Greetings to my fellow WCG members! This is my first letter to the membership as I take over the reigns from our outgoing President, Diana Galente.
Diana, thank you for all your hard work over the previous two years. I hope in the future that you can use your air miles for something more fun than WCG board meetings!
As for me: I’m excited to have this opportunity to serve WCG in a new capacity. I’ve lived and worked in the DC area for many years and worn a few different hats for WCG. I’ve been a Director twice, served as Public Events Chair and was the Newsletter Editor back when we actually had a physical newsletter. I’m hoping my long history will be an asset moving forward.
We had an excellent board serving last year. This spring brought turnover and created exciting new opportunities. Jobs, life changes or a desire to try something new resulted in changes to nearly all positions on the board and committees. These are being filled by members new to these positions, if not new to serving WCG. I’m grateful for this energy!
We had a terrific start at our Summer Planning Meeting this past July. Lots of ideas are being brainstormed for ways to reorganize WCG and strengthen our relationship with the surrounding community.
The most immediate change is to combine the Communications Team and Outreach Committee. This makes the most sense given that so much outreach these days is done through digital media.
WCG is already on Facebook, but will soon be on Twitter and, hopefully, Instagram. These accounts will be used to send out pertinent announcements and will provide multiple ways for our members to get information in a timely manner
Look for invitations to join, which will be sent out in the near future. I promise not to be up at 2 am rage tweeting the membership!
We’ve had some personnel changes since our last meeting. With gratitude, I’d like to acknowledge Erin Blake, who is stepping down as our Web Admin. Erin took over this position from our first Web Admin, Mark Knight, in 2003. Sixteen years rendered sea changes that Erin handled with aplomb, dragging WCG into the 21st century with very little kicking and screaming (but maybe a little whining). We are pleased that Katie Mullen will be our new Web Admin.
If you see Erin at a meeting this year, be sure to let her know how much she is appreciated.
Lauren Klamm regretfully resigned as Recording Secretary. We hate to lose her but are very happy for her move to Richmond and new position at the Valentine Museum. Ann Schaffer is our new Recording Secretary. Ann was voted in by the board unanimously at the summer meeting and will start her duties in September. She has just recently moved back to the DC area and we are pleased and impressed that she is willing to jump into WCG with both feet.
Other business for this coming year:
Outgoing Vice President Shannon Brogdon-Grantham will be heading a committee to review WCG’s organizational documents.
Over 50 years old, WCG is a venerable institution. As you can imagine, we could use a bit of a tidy up. Shannon will coordinate with the communications team to make sure all needed forms and documents are stored on our new digital platform. She will also take on the riveting task of reviewing our by-laws and guidelines to update and reflect our current organization. If you are as fascinated by this sort of thing as she is, she would love to hear from you!
WCG is considering holding a workshop for conservators in private practice with a focus on the logistics of creating and running a business in the DC area. This idea was enthusiastically endorsed at the summer planning meeting by the board and committees. This enthusiasm has not risen to the level of producing a volunteer to take the lead so I put this to you, the membership: is this something you are interested in and would help make happen? If yes, email me. I promise not to put you in charge (unless you want to). If we can identify several of you, the board will help to make this happen.
Our Intern Coordinators are continuing their good work providing opportunities for our area interns to tour labs, gather socially and take part in WCG meetings. Please make sure all interns in your labs know about these opportunities.
Rachel Greenberg, our VP, is working hard to line up both venues and speakers for this coming year. Our first meeting is September 5. I’m calling this a “networking event” for those of you who need to justify this to your employer. We are meeting at Mr. Henry’s, in the Eastern Market neighborhood on Capitol Hill. Join us for trivia night. Who will take home the trophy?
I can’t stress enough how much I want to hear any ideas you have for WCG as well as offers to get involved. Please do feel free to send me an email!
AND FINALLY: Your immediate attention is needed to complete a quick survey to help submit a proposal to the Fairfax County Library system for WCG outreach activities for Preservation Week, Spring 2020. We are considering clinics, care and handling workshops, kids activities, etc. We are in the planning stages and need your input. The proposal is due by August 12. We want to include ideas we know the membership will support. The survey is brief and should take you five minutes. Please look for this email or check the website.
Jayne Girod Holt
President, Washington Conservation Guild
jholt@washingtonconservationguild.org
