2007 December
Compiled by Margaret Van Sicklen from minutes by Margaret Van Sicklen. These notes cover some of the highlights of the OrigamiUSA Board meeting of December 13, 2007.
The Board retreat is penciled in for the weekend of April 12-13th.
The current membership is 1612 compared with 1576 last month and 1573 a year ago. A membership survey will be done in the next few weeks.
Issue #97 of The Paper focusing on our annual Convention is shaping up. Toby Schwartz is leading the charge on Issue #98 highlighting our Holiday Tree. This will be her Premier Issue as the new Managing Editor of the Paper!
The Pacific Coast OrigamiUSA Conference was a wonderful success. The finances are looking good as the final figures are coming in.
Robert shared the story of Sam Thomas, 11 year old boy from The Wishing Star Foundation in Washington State. His wish was to meet Robert Lang. Robert suggested he come to PCOC. Sam and his Mother had a wonderful time as did the attendees that got a chance to meet this talented young folder. OrigamiUSA kindly bumped up his membership to a Family Membership.
June Sakamoto is stepping down as the Chair of Origami by Children and announced that Clara Onishi will be taking over. Ruthanne Bessman has stepped up to be the Board Liaison.
The Donnell Public Library in midtown Manhattan is closing for renovation and will be ultimately losing their fabulous display windows. So next year we will be looking for a home to highlight this wonderful exhibition. The photos of OBC winners are now up on the website.
The Business Committee announced the annual inventory will be in January and the inventory sale will be in later January or February.
Fundraising is continuing the work with Green Fuse Films to create a special DVD for an upcoming fundraising drive. The committee is very excited about the developments - stay tuned, this will surely be an origami must have
.
The Special Folding Session on December 9 was a fine event. The last of the winter sessions will be on Sunday January 13th . The committee has begun recruiting teachers for the Spring Sessions to be held in March, April and May.
Our Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History looks fantastic. Sok Song's design for the tree this year is truly amazing. The response from the visitors and museum staff alike has been overwhelmingly positive. So positive in fact some sticky fingers have attempted to remove a model or two. No worries, our clever design team has everything attached securely.
The Ranana Benjamin Award will now include Monday Banquet Dinner and the Florence Temko Award will include Monday Banquet Dinner and accommodations from Friday through Monday nights, in addition to what is already defined as the benefits of these awards.
The board wishes every a Happy New Year!
Wendy Zeichner will compile the Board Notes in January.