Dear Sketch Club Members:
Recently, we have undergone some changes in the leadership of the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Ross Mitchell, elected President in May of 2012, found it necessary to resign this position, effective November 20, 2012. It was with great sadness the Board of Directors had to accept his resignation. On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, my name was put forward to the Board of Directors and the nomination as President of the Philadelphia Sketch Club was approved. I will serve as interim President until the Club elections are held in May 2013. Susan Smith and Frank Foster will retain their positions as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, and an individual to serve as Vice President will be nominated at the next Board of Directors meeting in January.
During November, Susan Hutton DeAngelis, who has put together and produced our monthly newsletter The Portfolio since 2000, has decided she can no longer devote the time required to get the job done. We thank Susan for the time and dedication she put into this task.
Changes such as these prove to be challenging for our Club, but not very much different from similar moments and events that have happened within the PSC since 1860. A club like this is filled with different personalities and opinions, viewpoints and methods, but that is what makes being a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club such a rewarding experience. Part of our Mission Statement reads “…to support and nurture working visual artists, visual arts education, and the historical value of the visual arts to the community.” To help realize this, all of our Club members will need to take a part in the workings of the organization. As Henry Ford said: “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success:” No one person is able to do everything that is required to keep the PSC running smoothly. Within any organization there are going to be functions, components, or even personalities that may not be to your liking. I am reaching out to all the members of the Philadelphia Sketch Club to encourage you to take an active role in the operation and activities of our great organization, and help us find the solutions to the challenges we face.
Our Holiday Party was a great example of this: led by our Executive Director Norka Shedlock, Club members came together and stepped up as volunteers to create a wonderful event for everyone who attended. My hat is off to the Club members who went the extra mile on short notice to help it be one of the best Holiday Parties we have had.
As we move forward into 2013, the officers and current members of the Board of Directors are working to reorganize the committees that help make this organization work. We have some specific needs that need to be filled now: someone who can handle publicity for the PSC, someone to take over The Portfolio, and an individual who can take on the responsibility of the Membership Chairman are positions that need to be filled quickly. We also need Chairs and Co-Chairs for upcoming exhibitions. Even if you can only give us a few hours a month, your volunteer efforts are always appreciated and never go unnoticed. We hope you’ll say “YES” in the future when asked to help your Club in some way. We all need to step forward and shoulder the responsibilities of keeping our great organization functional. Please contact me at rharrington@moore.edu with any questions or if you wish to be considered for any of these roles.
I wish all members a peaceful, happy holiday. Here’s to a great year for us in 2013! Thank you for being a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club, the oldest organization for artists in America, an important part of American art history and a gem of an organization in the history of our great city of Philadelphia.
Sincerely
Rich Harrington, President