president"annual report 2010 from agm

Hard to believe the AGM has arrived and I need to address the meeting.
I was very “Gung Ho” when I put my hand up for the president’s job last year and have to admit I have been over whelmed more than once throughout the year but with the support of a great committee and a few bars of chocolate I have survived to tell the tail.
The year started with the Annual Selective Exhibition at the Contemporary Gallery in Fremantle with 38 members participating exhibiting over a 100 pieces and sales reaching almost $12,000. Congratulations to the Award winners, Stewart Scambler winning the Kusnik Award for his ‘Burnt” wall pieces and bottle and to Rodney Blumenfeld winner of the Judges prize for his intricate African influenced designed forms. Vicki Grima editor of the Journal of Australian Ceramics was the guest selector. The raffle was also drawn on the night.
The raffle was initiated by Trudy Golly (from Canada). She had donated a piece of her work during an exhibition at Perth Galleries, suggesting we could use the work to raise funds. It was a generous gift and we raised $1130 with Elaine Bradley winning 1st prize.
Our members Christmas get together at Rosie O’Grady’s was well attended. It is an opportunity to catch up with other members and join in the pot swapping which is always popular.
The Chris Weaver workshop was a huge success; he generously shared his secrets to the enthusiastic audience. Leaving instruction that the work made during the workshop was to be sold and monies raised donated to CAAWA. Di Sigel will  glaze the teapots  and platters and the work will be for sale during the POTober event. Thank you to Stewart for arranging Chris to revisit WA       
The website has been revamped thanks to Sue Warrington burning the midnight oil. Do have a look at the site. It is full of information.
The annual Selective is almost here. It is a great opportunity to showcase your work to the public. It is always a delight and surprise to see the diversity of work presented. I urge you all to participate in the next show at the Gallery Central at the Central Institute of Technology. There is still plenty of time to lodge an entry form!! The closing date is next week and delivery on the 11th August. Dr Stefano Carboni Director of the WA Art Gallery will be this year’s guest selector.
Throughout the year the committee has been working towards the POTober event in October when 18 ceramic artists will congregate at CIT (formerly Central TAFE) to host a smorgasbord of workshops. It will be a hectic 3 days and I hope you will participate. There are over 40 registrations already.
A proposal for a July exhibition at Heathcote next year has been accepted. Planning for that will start in November.
Pauline Mann the membership secretary has reviewed the membership form, which now includes a questionnaire. The information gathered will assist us in future planning.
There are several committee members retiring this year, with the exception of Joanna all have been on the committee for a number of years. We all appreciate the enormous contribution they have all made to CAAWA during their time on the committee and wish them well.
Greg Crowe held the position of President for a number of years and presided over the now legendary Edge Conference, it has set a bench mark for all other conferences. Gill Treichel our social secretary and Vice President with her quick wit and humour leaves behind many memories of fun and laughter especially at the clay Olympics. Sue Warrington has spent many hours giving CAAWA a professional website. She will maintain this till a replacement although another web mistress may be hard to find. Andrea is on a well earned holiday and after 5 years of collating information and editing the PYRE, it is she feels, time for a new Editor. Garry Zeck is also leaving, he has always been supportive member of the committee .He held the position of workshops until last year and we all wish him well in the hockey tournament in October.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the remaining committee for their commitment through the year and with an added thank you to our secretary Jan Zeck, who with the planning committee has spent many hours putting together the draft prospectus for CAAWA’s vision for the future. Jan is very passionate about ensuring the future of ceramics and CAAWA and I am very grateful she is continuing in her role as secretary for the next year.
Thank You

Cher Shackleton