Christmas Committee All of the up to date information about the Christmas Committee can be found by clicking here! If you have additional questions please contact Sharon Carlson or Kay Brendel ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seminars The next seminar will be October 15-17, 2010 with Kathie George. Check the website in upcoming months for project information. Contact Betsy Broyles or Susan Philips ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caring Sister / Secret Sister Please keep you secret sister in your thoughts and show her you care with a card.  The mailbox will be at the September meeting but you can send a card anytime.  Contact Judy Frank with any questions or concerns. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Membership Even though the new membership drive for 2011 starts in October, you can pay your 2011 dues starting in September.  So, beat the rush and come to the membership table in September and get your forms and pay early. Contact Pat Kaminsky for information. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cactus Wren Achievement Award It is not too early to be thinking about your nomination for the 2010 Achievement Award recipient. The deadline is the April meeting, however, those past recipients will gladly take your nomination early. On the nomination form, tell us why this member deserves this award using the following criteria. The nominee must be a member in good standing with both Cactus Wren and the Society; what has this nominee done to further the Society of Decorative Painters; and what has this member done in our chapter that is over and above what our normal members do. No one is eligible for this award more than once. Nomination forms will be available at the Membership table or click here and print out a form. Thank you from your past recipients of this award. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Caught Being Nice" Jill Porter was caught being nice in May.  A member got her own piece in the exchange and Jill offered up the piece she received in exchange so that NO ONE GOT THEIR OWN!  I'm curious if the dessert was still in the container???  hmmm Remember to email DeAnn names of members who go above and beyond or out of their way to be extra nice during any given month.  DeAnn has a special prize drawing planned for those whose names get reported by the Christmas party. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exchanges We had 27 dessert boxes exchanged last meeting and they were beautiful! It never ceases to amaze me the talent our members have. Thank you to all the participants for joining in the fun. For those on the side lines...wishing you made the time... no time like the present to get involved! October- fall theme member’s choice (searching through your pattern stash yet?) November- ornaments-CWDA tradition (paint-in ornaments don't count!) Exchanges are gifts from you to a friend. With 3 months to paint don't settle on any old design...challenge yourself! I saw all the art show entries...Keep Dazzling us! Get involved-Stay involved it makes the meetings fun. We hope everyone has a painterly summer Stay Cool! Jill, Liz, Gretchen --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GetAway 2010 Prescott Valley, AZ Sept. 17 – 19, 2010 Lots of fun classes and activities have been planned for this year’s Getaway. Class projects will be on display at the June meeting. Be sure to sign up and receive your “same surface” for the exchange. Pictures of class projects can be viewed online. If you did not receive a newsletter and would like one, please contact Lois. The cost is only $20 for those staying at the host hotel ($35 if not registered at host hotel) this year and accommodations will be wonderful in the Hampton Inn & Suites. Complete directions for how to register at the hotel and all the information for the weekend are available on this website and in the GetAway Newsletter (click and you can download a PDF copy). Questions?? Contact Lois Eldridge or Kathy Bigham --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just in passing…… I have to say I was very impressed with the turnout for the dessert exchange. Everyone painted some great pieces. Thank you to the Exchange committee for keeping us busy painting and allowing us to enjoy everyone’s projects. I look forward to all the different painted clipboards. I would like to send out a BIG THANK YOU to the Art Show Committee for a WONDERFUL job. The Art Show is a very difficult thing to get organized and Quita, Sharon and Elena you did a fabulous job. A thank you goes out to Pat for organizing our luncheon during the Art Show. Your committee did a good job with our finger foods! Thanks again for everyone’s hard work. Susan Phillips --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buddies ...looking for super CWDA members that will be a Buddy during meetings in 2010. In an effort to keep guests and new members coming to our meetings, I would like to really concentrate on making this program work. Just need help to do so. Thanks for volunteering to welcome guests and new members and make them aware and more comfortable at our meetings! Thank you! Lana Hinde 'Buddy' Chairperson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ways & Means Celebrate your birthday month like they do in Bulgaria. Instead of getting presents from everyone, or maybe in addition, give someone a gift from you.  On the month of your birthday you are invited to donate an item that you have painted. This, of course, is voluntary, and loads of fun.  You brighten someone's day, and they will have a hand painted piece they will treasure. The item you donate should be relatively inexpensive. Your birthday girl gift/donation will be raffled off, and the winner announced after the business meeting. It's loads of fun, so come on, participate and find the joy in giving. In addition to the Birthday Girl Raffle, the Ways & Means Committee would greatly appreciate donations for the "Special Raffle" (usually raffled over a period of a couple of meetings). Please contact one of us at the Ways & Means table if you would like to participate. Door Prizes: The two Heart Candle Stick Holders were won by Kathy Smith. The recipe card holder was won by Coleen Jensen. Congratulations ladies. Birthday Girl: The very cute Mom & Pop in the Tub piece (donated by Kimie Talley) was won by Kathy Smith. The beautiful colored still life (donated by Marie Buss) was won by Vicki Robbins. Special Raffle: The lovely Rosemaling plate painted by Judy Dahl was won by Pat Kaminski. Thank you ladies for your donations and for your participation. Mary Meenk and Micaela Dutson, Co-Chairs Linda Thiel, Committee Marilyn Campbell, Committee --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Paint for Freedom" program. This program can be our chapter's way of honoring our service men and women by painting wooden cards for them to be distributed to 5 service people in our community and 5 cards to be sent back to SDP. Here's what we need: 1. 8 more volunteers to paint cards as quickly as possible, in a patriotic theme or something else you would like. We have 2 volunteers to date. 2. Names & contact info for 5 service people in our families or friends. Please advise me ASAP if you could help with this special project. The cards are still not here but in talking with the chairwoman, she assures me they will be sent ASAP. Thanks so much, Niki Simonson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luncheons The ladies that will be hosting the September Luncheon are as follows: Sharon Carlson, Jackie Grossnickle, Kimi Talley, Mary Bean, Ronnie Rowe, DeEtta Maloney, Lana Hinde, Kathy Smith.  Thank you ladies and a special thank you to Sharon for heading up the luncheon. Please contact Pat Kaminsky if you are willing to help during any of these months. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Membership Committee There are still twenty members that have not shown or sent their SDP membership cards. All members of Cactus Wren have to be members of SDP or we could lose our charter. So, please send a photo copy of your membership card or show it to one of us on the membership committee at the next meeting. Thank you, Pat Kaminsky Click here for additional information on membership. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAINT-IN’S…Come Join The Fun! All paint-ins must be paid before signing up. All supplies must be paid when signing up. No refunds. All projects will be at the June meeting and in the summer Chatter.   September 11: Mystery Paint In. You may sign up for Acrylic or Oil. The surface fee is $6.50 October 9: Same Surface Charity. Lana Hinde, Judy Dahl and Carolyn Johnson will be teaching. $5 to CW for the paint in, $5 for our charity, $10 for the surface. November 13: Ornaments. No charge for the paint in if you have renewed your membership. We are looking for your creativity to shine for the November Ornament Paint In. Think about the ornaments you have painted, or received, in the past. What stood out about that one? Was it the design? How about the surface? The plan is to have four teachers who will teach the same ornament in the morning and the afternoon. The Board is looking for different surfaces. A flat surface is the most plentiful, but how about a piece of gourd? Maybe a tin star?  A paper mache cone? These are just a few thoughts to get you thinking about other surfaces. The Board would like to choose these ornaments at the September meeting. After the Board has chosen the ornaments, they will be on display for sign ups. Dig into your books and get creative!! Good luck! Since there is no “Chatter” during the summer months, please take the Paint In pages out and put them on your refrigerator so you can refer to them. Photos will be online as the summer progresses. Costs will also be posted as they are received by me. Paint In Chair - Liz Bishop, Co-chairs : Stephanie Maynard and Susan Star