August 2025 General Meeting Minutes

Art League of Fort Bend

General Meeting

Monday, August 25, 2025

Call to order at 10am by President, Linda Pietz

Welcome New Members and Visitors - Carol Jones, prospective member

Approval of Minutes - Motion made by Diane Whitmarsh, seconded by Gladys Jones to approve the July 2025 minutes.  Motion carried.

Update from the Board

         Coming soon to our sales desks:  I Pads for instant access to                              membership forms, the directory, and more.

         Check out the new rolling chair rack to hold our folding chairs.

         We have permission to paint the front door of the Gift Shop turquoise

Suggestion Box:

         Tripping hazard from thresholds fixed at Gift Shop.

         Name signs outside studios in hallway at Gift Shop - uniform and board approved.

Financial Report

Bank balances as of 7/31/25:

Checking                                      $29,085

Savings                                          $7,049

Emergency Svgs-CDs                  $20,965

Paypal                                                      0 

Stripe                                                        0

 Total                                              $57,099

Motion made by Michelle Russo, seconded by Cindy Bowers to approve the financial report.  Motion carried.

Unfinished Business

         The Nominating Committee is currently seeking candidates for the                       following upcoming Board openings:  Vice President, Secretary, Fund Raising, Marketing, and Membership. If you are interested contact Chairman, Diane Whitmarsh or committee members Brenda Bowman, Debbie Rose or Judy Beard.

New Business

         Featured Artist - Criteria and application will be on the website. Open to all members.

         Purchase of Web Cam for teaching online.

         Billboards as advertisement - considering digital option.

Committee Reports

         Art Shows and Workshops - Debbie Rodriguez/Gladys 

         Fall Show - Oct. 11, need volunteers, first show with new categories.

         Joan Fullerton Workshop - starts Oct. 20th, 2 openings left.     

         Education Committee - Bobbie

         Todays demo is Zentangle by Lynette McQueen. 

         Sept. demo will be Oil Painting by Sue Zelko.

         Summer Camp for next year - sign up online to be an instructor.

         There will be an information table at the upcoming car show, need volunteers from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm, get your flyers to Bobbie Davis if you want to advertise your classes or your studio.

         Sept. 5, 10am - 4pm - Irina Nair precious metal clay jewelry workshop.

         Nov 11, 9am - 4pm - Linda Pietz Tessellation workshop. 

         Community Display - Brenda

         Reception at the Fort Bend Museum - Thursday, Sept.4th, 6p - 8p at the Long Smith Cottage

         Sugar Land Airport - one more month

         Attack Poverty and Civic Center coming soon.

         Always need help hanging

         Labels on the website

         Events - Ladonna

         Soleful Art Shoe Show Open House Sept 20 from 3 - 5pm

         Car Show - Kid activity - hot wheel sized cars to paint like an art car.

         Individual artists can set up tables outside as well.

         Fundraising - Brenda  - HOT funds application will be due in September, looking for a volunteer to work with Bobbie.

                  Focusing on advertising.

         Gallery - Fereshteh     

                  Team Up - contact Fereshteh if you have to make changes.     

                  Please check Clover at beginning of shift to make sure it is properly seated.

                  Drawing for temporary filling of empty Gallery Spaces ($30) - winners are:  Jim, Arlene, Lynette, Fereshteh, Linda, Nina - Congrats!

                  Please follow check sheets when working the Gallery and Gift Shop.  Wash your dishes, clean required areas, take out trash on Sunday evening for pick up Monday.

         LSAG - Brenda

                  Possibility of in person show for 2026. There will be a zoom meeting on August 30th at 10am.  Contact Brenda if you want to attend.  

         Gift Shop -Debbie Rose - Kudos to Anga, Grace and Isabel for going above and beyond in cleaning the Gift Shop, thank you! Change out in October, you can include Halloween items but be advised, unsold items will be removed after Halloween. 

                  Please do not rearrange items in the Gift Shop.

         Marketing - Nina - no report.

         Membership - Travis - no report.

         Rosenberg  - Kathy

                  RAA next member meeting Thursday,  September 25at 5:30 at Another Time Soda Fountain.

                  Calendar of events hung by the desk at both locations.  The events marked in red will include street closures with no access to our parking lot.  These include water barriers that have to be drained to be moved.

         Special Exhibits - Linda

                  Soleful Art Shoe Show - Sept.17 - 28th.  Shoe art due by Sept. 8th, drop off in back office area with Title, Artist’s name, and Price on the label.

                  Route 66 Quilt Show - pending

         Web Site - Travis

                  If you are not receiving the Newsletter let Bobbie Davis know and she will check for errors.  It is no longer sent from Constant Contact, but from our own web site.

            Miscellaneous

                  The old key box at the back door of the Gallery tends to jam so please check when you are leaving because sometimes it is not closed securely.  Please consider using the new key box, it uses the same numbers and is much easier to operate.

                  Motion made by Gladys, seconded by Debbie Rose to replace the latch on the back gate to the Gift Shop for less than $30. Motion carried.  Don Golden will purchase and install.

         Next Meeting

         Next Board of Directors Meeting -September 8, 2025

         Next General Member Meeting - September 22, 2025

         Adjourned - 11:08am.