Comments to a Guild President...in closing.

By John Albrecht

So, what did Mr. Gibb actually do for two years as President of our Guild? I had a good time poking fun at Ron last year, you may recall. This old southern boy had plenty of ammo to work with after a year on the job with a retired prosecuting attorney hailing from the state of New York. Ron took it all in stride, and even laughed at some of the jokes himself. I have to say, this year's note is different and I hope you will oblige me by reading on.

Ron recalled in our conversation last month that he realized it was "too late to run" when he said "yes" to the position of President of the Guild, a slot he occupied for two years. So with membership falling and a new gallery location in its infancy, it did not take long for the members to bend his ear. Ron recalled hearing, "Well, you know Ron, the Guild is not ALL about the gallery.".... And the members were right, and so Ron listened.

Taking the helm at the first board meeting it was clear the message was, "The Guild runs the gallery". Two and one-half hours later at the end of that Board meeting, I thought, "Oh no, what did I get myself involved in here." The tone of management was set from that point forward. Well, we ruffled some feathers to get things done, and the Board took some heat for it. At the end of the day, the gallery is thriving and the foundation set by the original Steering Committee has been tested, refined, and we have a well-oiled machine operating at 160 East Bay.

With regards for Guild business, Ron busied himself with tasks such as:

1. Making sure we were complying with the laws for a 501c(3) organization, to eliminate questions about sales tax and discussions with the SC Department of Revenue.
2. President's Receptions were held to allow gallery artists to discuss suggestions for improvement and for all Guild members to attend.
3. A "No Nasty Email Policy" was implemented and Ron was copied on all emails between committees and the board. The mind-set was to run the Guild like a business.
4. Rack Cards were developed and distributed across town by Guild members (B. Koury and C. Fuller) to key hotels and other public areas to draw people to our new office and gallery.
5. Magazine ads were developed that featured our artists' images. The ads were paid for by the artist, but also included the necessary information about the Guild.   Guild ads are now regularly published in The Essential Guild, and in Charleston Style & Design magazine.
6. Business software was purchased, so our operation could run much smoother, and budgets could be developed.
7. Our insurance policy was read and modified to protect us from such hazards as embezzlement and other potential disasters.
8. Timing of budget approval and new Board approval was moved to accommodate a smooth transition. We moved the Board selection to April's Members' Meeting and the budget for next year is now voted on in May.
9. We have new contracts for operation at the gallery and for off-site art locations. This allows for the 501(c)3 compliance off-site as well.

10.The Guild's grant income has increased from $5,000 to $15,000 over the last two years.

11.We have a $15,000 contingency fund for catastrophic expenses that we never had before.

12.The Guild is now offering more hanging opportunities for Guild members who are not in the gallery. These include St. Leo's University in North Charleston, Footlight Players lobby and Magnolia Plantation Gift Shop. The juried Guild members also have a second Christmas tree in the gallery during the holiday season, so they can hang mini-paintings and artwork in the gallery at that time. We are selling art in these locations too.

13.The Magnolia Garden of Dreams is being planned for November 2013, marking the creation of a national competition that celebrates our 60th anniversary and that of the Charleston Renaissance period. Ron will continue to work with this event after his term ends.

14.Outreach to the community has increased dramatically with the tripling of the budget for programs such as Pattison Academy. Other requests that we have received also have been approved where possible.

15.The Guild has added scholarships including the CAG scholarship. We present the Martin Ahrens scholarship and the Ali Sayas Scholarship, through the generous donations of Joyce Hall Ahrens and Mary Sayas.

16.We have expanded the gallery to add jewelry sales, adding diversification in the art we offer.

Lots of items are discussed here, but Ron's plan for beginning with the end in mind, with a top-down management style has been a good plan for our Guild. The end result has been improved finances, better understanding of relationships, and contracts with our artists that are sound.   All of these accomplishments have been done while "keeping the peace"...well, as much as possible.

These efforts would not be possible without amazing people like Steve Jacobs with Guild Administration, Gallery Directors (Debbie and Brian, Suzanna, Faye, and Ginny) and a long list of volunteers. Thank you for your service, and congratulations to Ron for two years of success with the Guild. Thank you, members, for supporting this 60-year young guild that is making a difference in the arts for Charleston.

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