President's Message January

It's been awhile since I've sent you a note and that's not because things aren't happening, because they are. It's because so much has been going on I haven't had a chance to compose a note. So here are the last couple of months in a nutshell.

Before I give you the update on everything, I want to alert you to the new Orphan Works blog the Guild is hosting. The blog is called www.orphanworksnews.com and for those who want to worry about Orphan Works on an hourly basis, just like we do here at the National Guild office, here is your opportunity to sign up to receive fresh info that will automatically be delivered to your computer screen. Care to comment? There is a place to do that too.

Don't think for a minute that we haven't been working diligently on Orphan Works all along. Lisa Shaftel, your Advocacy Chair, Megan Grey, our lobbyist in Washington DC, Trish McKiernan, our Executive Director, your Excom, and your Prez (that's me), have been working on this issue on an ongoing basis since '05.

So why haven't we had a blog until now? Well, frankly, Orphan Works legislation isn't a thrill a minute situation. It's more like a tortoise on hilly terrain - things move slowly, and occasionally things go downhill and speedup, and often things just plain stop. The problem has become that there is a lot of misinformation out there and we decided it's time for an Orphan Works site that gives you just the facts and clears the air a bit. So enjoy!

As for other news, the redesigned Guild Website is almost here and will go live shortly. Trish McKiernan was named Executive Director of the Guild, that's a change of title from Administrative Director, although Trish has been handling the Office since before I became President. And by the way, I will be President for one more term. We sent out a call for nominations and no one wanted my job apparently, so this will be my third and last 2 year term. So, thanks for your support and I'll work hard for you for another two years.

We had a midyear Excom meeting in June and chose Carefree, Arizona as our Annual Board Meeting site. If you will be a delegate to that meeting, pack your cactus proof clothes and your Speedo for the free time. We also planned informational ads for HOW and PRINT magazines, got ready for the ICON5 illustration conference and we’re preparing for a conference in Chicago in August where past Guild President Lloyd Dangle will be speaking.

Haydn Adams, Membership Chair, reported on the Guild presence at the HOW conference held in Boston in June and indicated that we picked up some new Guild Members. The ICON5 conference was over the July 4th holiday. We had a booth, made some new friends, saw some old ones, and also picked up some new members. Orphan Works was on the minds of some, but the state of illustration was the big interest and we at the Guild are committed to making graphic artists better business people, so our message was well received for the most part.

Graphic artists need a vacation and I hope most everyone has taken some time to relax or at least plan some relaxation. I finished my book illustrations that I've been working on since last October, so I feel free of at least one deadline, but luckily I have others. I hope your summer is relaxing and busy. Till next time.

Click here to visit John's June 05 President's Message.

Click here to visit John's March 05 President's Message.

Click here to visit John's December 04 President's Message.

Click here to visit John's November 04 President's Message.

President's Message July, 2008

President's Message
July, 2008