We are finally back in the Clay Arts Studio!

It sure has been a long five months and we appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation during the COVID-19 community activities lockdown.  For sure, a few changes greet our return to the studio.  As an example, we all will need to:

• Sign COVID-19 liability waivers
• Wear masks while in the Clay Arts building
• Keep in mind social distancing standards
• Reserve three-hour work sessions

Also, the studio footprint has been reconfigured to help us all comply with accepted social distancing standards while hopefully maintaining a comfortable and relaxed feeling.  For our convenience, a laptop computer is now available in the studio lobby area.  The purpose of the lobby laptop is to offer an easy, studio-based approach to book work sessions or electronically sign the COVID-19 waiver.  Also, its helpful location may assist fellow members needing a little guidance with online functions.

Please take a few minutes to review the updated Grand Clay Arts homepage.  It's a great refresh featuring the updated studio footprint plus the easy to use studio reservation system.

On the SCG community front:

• The gyms and walking track remain closed
• Indoor common use areas also remain closed.  CAM is working toward an indoor common use area solution involving high-grade MERV-13 air purification filters.  The result of the proposed upgrade should be known in a few weeks.

Once again, welcome back to Grand Clay Arts!

Reserving Studio Time
As you have no doubt already heard, members must now reserve a studio workstation available in three-hour time slots.  For everyone's health and safety, 12 workstations are marked out:  7 tabletop, 3 sitting wheel and 2 standing wheel.  The floor plan with numbered workstations is available on the website home page and in this newsletter.  Here are the steps to reserve your space online at www.grandclayarts.com:

• Under "Reserve Studio Time," click on This Week or Next Week
• Once the page has fully loaded, click on the desired Date tab at the bottom
• Locate the Time you want to work and the Station you want to use
• Click in the box for that time/station
• Type in your name and press TAB
• Type Y or N to indicate whether you have a signed COVID-19 Liability Waiver
• Press ENTER or TAB
• Use the BACK arrow to return to the Home Page

Also note that you can go "In & Out" of the studio for a quick 10 minutes to check on work, buy supplies, etc.  A sign-in sheet for this is on the table just outside the studio door.

Recording Service Hours - New Process
Another step towards maintaining health guidelines is a change to the process for recording service hours.  Rather than using the binder, there will be a "Service Hours" box on the indoor table by the laptop.  Members can jot down their hours on the notepapers provided and place them in the box.  Hours will be recorded into the system as before.  Alternatively, you may email your hours to webmaster@grandclayarts.com.

Re-opening Information
Documentation covering the various aspects of the reopening plan are available on the website: GCA Documents > Re-opening Documentation .

Welcome back, everyone, and enjoy your time in the clay!

On behalf of the Clay Arts Club, we were happy to present the Grateful Hearts Project "Thirsty Heart Coasters" for distribution to Fire Stations 306 and 302.

While Grand Clay Arts was closed from the beginning of March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not stifle the creative minds and hands of our members from thinking of others.  They wanted to show their appreciation and gratitude for the dedication to all those who truly give their hearts each and every time that bell rings. The Grateful Hearts Thirsty Heart Coasters were truly made with love while club members Jan Nolan, Sharon Rothzeid and Lee Root were quarantined in their houses.  Grand Clay Arts club graciously donated the clay for this project.

While this pandemic has changed our daily lives, we are so totally aware of the sacrifices the first responders make.  We truly appreciate and admire all first responders and wanted to say "Thank You" with this small gesture.

We especially thank Jan Nolan for conceiving the idea of the Grateful Hearts Project, Thirsty Heart Coasters.  Jan knows first-hand what a first responder is.  Her husband was a proud fire fighter back in the the state of Washington and Jan herself was once on the front line and empathizes with all who are in that role.

Sharon Rothzeid and Lee Root gave life to each coaster with their time and patience. We would also like to thank Nancy Hayden for facilitating the presentation.  Nancy, who in addition to being Surprise District 2 Council Member is also a Grand Clay Arts member.

We hope that the "Thirsty Heart Coaster" will be a small reminder that we here in the Sun City Grand community appreciate all that our local fire men and women and first responders do for all of us, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


        
                       

For questions you may have relative to the studio reopening, please contact any member of the board:

• Bruce Lucas        brucemlucas@gmail.com
• Sam Valenti         svmail726@gmail.com
• Sherri Singer        sherrisinger@hotmail.com
• Ulla Loeffler          ullachristin@aol.com
• Dick Walker         muddyduck@q.com