Defining SAQA PODs: A concept
Former Representatives
Nancy Billings and Jayne Gaskins felt a system was necessary for
Florida’s membership to create connections through networking and
friendship. To meet this need, in 2012 Nancy and Jayne developed the
much-acclaimed POD system (also known now as
Local Connections).
After
painstakingly plotting each member on a map, they drew circles around
clusters of members within reasonable driving distance of each other.
They contacted the members in each cluster, asking for volunteers to
host introductory POD meetings. The meetings could have as few as two
members; they asked for no other commitment. The PODs were left to
create their own structure. There were only two rules: that each meeting
be open to all SAQA members, and that all meetings had to be announced
to the entire region.
Current Reps Ellen and Karol agree the POD system is
successful but concur that it has taken some time to become fully
operational. One last POD is just now getting off the ground, but the
network has come together. Here’s how the Florida reps make it work.
Best practices for starting and nurturing PODs : Ideas that are working...
POD
boundaries are fluid. When membership ebbs and flows, boundaries are
re-vamped to accommodate those fluctuations. A couple of PODs have
divided into two sections to better facilitate driving times. Mapping is
done by volunteers responding to advertisements in the monthly
newsletter. Geography is not a constraint; several SAQA members attend
more than one POD.
Each POD decides together what is appropriate
for the group. Some PODs issue challenges, others employ critiques, plan
field trips, as well as search out alternate meeting locales and
events. Generally meeting every other month, they typically include a
short business meeting, program (often presented by POD members), and
Show and Tell. Lunch is sometimes included.
The reps have learned a
lot about organizing PODs. The first lesson is that PODs are important
to connecting members, even though it can be difficult getting groups
together. Secondly, certain areas might not be as active, or become
inactive, if another fiber arts group is in that area. Third, and
perhaps most unsettling came the significant realization that members’
expectations for a good POD can influence whether or not to renew their
SAQA membership!
SAQA Volunteers - True rock stars that deserve so much credit!
For successful
volunteer participation, Ellen shared Florida’s basic policy: “be warm,
welcoming, and appreciative of the workers/volunteers.” Volunteer
recognition is provided through public acknowledgment with praise issued
verbally and announced in Florida’s monthly newsletter. The reps also
hand-write thank you notes to all volunteers on SAQA notecards. In our
age of technology, this somewhat outmoded nicety lets volunteers know
how appreciated they are. These personal touches have far reaching
benefits — members will be more likely to volunteer in the future.
Additionally,
they suggest searching for enthusiastic members willing to step up to
the plate. At a recent retreat, someone proposed making it an annual
event. The Reps had their hands full with two upcoming juried shows, but
liked the idea of more retreats. They were surprised at how quickly
three volunteers stepped up to take charge. Those three are now busily
organizing the retreat. A plus of working together allows friendships to
be made while volunteers carry out essential tasks. These friendships
create strong bonds as Florida’s members unite in their common goals.
Regional exhibitions and workshops provide Florida members with creative opportunities.
Both
Ellen and Karol greatly appreciate Nancy Billings’s and Jayne Gaskins’s
fundraising endeavors which created Florida’s generous treasury. This
allows scheduling events such as retreats with guest instructor a year
in advance with plenty of planning and promotional time.
Leveraging technology to connect members:
The
Florida reps rely on Skype meetings to organize upcoming juried
exhibits. Skype meetings are also an effective and efficient means to
recruit volunteers. Seeing their reps’ enthusiasm stimulates interest
among the membership. The upshot: members readily volunteer for various
tasks necessary for successful events. Zoom is also another option to
connect virtually.
Calling All Volunteers
Stressing
how important a personal approach is when recruiting volunteers, Ellen
and Karol announce jobs in the newsletter. At annual regional and POD
meetings, a clipboard is circulated detailing assorted tasks for various
events. This modus operandi was re-iterated several times to emphasize
how essential it is to be specific both in detailing tasks needing
oversight as well as what each task entails.
Mailing Lists
Karol
emphasized that it’s imperative mailing lists be current and
meeting/event dates be listed in the regional newsletter. She has seen
lack of communication lessen participation in PODs.
New member
info is sent to a volunteer who keeps track of membership using
spreadsheets. She sorts new member info and determines which POD is
closest. This pertinent info is dispersed to both Reps and relevant POD
leader who then sends personal letters of welcome.
Regional Meetings
Each
year, at least one and possibly two Regional “Art, Meet, and Greet”
full-day meetings are hosted. The day customarily includes combining a
short business meeting with attending a fiber exhibit, gallery walk, or
enjoying a speaker. Other enticements include the ever popular “show and
share,” and social time, which allows members to mingle. Quilters and
food are a time-honored combination, so time to enjoy a meal together,
which could perhaps be catered sandwich lunches or a sit down at a nice
restaurant, is earmarked. “Give-aways” further increase the day’s
festivity!
Regional Newsletter/Social Media
Florida’s
monthly newsletter does much to enhance statewide camaraderie. To
promote community, extensive POD info is included. Individual member
“brags” and Calendar of Events alerts are encouraged. Ellen laughingly
confided, “including photos in the newsletter encourages members to
actually read it!”
Since many are technically savvy these days,
social media is a huge draw for sharing information. Posting on the
region’s Facebook page as well as Instagram is encouraged, ensuring
membership “connectivity” across Florida.
Appreciation/Thank You
Deemed
essential, appreciation gifts are routinely presented to volunteers in
recognition of their efforts. As mentioned, Ellen and Karol are
especially creative when it comes to amusing and unusual thank-you
ideas.
One such playful idea is “fabric cookies” which are small
fiber art pieces. These were made for an east coast POD to thank them
for hosting a regional exhibit. Quite an array of “baked goods” were
represented which not only included cookies, but buns and bagels as
well!
Final Thoughts
All
in all, Ellen and Karol are enthusiastic, affirmative women continually
on the lookout for original ideas and events to tempt and captivate
Florida’s membership. Thanks to their resourcefulness, earlier retreats
featured 1-hour sessions on significant subjects such as surface design,
marketing (which might include presentations on Pinterest or artist
statements), Photoshop, and myriad other diverse topics. To unwind
kinks, a relaxing 10 minute session of chair yoga concluded the day!
Ellen
and Karol’s success hasn’t been conceived in a vacuum. With nurturing
and “outside the box” forward thinking together with membership
reciprocation, these energetic women hold “hands steady at the helm”
guiding Florida’s journey. Through friendship and networking, together
the members are cultivating the circle of connectivity across the state,
keeping it alive and well.
Article written by Diane Powers Harris. Photos provided by Ellen Lindner and Karol Kusmaul.
Captions for photos:
- These
happy faces evidence the great time everyone had learning from
Elizabeth Barton over a three day period. The beautiful grounds and
wonderful meals at Atlantic Center for the Arts, in New Smyrna Beach,
added to the enjoyment of the event.
- This group photo of POD 3 members being silly, was taken at the local quilt shop which hosts their meetings.
- Tampa Bay area members of Pod 3 having a blast with a “hands on” collage activity.
- Visitors to the Florida juried show, Growth,
were greeted by Susan Rienzo’s colorful piece. The exhibit, juried by
Pamela Allen, was displayed at Dunedin Fine Arts Center, in Dunedin, FL.
- Viewers were mesmerized by the work of Marianne Williamson and other SAQA fiber artists at Florida’s juried show, Stitched: Embracing the Quilt as Art. The show was juried by Rosalie Dace and displayed at the Martin County Cultural Center Gallery, in Stuart, FL.
- In the midst of an Elizabeth Barton workshop, member Gabriele DiTota examined her in-progress piece with the help of her camera.
- (&
8) Close-up shots showcase different groupings of the playful and
colorful “fabric cookies” to thank east coast POD 8 members who helped
immensely with Florida’s regional exhibit, Stitched: Embracing the Quilt as Art.
