2011
January 15th, 2011
DRAWING BOTANICAL SUBJECTS FROM THE WILD — with Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik, botanist and scientific illustrator, at the University of Washington Greenhouse
Business Meeting and Workshop 10:30 AM-3:30 PM
Participants practiced botanical field sketching with pencil and watercolor. As well as helpful group critiques, and advice on techniques and supplies from Dr. Vorobik, there was an informative tour of the facility with greenhouse staff, and a wide selection of interesting subjects from which to choose. We enjoyed a potluck lunch; the short business meeting included the election of chapter officers and a look at some possible chapter logos. Helpful link: http://www.vorobikbotanicalart.com/assets/Vorobik08_Refs_Supl.pdf
Saturday, March 12th, 2011
FROM THE FIELD TO THE STUDIO — A behind the scenes look at the artwork of wildlife artist and photographer Bart Rulon
Location: School of Visual Concepts, 500 Aurora Ave North, Seattle, WA
Business Meeting: 11am-1pm, potluck lunch, open to all.
Presentation: 1pm – 3pm, $10 for members, $15 for non-members (join or renew annual membership at the meeting, $20)
This colorful slide show features the award winning artwork and photography of local wildlife artist Bart Rulon (Whidbey Island, WA). It’s a journey showing how Rulon creates his realistic paintings of wildlife, starting with the time he spends sketching and photographing wildlife in the field. You’ll learn techniques Bart uses to research his subjects in the wild as you see pictures of wildlife taken from the vantage point of a kayak, and floating blind. Bart will share stories about encounters with animals he’s had on some of these adventures. Slides demonstrating the progression of several of his paintings will give you insight on the painting process in acrylic and watercolor. Bart will share many of the techniques he’s learned the hard way over 20 years of being a professional wildlife artist. Bart will be available for questions during and after his presentation, and he will bring along art instruction/photo reference books he has written for North Light Books that will be available for sale. You can see more of his artwork at www.BartRulon.com.
July 10 - 16th, 2011
GNSI Northwest hosted the 2011 NATIONAL GNSI CONFERENCE — http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2011WA/index.html
Location: The nature-inspiring campus of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA.
2011 GNSI ANNUAL EXHIBIT — http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2011WA/pages/exhibit_information.html
Click on "see a slide show of selected work."
Each and every one of the planning committee members made significant sacrifices of time and personal resources to ensure the conference would be a successful event for all involved. It was a real team effort, and without any one of these fine folks, the conference would not have been the same. Special thanks also goes out to the other event volunteers, supporters, conference sponsors, and to the attendees that showed up! We needed each and every one of you to make the conference a success! THANK YOU, ALL!!!
— Audrey Miles Cherney, GNSI-NW President 2009-2012
CONFERENCE CHAIR
Audrey Miles Cherney (Port Townsend, WA)
Chairing a conference planning committee is often described as being like “giving birth.” Well, I must have decided that I needed to take this suggestion literally, or perhaps I needed to refresh my memory just to be sure, as I did give birth to my second child five months before the conference, and without missing a beat, came back quickly to complete my mission to bring a quality event that the Guild would be proud about hosting. Seeing it all come together the week of the conference was such a joy and a relief for me as I had been envisioning it for over two years! And, yes, there are many similarities to chairing a conference and having a baby... one is my biological child, the other is my brainchild! They both take a LOT of work, you are never truly ready no matter how much you plan when THE day arrives. There are many sleepless nights, it is all a labor of love, it is something you don’t want to try to do alone, the quality of your support network makes a world of difference, some things don't turn out as you expect them so you just have to go with the flow, the experience changes you forever, and in the end they are both so worth while!
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Cat Wilson (New York)
A classy lady with energy, motivation, and terrific organization abilities, Cat jumped in midstream to take on the Programs and Workshops coordination tasks. Despite being all the way on the “other” coast in New York, she pulled together a fantastic line up of speakers and instructors in about half the time it normally takes. If the conference were an evening meal, she is the one that ensured that the meat and potatoes were Grade A and cooked just the way we each like ‘em! She gets a “gold star” for her commitment and efforts while doing is all in style and with grace!
REGISTRATION/HOUSING COORDINATOR
Sue Burrus (Redmond, WA)
What a momentous task it is to manage the registration details for 150 guests traveling from across the country during a weeklong conference with over 60 different events and activities while also tracking each person’s housing and dietary requests! Sue Burrus gets a “gold star” for keeping track of it ALL and then some, while also trialing a brand new registration system never before used by GNSI! WAY to Go! Sue rocks! Using the meal analogy again, her work was like the skilled and graceful hostess keeping track of each person's individual desires, ensuring proper delivery of said meal to the right person so that the fine dining could be enjoyed, working ever so diligently without resting until the last guest has departed for home. Everyone who attended the conference needs to give Sue a hug and a sincere THANK YOU for the amazing job she did to track and organize all their personal wants, needs, and other important details. She has amazing organizational skills!! I think that would be her superhero power (she’s certainly MY super heroine)!
FINANCES
Sylvia Portillo (Seattle, WA)
Keeping track of the dollars and cents for a national conference is no cheap task. Sylvia took on the task with a smile and cheer, even while so busy with a variety of major life transitions, including a career change requiring a new college degree. Her sweetness, calm disposition, and attention to details are characteristics always appreciated when big budgets are involved. Having help ensuring the bills were paid and all pennies are accounted for as the Financial Coordinator sure made Sylvia a VALUABLE ASSET!
EXHIBITS COORDINATOR
Katura Reynolds (Eugene, OR)
Katura was a key cheerleader for hosting the conference in the Pacific Northwest from the beginning, even before there was a formal proposal. Without her enthusiasm, the proposal would not have had the encouragement it needed to eventually give form to the event locally. She used her enthusiasm to volunteer for the 2010 conference in addition to the 2011 conference, pulling together two back-to-back smashingly successful exhibits showcasing the amazing talents of our national Guild members. Hip-Hip Hooray, for Katura’s supporting vision and dedication.
FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR
Hana Baker (Winthrop, WA)
A schoolteacher in the Methow Valley in the Northern Cascade Mountains, Hana, along with her co-coordinator, Joanne Jambor, pulled together a fabulous array of options for extended off-site exploration via field trips. Like Audrey, Hana decided she needed to experience giving birth firsthand while juggling committee planning tasks, welcoming her first child about 10 months prior to the conference. She had her hands full caring for her wee little one while also keeping up a teaching schedule and tracking the field trip details. Thanks for your commitment, Hana!
FIELD TRIP ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
Joanne Jambor (South Bend, WA)
Joanne didn't give birth herself during the 2011 conference-planning season, but she and her husband see to the successful “birthing” of millions of oysters through their family-run oyster farm in Willapa Bay, WA. Joanne teamed up with Hana Baker to research, suggest, and then coordinate all the details for a bounty of intriguing field trips. Together, Joanne and Hana made and excellent team! So glad to have had their help pulling together fun, informative, and eventful adventures!
WEBSITE
Susan Jones (Carolinas Chapter)
Joining us all the way from the Carolinas Chapter, Susan Jones (not to be confused with the NW chapter member of the same name), weaved together our web presence by creating the internet interface for the conference. She created a fun and informative conference website that was easy to navigate and pleasing to the eye. Plus, Susan was always prompt about posting an almost endless stream of updates. Kudos, Susan, and many thanks for a fine job well done! Your work helped to ensure the conference fans had access to important information 24/7. Thank you!
LOGO DESIGN / MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR
David Ehlert, MAMS, CMI (Seattle, WA)
Always full of creative ideas, useful insights, and comedic relief, Dave created a dynamic conference logo that will be memorable and will invoke fond memories for all the conference participants and attendees for years to come. We can all proudly display the fine logo he created while donning the conference bling that he ensured to make available, too. It is all so fun! Everything, such as mood pencils that change color with touch that are reminiscent of the mood/color changing octopus that inspired the logo, stylish t-shirts, tote bags, sketch journals, and hydration canteens ... combined, it is all like an artist’s survival pack! Thanks, Dave for these contributions as well as all the others ways you helped make this conference sparkle and shine.
PACKET COORDINATOR
Jeanne Boyd (Seattle, WA)
What’s a conference without the registration packet containing all the details and must-know info? Jeanne ensured that everybody had what they needed in one handy packet to reference for when they needed it, as well as all the lovely personalized nametags so we could all reveal our not-so-secret identities within our exclusive event. She is always good for bringing a smile to one's face, too! Thanks, Jeanne for your contributions!
NATIONAL BOARD LIAISON
Britt Griswold GNSI Vice-President
As a member of the National Board, Britt served as an adviser providing valuable guidance with important decisions, filled in for Audrey while she was transitioning to the demands of a newborn infant in the early weeks, and played a major role in helping manage the details of the new online registration option with the computer programmers. We owe much gratitude for Britt's contributions to the success of the 2011 National Conference!
STUDENT INTERN
Natalie Concillo (Olympia, WA)
As the only committee member that lived on location, Natalie served as our on-site runner, ever ready to flex in any way we needed in order to serve the needs of the greater good that was the 2011 GNSI National Conference, proving to be worth her weight in gold. Natalie joined the conference team in the second half of her final year as a graduating senior at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. She answered a call for applications for a volunteer intern, interviewed, and was selected hands down be the best candidate to fill the position, guaranteeing her access to top-notch scientific illustrators and an experience to expand her mind. Thank you, Natalie, for stepping up to the challenge!
2011 National GNSI Conference Sponsor & Donors: Science-Art.com, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Denver Botanical Gardens, DB Shaw Studios, University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education Programs, Strata, Starbucks, Giclée Prints, Olyphant Art Supply.