6:30pm: OPA General Meeting. Call Nancy Hart (503-292-2165) to put items on the agenda. Bring items for the swap table, Empty Bowls donations, announcements for the room divider, snacks for the break (to share), etc.

7pm: Program: Alan Zell, the self-proclaimed "Ambassador of Selling" will give a presentation. In the past, he has given valuable information about methods of displaying work, methods of talking with customers, your body language as a salesperson, etc. He suggested that OPA members email questions and concerns at least one week ahead of time at azell@aol.com (identify yourself as an OPA member so he knows what your question is for) and he will customize his remarks accordingly. Also visit his website at www.sellingselling.com. He is knowledgeable about OPA, selling crafts, etc. This should be a really useful program, and every member who sells their work should attend!

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: February 10, 2000. Send submissions to Janet Buskirk, 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland OR 97214 (nope, still can’t send me email. Sorry)

NEXT BOARD MEETING: Wednesday February 9th, 6:30pm at Janet Buskirk’s house, 3624 SE Yamhill, Portland. 503-231-2810

I encourage you to call me, also, if you have any questions and I will try to steer you to someone with the answers. Please remember that we are all volunteers and we have many committments in addition to OPA. Be patient- sometimes it takes a while to find answers to your questions! You may not be the only person who does not know the answer to your questions- this organization has gotten so large that we do not all know each other any more.

New members or old members with questions, welcome! Please call me at 541-942-2071, message machine is always on! -Gil Harrison

**President: (not on ballot- elected in 1999) 15 points. Presides over all OPA board and general meetings. Attends all Showcase Steering Committee meetings. Works directly with Showcase Chair. Communicates with all OPA committees. Advises and directs all board members on their assigned projects. Represents OPA at NCECA conference (and attends conference free of charge). Often works on one large project, for instance updating by-laws or de-aquisitioning Permanent Collection.

2001 President/2000 President Elect: 9 points. Should have a good knowledge of OPA. Attends general and board meetings. Conducts meetings in the absence of the president. Attends Showcase Steering Committee meetings if possible. Steps into ad hoc committee work as needed. Presents outgoing President with a thank you gift.

*Secretary: 9 points. Responsible for attending and taking the minutes at 6 general meetings and 6 board meetings. Types minutes in a timely fashion and sends to President and Board. Keeps OPA records.

**Treasurer (not on ballot- 2 year position for 1999 & 2000). Keeps all the books for OPA and Showcase. Attends many meetings of OPA, Showcase and with paid bookkeeper.

*Newsletter Editor: 15 points. Writes the newsletter 6 times per year. Each newsletter takes 12-16 hours to write. Checks PO Box, compiles information from various sources. Needs to be computer literate, and OPA might be able to provide computer if nominee does not have one.

*Program Chair: 9 points. Arranges five 45-60 minute programs which follow business part of OPA meetings. Presentations should be of interest to members: slide lectures, demonstrations, discussions of clay related topics. July meeting is traditionally the "Best of Show" winner from Showcase giving a demonstration. Informs newsletter editor of upcoming programs. Stores OPA slide projector.

**Past President: (not on ballot since this is the current President’s automatic position for next year) 6 points. Supports President and continues working on OPA projects.

*Ceramic Showcase 2000 Chair: 15 points. Clearing house for all questions, general organization, Showcase meeting schedules, etc. Coordinates all Showcase Chairs and Committees. For more info talk to Margie Adams (she is the acting chair and nominee for the year 2000. We will also be looking for someone to train with her to step into this position for 2001). The Past Showcase Chair also receives 6 points for their continued input and work.

At Large Board Members: (12 positions, 6 points each) At Large Members work with the Board on special projects and committees. Must attend 6 board meetings, discuss & vote on issues and share in the responsibility of running OPA. Some of the projects have included: de-aquisitioning the Permanent Collection; revising OPA by laws; coordinating group buys; helping with Empty Bowls; answering the OPA phone line.

*Membership: 9 points. Maintains and updates current and past membership files. Compiles and publishes OPA membership list at the beginning of each year. Sends welcome letter and back issues of newsletter to each new member who joins mid-year. Adds new members, renewals & address changes to bi-monthly newsletter, prints address labels for bi-monthly newsletter.

*Hospitality: 6 points. Sets up snacks & drinks area before each OPA general meeting. Set up requires bringing the coffee and teapot, napkins, etc, cleaning up after meeting. Stores equipment. Works with picnic committee.

*Empty Bowls Chair: 12 points. For Portland-area Empty Bowls Event. Knowledge of the history of Empty Bowls project is helpful. Arranges for the collection of bowls that are donated throughout the year. Must be available to take part in set up, take down and the running of the Waterfront Blues Festival Empty Bowls booth the week of July 4th. Coordinates volunteers to work all aspects of the show. Works with the Oregon Food Bank regarding booth and sales. Publicizes Empty Bowls to a variety of press organizations- writes press releases and provides photos. Provides Newsletter Editor with Empty Bowls info.

Empty Bowls Co-Chair: 6 points. Work hand in hand with Empty Bowls Chair. See above description.

*Picnic: 6 points. Coordinates where the picnic will be, who will bring what food items, works with members to buy chicken and beer, gets OPA members to help with event, arranges entertainment (pottery lottery, pot smash, music). Sends newsletter editor info. Cleans up after picnic. In 2000, the picnic will be replaced by a party, so this chair will work on party organization.

*Web Master: 9 points. Must be connected to the World Wide Web and be able to create & edit Web Pages. Updates OPA Web Page info which includes: adding links to member pages and other web servers, adding new pages to the OPA site for members, updating Showcase page before Showcase each year, include an edited, updated copy of the newsletter, check email, pass on pertinent info as necessary. Pays web-hosting service and keeps correspondence on file. Keeps board appraised of web page happenings and makes changes at board’s request.

*Workshops: 6 points. Organizes a few workshops per year with local and/or visiting artists.

*Clay in Education: 6 points. Reviews projects submitted by members for educational clay activities in their communities. Determines number of hours for which instructor may be paid. Assists and advises about procurement of materials, tools, firing space, etc. Organizes the Clay in Education area at Art in the Pearl.

*Justice Center Window Co-ordinator: 6 points. Co-ordinates displays in the Justice Center Windows (downtown Portland). Sets up and breaks down many of the displays. Display changes every 4-8 weeks.

*Mentor Program: 6 points. Matches established OPA members with new members to help welcome them to the organization and advise them about necessary clay info.

Storage Unit Chair: 6 points. Co-ordinates use of the items in the storage unit, keeps the key, keeps track of items which are in the unit. The storage unit is located in Portland near NE Broadway and Martin Luther King Blvd.

The Greater Eugene Committee of OPA will have elections for their board positions separately from the main body of OPA. Their election will be at their potluck meeting, Sunday Jan. 9th, 1-3pm at 4270 N Shasta Loop in Eugene. They are looking for new board members and for Clay Fest committee chairs. If you are interested, call Cheryl Kempner by Jan 4th, 541-344-3460.

If you are interested in running for any of the above positions or have any questions, please call Cynthia (541-753-4606) or Nancy (503-292-2165) before January 10th.

NEXT MEETING: The next Greater Eugene Committee meeting will be a potluck on Sunday January 9th, 1-3pm at 4270 N Shasta Loop. New board members will be elected plus meeting dates and content will be decided for the coming year. (If you are interested in a board position, call Cheryl at 541-344-3460)

EUGENE EMPTY BOWLS: This will be Friday, March 3rd. Please bring your donations to the next meeting or contact France Robinson at 541-344-6336

Ceramic Showcase will be May 5-7, 2000. Music will be OPA member Mary Orcutt’s woodwind group, Trio Ladies.

The OPA slide projector will be continuously showing slides at the information booth during the show. If you would like to have your slides shown, send them to Margie Adams, 4011 SE Taggart, Portland OR 97202.

The contract with the Oregon Convention Center has been signed for the year 2001. Dates will be May 4-6 (set up May 2-3). Rooms A103 and 104 have also been rented for storage.

POLICY CHANGES: The "Best Booth Award" winner will get the option of either a $100 gift certificate for Showcase or first choice of booth location for next year.

REBATE FOR 1999: Showcase participants from 1999 should have received their rebate checks by now. The rebates were for approximately 7% of sales.

MAILING LISTS: If you have not already sent your mailing list to Showcase, send it by early February to Ginger Steele, 3285 Susbauer Rd, Cornelius OR 97113, email petunia.com. Any readable format is good, IBM-compatible disks are also good.

NEXT SHOWCASE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: January 11, 2000 at Audrey Graham’s, 32493 Juliette Dr, Wilsonville.

DAVE SHANER: Many OPA members already know that Dave Shaner has contracted ALS and has been wheelchair-bound and unable to work for the last two years. Studio Potter magazine is planning an archival monograph of his life and work. The next issue of their magazine will contain this (it will also be available as a separate publication), and because it will have 37 extra pages (16 in color) it will cost them $10,000 extra to print. They are soliciting contributions for this. OPA has already donated $500 as an organization. If you would like to donate individually to this project, send funds to Studio Potter, PO Box 70, Goffstown NH 03045. For further info contact Gerry Williams, editor, 603-774-3582

WOMEN’S ANAGAMA FIRING at the East Creek Anagama (near Sheridan, Oregon) will be the last week of February and first weekend in March. If you are interested, contact Michael Fromme, 91884 Marcola Rd, Springfield OR 97478, 541-933-2678

THE CLAY BALL will be a fund-raiser for the Marjorie T Sherman Ceramics Center in Salem, Feb 12, 8-12pm, special dinner at 6:30pm. An evening of fun & creativity, make art for your Valentine, plus refreshments & dancing. Call them for more info, 503-581-7275

FREE MATERIALS Pratt Larson Tile Company has several types of low-temperature dry glaze which they are giving away. All are in 50 lb bags. One is 90% frit 3124 and 10% clay (I’ve substituted it for frit in my glazes. -ed), and fires out to a glossy clear at cone 04. The other two glazes are both satin matte, partly opacified glazes at cone 04. Call Andy Balmer at 503-231-9464 to make an appointment to pick some up.

PRINTED IMAGERY ON CLAY is the subject of two articles in CeramicsTECHNICAL #9, 1999. One article is about Scott Rench’s methods of printing onto clay using computer-generated images which are silk-screened onto the clay using underglazes. The other is about Alexandra McCurdy’s silk-screening onto porcelain. They both give thorough step-by-step information about their techniques.

NEW GALLERY: The Earthen Root is a new gallery and studio near Portland. They are a full-service ceramic studio with a warm, inviting atmosphere (no kidding, that’s what the press release says) in quaint old town Troutdale. They have four full time artists, monthly clay space, community classes for kids & adults, as well as a gallery featuring local & national artists. Visit them at 202 W Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale OR, 503-492-4402

NEW ARTS FACILITY? The Regional Arts & Culture Council is doing a feasibility study about creating a shared, multi use arts incubator facility (whatever that means) in the Maddox Building at the east end of the base of the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland. The building is 80,000 sq ft. They are examining possible uses: performance, rehearsal, art production (foundry/glass/weaving/kilns/etc), studios, offices for arts organizations, art classes, recording studio, gallery, meeting areas, computer animation labs, film/video theater, technical assistance, museum, restaurant, retail.... More info will be in their next newsletter.

JOSH DEWEESE (OPA Sponsored) at Mt Hood Community College, Jan 29-30, 9-4pm. $40 OPA members, Mt Hood students, $50 everyone else. Josh will explore form making both on and off the wheel with particular attention to altered forms. Stretching, cutting, square throwing, etc. Glaze information concerning wood and soda firing will be presented. Josh will supervise a soda firing on Saturday. Quick cooled & Sunday opened. There will be slides and a video of work being done at the Archie Bray Foundation which Josh manages in Helena, Montana. Following Saturday’s presentation there will be dinner at Edgefield and then a gallery opening of Josh’s work at Earthen Root Gallery in Troutdale (492-4402). Checks payable to MHCC Ceramics Club. Mail to Stephen Mickey, 26000 SE Stark St, Gresham OR 97030, 503-491-7309 for more info.

PATRICK HORSLEY at MT Sherman Ceramics Center in Salem, "Thrown, Altered & Assembled Forms", he will demonstrate making these forms and share his knowledge from 30 years of working with clay. Clay & glaze info and formulas, tips for solving problems and achieving surfaces in cone 9-10 or cone 6 reduction, March 4-5, $85, SAA members $75, contact MT Sherman Ceramics Center, 1220 12th St SE, Salem OR 97302, 503-581-7275, At2350F@aol.com

ADRIAN ARLEO "Problem Solving in Building Large Scale Figurative Sculpture", March 4-5, 9-4pm, $160+$25, Oregon College of Art and Craft, 8245 SW Barnes Rd, Portland OR 97225, 503-297-5544, http://www.ocac.edu

JAN EDWARDS "Tile Making and Decorating" Feb 12-13, Hands on, Mount Hood Community College, Gresham, Oregon

ELLEN CURRANS January 29 "Studio Techniques". A rare one day workshop with one of the Northwest’s premiere studio potters. Studio practices, handbuilding, tips, etc. $50. Includes continental breakfast & lunch. At Doug Hively’s studio, contact him at PO Box 175, Monmouth, OR 97361, 503-838-3989 or 800-955-8186

DOUG HIVELY Feb 19-20, "Demystifying Plaster, Molds & Slipcasting". Participate in one or two day workshop. Day 1: Information, techniques, demonstrations. Day 2: Continuation of day 1, plus hands on mold making. Each day 2 participant will be assisted in producing a mold of their own. $50 per day. Includes continental breakfast & lunch. At Doug Hively’s studio, contact him at PO Box 175, Monmouth, OR 97361, 503-838-3989 or 800-955-8186

MAJOLICA MADNESS: Feb 5, 6-10pm at Salem Art Association Ceramics Center. $5 admission, $5 to buy glazes, $5 and up per pot. A frenzy of people painting bright colors on white glazes. Call 503-581-7275

MARY LOU ZEEK slide show at Salem Art Assoc Ceramic Center. March 11, 7-9pm. See slides of her whimsical & spontaneous work. Free.

DALE PETERSON: Learn how to photograph your own work. Take professional looking photographs using your ordinary equipment. At the Bush Barn annex in Salem. Jan 29, 1-2:30pm. $40 members, $44 non members. Call Salem Art Assoc, 503-581-7275

CRAIG MARTELL Portland Community College Rock Creek, Jan 21-22, $40, send checks to Wally Schwab, 7609 SW 195th Pl, Aloha OR 97007

NCECA CONFERENCE: NCECA 2000 will be March 22-25 in Denver. Hotels and flights may go fast since it is spring break! For more info call 800-99NCECA.

THE STUDIO POTTER NETWORK will have their annual fund raiser at the Denver NCECA Conference. This year’s theme will be "Millennium Pots", in other words, your choice of work that best represents your spirit, line of work and/or preference as we enter the next century. Pieces which are exhibited are donated to the Studio Potter Network for their fundraising. What do you get? Fame! All of the people who attend NCECA go to this exhibit and see your work. The pots need to be there by March 20, 2000, and they need to be shipped as a group. We will need them by late February. Would you like to donate a piece? Contact Nancy Hart (503-292-2165) or Janet Buskirk (503-231-2810)

ORTON CONE BOX SHOW The International Orton Cone Box Show is one of the most fun shows ever! Each piece must fit into a large Orton Cone box (3x3x6") and be at least 50% clay. Work must be for sale, not to exceed $150. $25 entry fee, juried from actual work. Pieces may be sold even if not juried into the show. For info write to the Orton Ceramic Foundation, 6991 Old 3C Hwy, Westerville OH 43082. Feb 14 deadline.

2000 MULTI MEDIA JURIED ART EXHIBIT at the Gresham City Hall Visual Arts Gallery. May 2-June 8, juried from slides, no jury fee, deadline Feb 28, 20% commission, contact Laureva Slavsky, 665-2433, http://www.ci.gresham.or.us

ARTIST IN RESIDENCY: The Regional Arts & Culture Council is looking for artists for a Multnomah County artist-in-residency program. Two artists will be selected, each program cannot exceed $8000. Deadline Jan 17. Contact Peggy Kendellen, 503-823-4196, pkendellen@racc.org, http://www.racc.org

ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS: The Regional Arts & Culture Council has two $20,000 fellowships for individual artists residing in Multnomah, Washington or Clackamas counties. These are for mature artists who have been working in their field for at least 10 years and have lived in Oregon for at least 5 years. The artist can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. Deadline Jan 10 for 2000/2001. Contact Katrina Gilkey at 503-823-5408.

POTTERY IN INDIA: A Tea Garden in Palampur, in Himachal Pradesh in the Western Himalayas is looking for someone to start a pottery unit. They would not be able to pay the person, but would be able to feed and house them while in the area. Contact Navin Sarin, Chandpur Tea Estate, Palampur-176061, Himachal Pradesh, India. Tel: 0091-1894-30647 fax 30417. email ksarin@nde.vsnl.net.in

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Tony & Janet Kronemeyer are opening a store in Brookings, Oregon featuring Oregon artists, craftsmen and food producers. They are looking for work. 60/40 consignment. Call 541-412-3407

FEATS OF CLAY: May 6-28, Feb 28 deadline, For prospectus send legal sized SASE to Lincoln Arts, PO Box 1166, Lincoln CA 95648

STRICTLY FUNCTIONAL POTTERY NATIONAL: Deadline Jan 15, $20 entry fee for 3 slides, Work due early April for April 14 opening date. http://www.art-craftpa.com, Market House Craft Center, PO Box 204, East Petersburg PA 17520

PORTLAND ARTS FESTIVAL, June 16-18, 2000. $25 jury fee, $350-400 booth fees, 4 slides+booth slide, in downtown Portland. Jan 28 deadline. PO Box 5155, Portland OR 97208, 227-2681

FOLKLIFE May 26-29, 2000 in Seattle Center. Juried from actual pieces or slides, deadline Jan 11, pieces delivered Jan 22, no jury fee, booths $190-250+ 15%, for info contact NW Folklife, 305 Harrison St, Seattle WA 98109, 206-684-7300, http://www.nwfolklife.org/folklife/

EDMONDS ARTS FESTIVAL June 16-18, $10 jury fee, booths $30-175+ 20%, deadline Jan 15, 4 slides + booth slide, mailing address PMB 125, 10924 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo WA 98275, 425-745-0799, www.edfest.com

BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM FAIR (formerly the Pacific Northwest Arts Fair), July 28-30, $10 jury fee, booths $20-30 plus $150 deposit, 425-454-3322 ext 125, www.bellevueart.org, 301 Bellevue Square, Bellevue WA 98004, deadline Feb 29.

DAN TURNIDGE, long time potter and friend to all of us, died on Nov 10 from diabetes. Dan had been a studio potter since the mid 70s, and had been an active member of OPA for many years. He was potter-in-residence at the Bush Barn in Salem, and sold his work at Saturday market as well as various shows throughout the country. One of his pieces was exhibited at the Smithsonian in a folk-art show. He had heart surgery earlier this fall, and although his recovery was slow, he was able to return home. We will all miss him. Cards of sympathy may be sent to Mr & Mrs Wally Turnidge, PMB 174, 4742 Liberty Rd S, Salem OR 97302. Remembrances may be sent to the American Diabetes Association.

LINDA HAWORTH is the subject of an article in the December 1999 Ceramics Monthly on her tile installations at Tri-Met stations in Hillsboro

HIROSHI OGAWA will have pieces in the "Wood Fired Invitational" at Gallery WDO in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dec 1-Jan 15. Also included are Dan Anderson, Rob Barnard, Jeff Shapiro, Toshiko Takaezu & Byron Temple.

KIM MURTON’s sculpture will be featured in "Best Friends Speak" at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, Dec 11-Jan 9.

LOTTE STREISINGER is having a retrospective of her work at Jacobs Gallery at the Holt Center in Eugene through Jan 15. Gallery hours Tues-Sat 11-3pm

JAN EDWARDS has a photo of her Audubon Tile Installation (fireplace surround) in Lark Books’ new Architectural Ceramics for the Studio Potter by Peter King. She also is expecting her third grandchild, reputed to be a girl (Grandson Noa is 4, Rio is 2)

NATALIE WARRENS will have a show of her earthenware sculpture at Attic Gallery in Portland, Jan 6-29, opening reception Thurs Jan 6, 6-9pm

JOSH DEWEESE: At the Earthen Root Gallery, 202 W Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale. Meet the artist Jan 29 at 5pm. The show will be up through February.

STUDIO SPACE FOR RENT: In basement, wired for kiln, $80/month + electricity. Victoria Shaw 503-331-0950 (N Portland)

STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE at the Earthen Root in Troutdale. Soldner wheels, firing and glazing privileges, $75/month. Travis 492-4402.

WORK WANTED: Starving art student will work in any medium. No task too menial! Fast learning, very reliable. Seeking reasonable compensation and learning experience. Call Michael at 503-648-4140.

EXHIBITION SPACE AVAILABLE: For emerging ceramic artists, Clackamas Community College Ceramics Dept, Contact Katy McFadden, 244-1351 or 657-6958 x2579

FOR SALE: Large ball mill jar w/ lid $50. Large kiln vent hood- galvanized steel, includes pipe, multiflex joint & revolving turban cap, new, excellent condition, $500 or best offer. Delivery possible. 541-466-5635, Rhoda (Brownsville, near Eugene)

FOR SALE:Bottom ring for Skutt 1227 kiln, has coils, band, bricks, plug, new $100/obo. North Star Mold Press (like a small tile press, for pressing small, 2-part molds), 2 handles, 12 bats, plastic mold for sample, like new, complete, $150. Marylyn 360-694-8881 (Vancouver)

FOR SALE: 1 ton approx, cone 10 scrap clay, bagged, you pick up (on a sunny day please). $100, Victoria Littlejohn Ceramics, McMinnville. 503-472-4898, leave message

FOR SALE: Used Olympic 1823 kiln w/ LT-K3 timer (cone 8), shelves, some replacement parts. 18" wide 23" tall, $150, 360-425-9376, Lizanne (Longview)

FOR SALE: I am closing my studio and have equipment like a Brent wheel, kiln, Brent slab roller, etc for sale. I have a website for people to view items, http://www.owt.com/gdscott/pottery (phone # in Richland WA is 509-946-0725)

FOR SALE: Skutt 1998 3-phase 1227PK kiln w/ upgraded elements, cost $2000 new, asking $1300. Skutt 1997 3-phase 1227PK kiln, $1100. Skutt 1996 3-phase 1027 factory refitted with PK elements and mercury relays, $1100. Skutt 1997 3-phase 1027 kiln, $900. All kilns near-new condition, some with new elements. Also 9-slot tile setters for 6" tiles, 40 at $5 each. 12x12 stackable leaf setters, 70 at $5 each. Misc cone 06/05 glazes, mostly Mayco 4 ounces, 50 cents each. Very heavy duty industrial shelving, 54 36x36" shelves w/ uprights, $250 all. Steve 538-6030 (Newberg)