual by Charles Esseltine. The publications team meets every Wednesday evening to review and test diagrams, and to select models.
Special Sessions Committee - send message
Maria Velazquez (Co-chair), Wendy Zeichner (Co-chair), Tony Cheng, MaryAnn Scheblein-Dawson, Toby Schwartz.
Organizes and executes Special Folding Fun Sessions. These sessions, historically held in the American Museum of Natural History on six Sundays a year, are fundraising events for OrigamiUSA.
Volunteer Recognition Committee - send message
Rachel Langley (Chair), Tony Cheng, Ros Joyce, Marcio Noguchi, Nancy Schneider, Sok Song.
Develops activities to recognize the contributions of our volunteers.
World Origami Days Committee - send message
Margaret Van Sicklen (Chair), Ruthanne Bessman, Tony Cheng, Shrikant Iyer, Maria Velazquez, Kathryn Wagner, Janet Yelle.
World Origami Days encourages events to recognize this international celebration of origami, by maintaining and updating the World Origami Days website.
