 May 2023 GCA Newsletter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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From: Bruce Lucas <brucemlucas@gmail.com>Subject: Re: Receiving notice of price increase.Date: May 5, 2023 at 9:42:23 AM MSTTo: JOHN PRIBYLCc: Debbie Meyer <grandbkkpr@gmail.com>JOHN,Good Morning…Thank you for your note.The increases will be addressed in the May GCA Newsletter.The need for immediate action concerning pricing is motivated by a couple of factors.1.) Clay Pricing:Laguna Clay took an incredible price increase this week. Our supplier Marjon Ceramic has passed the increase on to both, wholesale and retail customers, on an immediate bases.As an example 5.4.23 clay pricing:Marjon: “Speckled Buff” single bag price to retail customers: $30.25GCA: ’Speckled Buff” single bag price to members: $20.00The GCA discount price, is based on our volume purchases. This discount is passed directly on to our members. An additional point; GCA Treasury has been covering price increases plus the Marjon clay 8.5% state sales tax just to hold prices this year. The latest Laguna price increase cancels that accommodation. An additional point, glaze products have also been increasing in price. The club has held the line on glaze price increases to members. Once again, absorbing the elevated prices through the clubs' Treasury funds.2.) Membership DuesStudio operations and equipment upkeep is funded by annual dues.255 members X 36.00 per year = $9,180.00255 members X 46.00 per year = $11,730.00$9,180.00 divided by 12 months = $765.00 per month operating funds.$11,730.000 divided by 12 months = 977.50 per month operating funds.While the community association covers studio costs of heating, cooling, lights, telephone, water, ie basic building functions, the balance of studio operation costs falls to the club.This includes, all supplies related to clay arts operation. As an example “in studio" paper products alone run a thousand dollars per year. Add the cost of plastic garbage bags for daily usage. (CAM requires all garbage to be "white bagged" before depositing in the community collection receptacle) that’s an additional minimum $600.00 per year. Replacement cartridges for our laser printer; $400.00 per cartridge = 10,000 sheets of print. That equals about 6 months per cartage or $800.00 per year. Add 8.5 x 11 paper for copying to the total. Last year purchased paper for $48.00 per volume box. This year the same paper is $58.00 per volume box. This represents just a few items covered by membership dues.Now let’s discuss firing and glaze stickers. $16.00 does not fully cover the actual cost of increasing glaze prices and the clubs usage rate. The difference comes out of the GCA Treasury. Let's also touch on kiln upkeep for a moment. Coil replacements alone cost the following; $350.00 per set & $200.00 labor (Marjon) to replace them. Our burn rate is two sets X 5 kilns per year. Or $5,500.00 per year. Our kiln sticker program stretches to cover the cost of kiln upkeep. Once again, the Treasury is forced to cover short falls. The studio upkeep list goes on.Here’s the good news. GCA is a non-profit club. A few of the costs I just outlined underscores that GCA is holding true to its mission of providing community members an opportunity to acquire pottery making skills at a very low cost. So on balance, when aggressive increased costs are incurred, our first goal is to try to absorb them. However, given the rapid rise in prices and the dent these increases have put in our Treasury funds, the club is forced to adjust prices.Once again, thanks for your note. Hope the response is helpful.Best regards,Bruce
Clay
GCA is limited to one clay distributor in the metro Phoenix area. I believe the distributor deals fairly with us in all regards, including clay pricing. Our volume level affords the club a substantial per pound price break. In turn that savings is passed on to membership. As an example, GCA VP PAT O’Brien touched base with our supplier to check the price on a single bag purchase of Speckled Buff:
Marjon Price: $30.25 (Speckled Buff)
GCArts Price: $20.00 (Speckled Buff)
Savings………$10.25 or 34% price saving per single bag purchase.
Additional note. The supplier price increase was immediate; disallowing an opportunity to stockpile surplus clay inventory at the lower price. Additionally, this forces the board to act immediately by increasing clay prices to membership. That said, the club does not have a measure for price comparison in the Phoenix marketplace due to zero supplier competition. To purchase clay outside the metro area would cost the club a small fortune in freight alone.
Glazes
Prices for both powder and liquid glazes may be experiencing a substantial June price increase. This is based on a conversation this week with our supplier. To lessen the pricing impact, GCA is committing to limited bulk orders. Yesterday Glaze Room Director JIM Donaldson began to purchase and deliver additional limited quantities based on usage history.
The club is dealing with increased pricing in all aspects of operation. GCA may experience additional price increases soon in both Fire and Glaze stickers. Will keep you appraised, as information is received from our suppliers.
2024 Grand Clay Arts Board Elections:
Please note the election for 2024 GCA Board of Director positions has been advanced to the November General Membership Meeting. The reason is twofold:
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Greater number of members present in November vs December.
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Newly elected board members have a month to work with current members before assuming the new position.
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Market at Grand (MAG)
The 9 month MAG season is over!
WOW what a run in sales the club experienced!
Grand Clay Arts MAG success in large part is due to the organizational skills and tremendous follow through by CATHY Rick.
On behalf of Grand Clay Arts…… Thank you!
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The May (end of season) wrap-up team had a great Market at Grand! Lots of traffic and sales!
Congratulation wrap-up team!
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Welcome to the Market at Grand “Transaction Table Team”! ….
New Member CLAUDIA Jorissen took over the transaction table like she owned it! What an outstanding first-time effort.…way to go!
Congratulations CLAUDIA!
Don’t forget to forward your summer adventure photos to share with fellow members in the monthly Newsletter.
All the best for a great summer!
Election - GCA Board of Directors
An Election Committee will be formed and will be soliciting candidates for each office. The Election Committee will be established in August and will be announced at the September membership meeting.
Jean Zeidler has agreed to be the chair of the Election Committee and will need two people to serve with her. You are eligible to serve on the committee if you are a member in good standing, not a member of the current Board, and are not a candidate for an open position. If interested in serving on the Election Committee, please contact Jean Zeidler at jzeidler@cox.net.
This year, there will be five vacancies on the Board (president, vice president, secretary, and two members at large). This is a huge turnover, and these are big shoes to fill. The Election Committee will be soliciting candidates starting in September. An announcement of the proposed candidates will be made no later than 30 days prior to the November meeting.
If you have the time and the inclination to serve, please think about running for office. If you know someone who would be a good candidate, encourage them to run. All members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to run.
Information about the Board positions can be found on the GCA website at grandclayarts.com (Members Area>Engagement>GCA Committees>Administrative Board).
Supplies
A few things that you will be noticing now and in the coming months:
- Our clay prices have gone up based on our clay supply coming primarily from Laguna. Beginning last week, the price for a 25-pound bag is now $20.00 (a significant increase, out of our control, and still so much cheaper than you will find anywhere else).
- The Glaze and Fire stickers will look a little different. Once we sell out of our present supply of Glaze and Fire stickers, there will be no more pre-printed numbers on the stickers. The volunteers in charge of stickers, Cathy Harvey and Sandy Krause, will be hand writing the numbers on the stickers.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer. Here's a peek at my view.
Thank You
Several members have called me at my home to see if I need any help. Thank you all. Diane Niehof delivered two facial ice packs to help with the swelling as well as two containers of fresh pineapple to help with the bruising. The best part was Diane also brought two pieces of her very delicious key lime pie which really lifted my spirits.
I do not know how to express my gratitude beyond this note, but I do want to assure you all that I will pay it forward should the need ever arise. Thank you, thank you!
IT Corner
Summer Studio Operations
Gallery In-Studio - Bruce Lucas (brucemlucas@gmail.com)
Online - gallerymanager@grandclayarts.com
Glaze Room On-site Jean Zeidler (jzeidler@cox.net) or Jim Perez-Wood (jameswood8688@gmail.com)
Jim Donaldson via text, tele and email (mhjimd@gmail.com)
IT Problems Karen LeMar via email (webmaster@grandclayarts.com)
IT Questions Website (Member Help)
Kiln Ops Al Dadd (in town most of summer) (aldadd6550@gmail.com)
Safety Bruce Lucas (brucemlucas@gmail.com)
Studio Admin Cathy Rick via email (cathyrick9@yahoo.com)
Sunshine Bruce Lucas (brucemlucas@gmail.com)
Supplies Bruce Lucas (brucemlucas@gmail.com)
Upcoming Classes and Events
|
Class/Event |
Date |
Time |
Instructor |
|
Underglaze This! |
5/22 |
3-6 |
Mary King |
|
Basic Glazing |
5/23 |
3-6 |
Connie Johnson |
|
POP Pizza Party |
5/25 |
5-8 |
Diane Palley |
|
Underglaze This! |
5/30 |
3-6 |
Mary King |
|
Basic Clay |
6/6, 13, 20 |
3-6 |
Connie Johnson |
|
Basic Glazing |
6/27 |
3-6 |
Connie Johnson |
Please check Event Registration on our website for the most up-to-date information.