The meeting began at 12:08 p.m. Present were: Bob Wiley – President, Betsy Fraser – Vice-President , Paula Kennedy – Secretary, Ronalyn Hurley – Treasurer and Membership Coordinator and Patricia Daugherty -- Education Coordinator. There were no absent members.

Treasurer’s report: At the current time the guild has $8,649.24 in the bank account.

Membership Report: There are currently 41 paid members.
It was suggested that the guild do an online survey through our Yahoo group to see what would attract members to monthly meetings and what demos people would like to see. Betsy will conduct the survey.

Future meetings:
January: Paula will demonstrate ways to use a clay extruder.
February: Suanough Zentell will demo on Kumihimo (Japanese braiding).
March: Bob will demo ways to use liquid clay.

Classes/Workshops:
Maureen Carlson will be teaching a two-day workshop on February 7 & 8, 2009. There are nine paid and two comp’ed attendees. That leaves six places still available.

Louise Fischer Cozzi will teach a workshop on “wall dolls” on May 16 & 17, 2009. There will be no regular guild meeting that day. Bob will check with Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) about coordinating on this class. HCCC sells some of Louise Fischer-Cozzi’s items in their gift shop.

The Lone Star Retreat is scheduled for September 25-27, 2009 at the South Shore Harbor Hotel in League City.

Challenges:
The challenge for January is nametags.
The April challenge will be bowls for the HCCC sponsored “Empty Bowls” event to raise money to feed the homeless. Entries in the bowls challenge will NOT be returned.

The prizes for the challenges will be changed to:
One prize per challenge - $25 gift certificate from Polymer Clay Express.
Only one entry will be allowed per person.
You cannot win two consecutive challenges. If you won the previous challenge mark your entry “display only – no votes.”

Nominating Committee: All current members of the board are willing to continue in their current positions next year. Nominees are needed for the Marketing Coordinator and Member-at-Large.

Retreat:
Patricia will get the final contracts from the teachers.
A retreat committee meeting will be scheduled in the near future.

Other Business:
The guild’s subscription to Polymer Café is not being delivered. We will have the address changed to Betsy’s to see if that will correct the problem.

Aaron Brothers art stores are eliminating their stock of all polymer clay related items. These items are now on sale for 75% off. A motion was made and approved that Betsy spend up to $100 buying items that can be used for guild meeting raffles, the retreat silent auction or to have available at meetings for use by new members.

Increased use of the Yahoo group was recommended as a way to encourage more guild participation. Paula will post the handout from her demo today.

The board should think of ideas for a future exhibit at HCCC.

The meeting adjourned at 12:54 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Paula Kennedy, secretary