This is my first message as the new Green Valley Lapidary Club President and I want to say hello to all old and new members. Those of you returning snowbirds need to take a look at our upgraded new facility at West Center. Drop in anytime we are open and someone will give you a tour. Don't forget to bring your GVR Card because we have our new computer and card scan system working at West. If you have not yet paid your dues for 2008, the computer will chime "Oh-Oh" instead of TaDa!!

I would like to thank Harry LaFavor for the great job he did as President and in overseeing the West Center remodel. It took devotion over and above what anyone should have to do. He had lots of help from many people as he mentioned in his last letter but almost every time I went into West over the summer he was there working(with Toots most of the time).

One of Harry's additions is a white notebook at each Center that has our roster, minutes of meetings, financial reports, and list of club officers, list of meeting dates and locations, and lots of other pertinent and useful information. The Monitor on duty will be happy to show you where the notebook is located. Take a look!

I am hoping to follow in Harry's footsteps with some positive programs of my own (with the help of the Board and all of our members).
I would like to see:

** Increased training in the proper use of our equipment and tools.

** Programs at meetings by our wonderful talented craftspeople.

** Drop in workshops on techniques and use of specialty tools.

** Orientation programs for new members, both for safety and as a welcome to our club.

** More social events where we welcome new members(and spouses) and get better acquainted with our members.

** Improved communication between the three Centers regarding new tools and equipment as well as posting this information on our web site.

** Adding more specialized classes as SIG groups- maybe intermediate and advanced Lapidary or some advanced silversmith techniques.

** Profiles of our members monthly on our website.

** Speakers on different topics at club meetings. Bringing in outside speakers. Sending people to a class to bring back their knowledge.

I am hoping that we can continue to grow as a club. We do that by the quality and variety of the classes we offer through GVR as well as the SIG classes that we offer. We need to continually add instructors, as people get tired after several years of teaching the same thing. If you look at the pictures from our volunteer luncheon you will see that we have lots of wonderful volunteer instructors. But as people retired here from other professions, sometimes they want to retire from teaching lapidary or silversmith classes.

I am interested in meeting and getting to know all of you. My past 4 years in the Lapidary Club and particularly the last two years have been very rewarding in all the interesting and talented people that I have met.

My email address and phone number are on our website so please feel free to contact me with your ideas and concerns. Communication is what makes a club vibrant and interesting to its members.

Sincerely,

Nancy Klapak
President