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Message 1
From: David Harrison
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 13:29:04 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39003] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V47 #4832 (May 23, 2009)
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> I have gathered from watching discussions that people don't want to
> look at non printing info on blogs. I have loaded up some shots of
> lino which I think is OK and with a warning 'Lino' in the title, but
> I now want to put some paintings onto the site and get a bit more
> general. Should I be removed from the 'blog watch program? or should
> I just let the blog watcher include me in the daily update and make
> the subject matter clear in the title?

Georgina,

Most blog systems let you create many categories for your posts. For example,
"lino", "woodblock", "sketching", "painting", or anything else you like. You
can assign your articles to one or more of these categories as appropriate.

Each of the categories will have its own feed. You can give the address for
one of these category feeds to Julio rather than the feed for the entire blog.
So if you give him the address for the 'printmaking' feed, that's all that
will show up on the blog watch.

Of course each blog system -- Blogspot, Wordpress, etc -- goes about this
slightly differently. You might have to ask your host or read their help page.
Usually it's not that tricky.

Hope this helps,

David H

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Message 2
From: "Roy"
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 14:35:32 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39004] Re: Exchanges by Committee?
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Excellent post as usual, Maria.

It looks like what we need is
1) someone who can analyze, define, document and publish
the jobs, and sub-jobs required to do what Baren does; and
2) to recruit volunteers, arrange training where necessary,
and coordinate the execution of these jobs.
Should we use extra funds to recompense a part-time COO
(chief operations officer) or at least a onetime analysis?

I think there would be more volunteerism if people knew
precisely what a job entailed, but were allowed
discretion within limits.
I know I would be willing to do something if I knew specifically
what was needed and that it would not take over my life.

Roy

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Maria Arango Diener"
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:19 AM
To:
Subject: [Baren 38994] Exchanges by Committee?

> I agree a good leader needs to delegate from time to time, however a good
> leader knows the tasks and what it takes to do them as well so that the
> delegation process doesn't create more work for either the leader or
> someone
> else behind the curtains. What has happened in Baren is that, because of
> distance and other issues, it is almost always easier to sit down at the
> computer for an hour or so and DO things than it is to spend a few hours
> with emails back and forth hand-holding someone else to DO a task
> (generally
> speaking).
>
>
>
> As for hiring a webmaster, the principal reason we have not done this is
> because most of us in the Council have the skills and web people, in my
> opinion, grossly over-charge for what is a perfectly "learnable" skill.
> Most
> of my husband's web people at the university work on the side for about
> $100-250 per hour or per webpage; revisions are extra; graphics are extra.
> At that rate, Baren owes David Bull several million dollars.
>
> I'm afraid ALL of Baren's profits would be sucked up by a hired webmaster.
>
>
>
> The type of people that are needed as things are run now (not to say
> things
> couldn't be changed by a new fresh leadership) are people that require
> little oversight and limited "training". Example: when I took over as
> Exchange Manager, I had coordinated several exchanges so I knew what
> coordinating was all about. I also pretty much knew what Mike was doing
> and
> how to do it. Mike was absolutely wonderful in transitioning and it only
> took a few emails from him to let me know where everything was and how to
> do
> a few things.
>
> Aside from that, I stepped in, took a gander at the website and all the
> pages involved and took over. I don't really think I'm all that special or
> that skillful, I just had the desire and the time and now I have run out
> of
> both.
>
> There have been some coordinators that have all the skills, so I know that
> the "bodies" are out there.
>
>
>
> As far as tasks in Baren, almost ALL require some HTML knowledge or
> computing skills and ALL of them require someone who is diligent in
> checking
> the list and their email on a daily basis and that knows what is going on
> in
> Baren and can communicate. We are, after all, an online based group so
> being
> online is an essential requirement.
>
>
>
> As for divvying up the workload, that is a great idea; the task of
> Exchange
> Manager could be easily divided into three positions plus the Manager:
>
>
>
> -The Exchange Manager can remain as such, coordinating everyone involved,
> recruiting coordinators and keeping the calendar updated as well as
> communicating to the list the monthly Exchange Updates. This position
> would
> require organizational, communication and management skills. At present
> all
> the information is kept on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
>
>
>
> -Exchange Webmaster could take care of the web page upkeep, upload the
> galleries, upkeep of web pages, sign up forms, email forwards, etc. This
> is
> the most time consuming position and the one that requires most attention
> to
> detail. I suppose this could also be split among two people but they would
> have to be in very close communication between themselves and with the
> manager to avoid duplicating work or really messing up the website.
>
>
>
> -Exchange Graphic Artist could take over the image scanning manipulation
> when coordinators are unable to do this task and forward the scans and
> formatted images to the web master.
>
>
>
> -Exchange Archive Liaison could take care of receiving the archive set,
> ordering a case, printing label and packaging the and mailing to our
> archivists.
>
>
>
> Again, and I don't mean to be pushy or negative in any way: more ideas are
> great, warm bodies are still needed.
>
> Words are just words-ACTION is what makes the world go around.
>
>
>
> Maria
>

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Message 3
From: Diana Moll
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 15:18:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39005] Moku Hanga High School
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> Hi, Bareners,
My blog is usually about my rabbits, so I didn't register it, but I
just posted about the Moku Hanga class I am teaching at a High
School, so you might be interested in that........
http://theqipapers.blogspot.com/
Best to All,
Diana Moll

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Message 4
From: carol Montgomery
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 17:02:37 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39006] Re: Moku Hanga High School
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Dear Diana - I enjoyed your blog very much. The kids did an outstanding job with Moku Hanga - it read like you had a lot of fun! It's so great you are teaching them advanced printmaking techniques. Sincerely, Carol Montgomery, Helena, MT

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Message 5
From: Marilynn Smith
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 17:13:06 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39007] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4831 (May 22, 2009)
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Maria, a very informative email. I feel like someone who has been
peaking in the window, not someone inside the room. You are a
wonderful leader, my comments were not criticism of your skills or
your leadership ability. I was merely trying to see how things might
be structured to help out a job that might have become so large that
it needs helpers. I think it is up to the council to decide if they
want to divide up the chore and if so how. Than they can decide who
they want on board and how many members they feel they can work with
for the council to function well. Life does change and some times a
person needs to move on and let others take on the reins. I do think
there has been some good input. I withdraw the idea that we should
hire someone to redo the web site based on the costs maria has put
forward.

Personally I have stopped doing much volunteer work. I found it
thankless. I took an on call job here for the school district and
found that a paid position actually got more thanks than an unpaid
one. I have found criticism of how volunteers run things can be very
nasty. In fact I had a friend who took on a leadership roll, had
prostate surgery and was home recuperating. He got a death threat
from an angry member.

I suppose videos are good informative ways to distribute knowledge.
Other than putting together a slide show and putting it on UTUBE I
have no experience with them. I did download iwork 09 just yesterday
(it is a trial version) at the suggestion of our Mac club president.
It has keynote, which he said is like power point, numbers, which has
spread sheets and pages which is a word processor. I am certainly an
amateur. I had put together what the publication I submitted it to
called a photo essay this spring. I could not even format it
correctly, they did it for me, hoping that keynote is the answer to
that one. I know all this dribble is not woodblock, but than it is.
Because it is about presenting our work in the computer age.

I will say there is a lot of knowledge located in our Baren archive,
that, if organized, could make some wonderful publications. We also
have some great teachers among our members.

Julio thanks for the comments on how Baren has spent monies in the
past. I certainly am all for spending money on our summits. The
scholarship awards are also excellent choices. I have no gripes with
how Baren has been run. Dave asked for input and I have belonged and
served on volunteer groups. So, I tried to relate some of my
experiences. Most certainly an online group that functions through
email is different from one who meets say monthly in person. However
leadership and structure is leadership and structure. Perhaps it is
time for Baren to structure the council a bit more. And, perhaps it
is time to publish annual reports on funds and how they are spent and
to get more input from the membership in this area. Also, I liked
Maria totally defining the work she has been doing, it helped me
better understand what our volunteers are really doing for all of us.
I can say that the work our council volunteers do is amazing and I for
one can only say THANK YOU.

Maria, you are an energetic, hard working person, I have no gripe with
how you have handled the exchange program and can only say I for one
will miss having you as one of our fine leaders. Good luck to you in
your artistic pursuits.
Marilynn

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Message 6
From: Le Green
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 18:36:57 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39008] RE: New Baren Digest (Text) V47 #4832 (May 23, 2009)
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The Baren Summit 2010 would benefit from having funding. I would be able to leverage it, possible getting the city to match.

Having some seed money to help with the Baren Summit 2010 would be very helpful.
I will be asking for local donations and grants for woodblock print exhibitions and events.
I also and would like to have an exhibition from Japan, and invite some Master of Japanese watercolor printing to come to do workshops, demonstrations and lectures.

I am talking to the San Antonio Central Library about their exhibition space (The space is free,right under the Chihuli glass scuplture) and can draw a VIP crowd.
I also would like to make a proposal to the International Center. Showing that Baren will also be contributing will make a tremendous differense in motivating other funders.


Yours,

Le Green-Schubert
San Antonio in June, 2010

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Message 7
From: "Patricia B. Phare-Camp"
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 20:38:50 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39009] Re: New Baren Digest (Text) V47 #4832 (May 23, 2009)
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>I now want to put some paintings onto the site and get a bit more
>general. Should I be removed from the 'blog watch program? or should I
>just let the blog watcher include me in the daily update and make
>the subject matter clear in the title?"

Just an FYI, I frequently blog about my paintings and books in addition to my printmaking as my blog is my studio journal. I use the "tags" to label the subject matter of my blog. You want to do this for all your entries as this gives the search engines clues as to the subject matter when people use search engines. It also tells the Baren what your blog is about. I believe all my art related blogs are linked in the newslist as many bareners make comments on blogs that are about other subjects. We are all interested in all the artwork our bareners are doing as well as their prints so a career and life news is ok. I dont' think they are blacklisted if they are not about printmaking. I usually also title my blog to the subject. If its mixed works I will title something like "Latest Projects" if about prints I will title "latest" followed whatever discipline I'm using: IE etchings, woodcuts etc. If its about my master's project I say so (its a woodcut series). If its about paintings I say so. I think you get the idea. Anyway it will still show up in the blog update list at the end of the digest and you wont be cut from the listing.

cheers,
Patti P-C

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Message 8
From: Graham Scholes
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 23:53:32 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39010] Re: Funds
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You have made the right call here Barbara...
What is needed is a willing volunteer to grab this function and get
the videos from all willing contributers and edit the material to a
video. Maybe someone has the equipment necessary to preform the
job... it is not a walk in the park from a cost and experience
requirement. It is the techy experience/ knowledge that is the factor.

I thought of contributing here but I must admit that I am up to my arm
pits as a Director / Webmaster, e-bulletin guy, Newsletter for CARFAC
(National organization in Canada) - Director/Webmaster Vmug,
(Victoria, MacIntosh Users Group) - Local Arts Council handling the
promotional and informational brochures and other desktop publishing
matter. Should these functions dry up and I get freed up I will be
more than willing to help.

In the meantime... keep it simple .... in this phase of the Barens
development.

One of the areas that this can be accomplished is not to produce hard
copy material. (Brochures and Flyers) You can’t beat the internet for
communications and reaching the masses of people at a pocket change
cost.

Graham

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Message 9
From: Julio.Rodriguez # walgreens.com
Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 06:27:16 GMT
Subject: [Baren 39011] Re: Baren brochure & blog update
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There are some new entries in the Baren blog....a beginner's guide to
relief printmaking, a visit to Bill Ritchie's studio in Seattle (trial
test of one of his hand-made presses) and a walk-through of Mike Lyon's
current exhibit in Manhattan Kansas.

http://barenforum.org/blog/

"What great idea. It would be wonderful to have a brochure(?) or official
flyer to hand out at any shows or fairs that we participated in..... a
flyer with the baren logo and information about our international
organization as well as an overview of hand pulled printing processes. And
I too would pay for this pamphlet."

Back in 2002 just such a brochure was designed and commercially printed by
John Amoss (ex-council member). The brochure was first printed and
distributed at the SGC convention in New Orleans. Over 225+ flyers were
handed out and then more copies printed and sent to different venues.
Looking over the info it is still mostly accurate (could use some updating
!) and although it does not go into detail about woodblock technique it
does describes Baren, our mission and our major projects. Still love
John's cover design ! Coincidently, in the same newsletter the brochure
was introduced so was the "Baren Awards" program I mentioned earlier
.....see link below under "Editor's Note".

http://barenforum.org/newsletter/issue08/issue08.html

If you want to print your own copies of the brochure here are the links
below for the outside and inside details....you have to use a copier to
get both sides printed on one sheet of paper and then fold the brochure
accordingly. Looks fantastic in color but I also printed over 100 black &
white copies to hand out at my Baren print exhibits in Skokie.

outside of brochure
http://barenforum.org/newsletter/issue08/images/broch1.gif

inside of brochure
http://barenforum.org/newsletter/issue08/images/broch2.gif

thanks...Julio

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Subject: Mike Lyon - Exhibition
Posted by: Julio

This item is taken from the blog BarenForum Group Weblog.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: Bill Ritchie & Halfwood Press Studios
Posted by: Julio

This item is taken from the blog BarenForum Group Weblog.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: Beginning Relief Printmaking
Posted by: Julio

This item is taken from the blog BarenForum Group Weblog.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

Subject: ‘Joanne’ painting 35×21 inches on tinted paper
Posted by: Mike Lyon

This item is taken from the blog MLYON.com.
'Reply' to Baren about this item.

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