December Meeting Recap!

We had about 8 people a the first meeting.  One girl drove all the way from Oxford!

Staci introduced Casey Williamson and Lindsay Mouyal as the new representatives for BAEA.  She told us that the AAEA needs a person to be in charge of YAM.  Basically, that person would be in charge of collecting all of the pictures and write ups that other art teachers in the state collect documenting their work as art educators celebrating YAM (Youth Art Month) and make a scrap book to turn in to the National YAM scrapbook competition.  There is also a flag competition art project for students that is done in conjunction with YAM and that deadline is January 15th (very close).  If you or any other art teacher you know is interested as serving as the YAM person, let us know!

We voted to charge $10 as yearly dues.

We discussed our ideas and goals as an organization.  We want to do several workshops throughout the year (the first of which will be a glass-fusing workshop sometime in late January or February, most likely February...we will let everybody know when this is set in stone).  If your annual dues are up to date for both the AAEA and BAEA you wouldn't have to pay to attend any of the workshops, if not, there will be a fee for each one.  The next workshop hasn't been decided (we are waiting to compile wants/needs/ideas from surveys).  It will probably be in March or April.  Then, we will be into summer, so workshops will pick back up next school year.

We also want to do some sort of silent auction fundraiser during the first semester of next school year.  If you or any other artists you know want to donate a piece of artwork, that would be wonderful!  Also, if you know of any restraunt or business owners that might want to donate gift certificates for the silent auction, that would awesome as well!

Our meetings/workshops are tentatively set to coincide with the first Thursdays at the museum.  That will continue, unless we find that many people want that change when we look at the surveys.  During the meetings where we don't have workshops planned, we want to do lesson swaps, fellowships/socials, and general sharing ideas and keeping up to date on what is going on within the arts community.

Also, one goal we would like to accomplish (eventually, will take a while because this will cost money$$), is to set up a program to pay for 1/2 day subs for art teachers to take a 1/2 PD day and go observe other art teahcers at work.  I think we get so isolated within our content in our schools.  Regular classroom teachers collaborate all of the time, observe each other and participate in walk-throughs, but we seldom get to do that.  So, my idea is to raise money and have some sort of scholarship fund to send so many teachers each semester.  This is so important to best practices!

Sharon Christman, a retired art teacher and my National Boards mentor, suggested also contacting retired art  teachers in the area to go visit art classrooms to give demonstrations, share ideas, help out in the art room, etc.

Also, if you have any amazing talent you want to share with the group let us know!  Also, if you are interested in helping teach a workshop to the group in the future, let us know.  I have contacted many vendors, and both NASCO and DickBlick have agreed to sponsor a workshop for us (provide all materials).  NASCO's only stipulation is that is has to be one of their lessons...

Lindsay Mouyal