The KAS 2020 AGM was held Tuesday 2nd March 2021.
KAS President Liz Harriott presents the 2020 Annual Report.
President Liz Harriott delivered the Annual Report and the KAS Committee was elected for 2021.
The 2021 KAS Committee as present at the AGM
Kristine Ballard
The large COVID compliant audience then enjoyed a Theatrical and Animated presentation on the ” History of Colour through the Ages” from Kristine.
The President’s Report
President’s Report for the AGM of Ku-ring-gai Art Society 3 March 2020
Thank you to all of you for attending the 2021 AGM. It is great that we can all meet face to face again.
I would like to thank all Members of KAS for their continued support of their society and contributing to a successful 2020.
Working with such a dedicated team on the committee and having the backing and support of those members in auxiliary roles has made the role as President successful and enjoyable. The combined efforts of all are reflected in this last year’s successes.
I now would like to thank our committee. They are a committed and hardworking team.
Charmaine Phillips our Vice President who has supported me and is responsible for organising our interesting and talented Guest Speakers for the General Meetings.
Jan HJ our Secretary for the past 14 years does an amazing job despite working full time.
Jan produces the agenda for both the meetings and she handles all the mailouts, and snail mail, and keeps Members and Committee well informed of relevant events. She collects the newsletters from the printers and does many more tasks, too many to mention.
Susan Smart is our Minutes Secretary who keeps the records straight and knows the Constitution backwards. I find Susan a wonderful listener and giver of good advice when I am unsure of some piece of KAS history.
Caroline Oesterheld our Treasurer manages our finances most professionally, and she is always quick with a reply to any questions I have. She has also managed Instagram through this COVID year.
Robyne Berling, our Exhibition Manager curates all 3 KAS Exhibitions and with her team ensures that everything is done to provide all exhibiting artists with equal exposure and a truly professional exhibition. This is no mean feat considering the site and time constraints. Congratulations.
Despite COVID and only two exhibitions last year Members have sold artworks to the value of
$40 240.00. This Autumn Exhibition we will have approximately 70 artists and 200 artworks for sale.
Daria Hahn our Selection Manager is responsible for making sure the high standard of the art exhibited is maintained. Daria is very helpful to all entrants, giving good advice and feedback where necessary. Thank you also to Daria’s husband Eric who helps in at bump in.
Our thanks also go to Lana Leigh Lombard who is a fulltime worker and mother of young boys. She has assembled your Newsletter for several years but has had to step away from this position and the committee in December. She continues to create the wonderful artwork for the exhibition invitations, flyers and banners.
Please give your committee an applause.
I would like to thank all the members who hold a subcommittee position. These are all vital to the continued successful running of KAS, it would take too long to mention all of you but I would like to mention a few.
Our website under the command of Bryan Freer and ably supported by Anne Carpenter as Assistant Web Manager has gone from strength to strength. We would like to thank all of you who have renewed their membership fees online, particularly those of you who have had difficulties but have persisted with success.
Anne has also reviewed our Google sheets system, our very important management tool and has updated it to have it running at full capacity.
Thanks to Thomi Graham who has helped us stay in contact with each other co-ordinating the newsletter.
Suzanne Lane our Exhibition Manager Assistant who has ably assisted Robyn for many years sees to many minor details to help create successful and wonderful exhibitions.
Thank you to the Selection Team Melinda Berliner, Yvonne Langshaw, Linda Joyce, Diana Hallows and Nina Payne for maintaining the high standard of the artwork at selection and bump in. They will be joined by Shipra Shara our new Vice President.
Kathy Smoker as KAS roster coordinator for all the exhibitions always answers her phone with a cheery hello and works hard to get all the roster positions filled.
Lalit Mital and Geoff Buckle are our Property Assistants helping put up lights at exhibitions.
Diana Dean and Rosemary Ombler are our Library Managers.
Prue Finlay our workshop Co-ordinator assisted by Barbara Lions have organised both face to face workshops and zoom workshops in the last year and are currently organising more at West Lindfield hall.
Maurice Kelly is our photographer and is supported by Mark Cambourn.
Angela Ferrera is our Membership Secretary as well as working fulltime and studying. She is doing a fine job.
Bill Filson our AV expert opens the hall and sets up the equipment for the Guest Speaker at General Meetings.
Jan Brassil and Louise Surmon manage the archival material.
Our thanks go to The St Ives Shopping Village Management for their continued support and assistance especially the Spring and Autumn Exhibitions where they have provided us with extra tables to help with COVID social distancing at bump in and out.
Despite COVID and us not holding an Awards Exhibition we were able to negotiate with The Honorable Paul Fletcher MP Minister for the Arts to choose Tony Maclure’s beautiful painting “Jacarandas in Bloom at Eeyldene” for his Christmas card to be sent out to the electorate.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson chose Nora Hoskings vivid painting “Swain Gardens” for the Spirit of Ku-ring-gai award.
We have made an effort to keep in contact with our sponsors during COVID knowing that they are going through difficult times.
Congratulations to all our new social members we look forward to getting to know you and to our new exhibiting members, we look forward to seeing your work displayed at exhibitions.
There are many members (and partners) to thank who help hang and assist at exhibition intake and those who help out at General meetings to set up and clear away. When everyone plays a part no matter how small it is very much appreciated.
I think we are extraordinarily lucky to have such a strong society. Many other art societies are struggling to stay viable. Our society is strong because it has many active members who as you have heard make the effort to contribute their time to volunteer. Can I ask those of you who have not held positions before and are not a committee or sub committee member to please seriously consider doing your bit for KAS, it is after all, your society. We are in desperate need of a Property Manager and a CASS Representative. If you think that you can help in these roles please contact me.
