GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
January 15, 2025 • 9 AM PT • Hopi Room

May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow. The end of the year is a time for remembrance. We take stock of where we came from and take a moment to think about where we are going, as we pursue the future with hope. May your new year be all that you hope for, and may it be sprinkled with love, joy, happiness, and friendship. 

Renovation Update
The Grand Board approved the proposed plan to:

1. Relocate the Language Club to the Navaho Room in Chaparral Center, which will be renovated to meet their needs. 
2. Relocate the Poker Club to the Ocotillo Building, which will be renovated to meet their needs. 
3. Relocate either the Clay or Glass Arts Club to the Agave / Cholla Building (TBD), which will be renovated and expanded to meet their needs.
4. Renovate, with minor exterior modification, the Golden Barrel / Prickly Pear Building to meet the needs of either the Clay or Glass Arts Club (TBD)

The determination of which club will be located in the renovated current Clay/Glass building (Golden Barrel/Prickly Pear) versus which club will be located in the expanded/renovated current Poker building (Agave/Cholla) will be dependent on upcoming collaborative meetings with the architect when discussions of each club’s needs will be held. Your GCA Board of Directors is fully supportive of this plan.

Announcing New Monitoring Pilot
We are launching a pilot to have Monitors available on Sundays during the peak season, particularly when our alternative firing sessions are scheduled. The community interest in observing alternative firing has been on the rise, so we want to have the studio open for those visitors. Please consider signing up for monitoring on upcoming Sundays.

Reminders
Membership renewal and cubby fees are to be paid by January 1, 2026. Invoices were sent to members on December 14, 2025. A Members Skill Survey will be sent to members in January; please be sure to complete the survey.
2025 Bob Mohr Award nominations will be open to membership in January: be on the lookout for a notice to submit nominations.
Garden Club Expo will be held on January 31^st.  Watch for announcements to sign up to sell garden-related pottery. See more details on this below.
GCA Member Appreciation party is scheduled for February 9. The email to sign up for the party will be sent in January.
Monitor Pilot is underway to allow monitors to have the option to work at the front table while on duty for December and January. Keep in mind that the Monitor’s primary responsibility is to assist visitors and members. When members check in, the Monitor must observe their good standing by noting that their “pop up screen” is green. 

It’s been a very busy December so far with submissions, removal, and sales. Our in-studio and online studio workers have been busy with requests.   would like to remind everyone to be patient as you’re waiting for your requests to be handled. We are all busy this time of year with activities and family commitments that take priority over instantly taking care of gallery needs.  Please understand if it takes a few days to process.  

One big reminder…you MUST remove your pieces from the in-studio gallery before requesting to remove them online. There is a mess that happens if it gets sold in the studio gallery but it’s been removed online and many hours of work trying to figure it out.  

Merry Christmas everyone, and see you January 1st. Bob and I have been busy shoveling our driveway 14 out of 16 days since we’ve been home in Wisconsin. The last snowfall was 8” and our driveway is over long. We’re ready to get back to warmth!

We close the year with a full calendar of classes planned for 2026!  Browse these offerings because you’ll see all your favorites and a bunch of new classes!

Membership and Cubby Renewals for 2026 dues are out!

• $55 for annual membership; $40 for cubby fees

• Pay online with the link included in the email

• 1/1/2026: All monies due.

• 1/15/2026: Dues/fees considered LATE.

Membership dues not paid by 1/15/2026 results in the member being dropped from the club roster.
Cubby fees not paid by 1/15/2026 results in the forfeiture of the cubby.

Now is a good time to verify or update your member profile.
Do you have a new email address? New phone number? New mailing address?
Go here to confirm or update:

On your member page, under the Member Information tab, click "Change Contact/Profile Info".

This is the only way the club has to get in touch with you, so please make sure everything is up to date.

There is a new opportunity to market your creations at the upcoming Garden Club Desert Gardening EXPO taking place on:
 
Saturday, January 31, 2026
8:30-12:30 p.m.
Sonoran Plaza Ballroom

Grand Artisan Fusion Clubs, along with other vendors, have been invited to sell garden-related items. Our display table space will be identical to that of the Holiday Bazaar, i.e. 3 tables. We have an online sign up like we did for the Holiday Bazaar. Look through your current work and see what might be relevant and/or get working on some exciting new pieces for this special event. 

The Garden Club has asked us to donate a raffle prize to be displayed on our tables during the EXPO. Please consider donating a small piece of your art so we could put together an attractive gift basket. Note: You do not have to participate in the event to provide a piece for the basket.

Sign Me Up

Any questions? Contact me at debbyluchetti@aol.com and text or phone at 815-670-3388.

About the EXPO
There will be a full morning of activities, starting with a Keynote speech by AZ Plant Lady, Noelle Johnson "Essential Strategies for Thriving Gardens in the Desert" followed by 5 sessions led by experts in the field. Vendor/Information Tables with Raffle Prizes.  Food Vendor. 

On December 17th, members of both Grand Clay and Glass Arts participated in a fun, creative workshop designed to tease out what does Grand Clay Arts/Glass (and all Artisan Fusion Clubs) mean to each of us and The Grand community? We heard many fantastic ideas that will help us develop communication points to share with neighbors, The Grand Board of Directors and CAM about why supporting Grand Clay Arts (and all Artisan Fusion Clubs) is a smart investment for The Grand future. The resulting messages will also be incorporated in our advertising, website, and new member pamphlets. Common themes were social connections/making friendships and expanding horizons/growth/trying something new.



Participants will review the resulting communication points in January for one last chance to refine the messages. Our goal is to share the resulting communication points with everyone shortly thereafter.

A BIG Thank You to all who took the time out their busy schedules to participate in this workshop!

Do you like a challenge? If so, join this year's glazing challenge: every potter must feature speckled blue gray glaze in their piece. It doesn't have to dominate the piece, just be visible. Before you begin, we suggest that you take a look at the test tiles located in the Glaze Room.

Timing: Your piece must be completed by Friday, January 31, 2026. 

Rules? Yes, there are a few easy rules. Take a handout from the folder on the high-top tables in the studio for more information. 

Prizes? YES! This year, we have 5 prizes. The details on the categories for judging are outlined in the handout as well.

Questions? We would be happy to answer your questions. 
Irene - irene@jichap.com; Monique - mogreer4az@gmail.com

Thanks to Lisa Minton for the wonderful photos that perfectly capture the magic of the evening. 

 grandclayarts.com