One of the many hats I wear in this adventure called Life is “member of the Awards Committee” for our provincial craft council. This morning I’m going to be in a meeting to plan our annual Seconds Sale and to work out some other mundane housekeeping.

The Craft Council of Newfoundland is a wonderful organisation that has enabled me to grow in leaps and bounds as an artist and craftsperson and I feel quite pleased to be able to give something back. Not only are there regular gallery shows (mixed media) that are free for members to enter, but they have high-quality annual craft fairs, a top-notch craft shop and gallery of renown, a wonderful clay studio, exceptional promotional material accentuating crafts and their makers throughout the province, a low-interest loans program, excellent scholarship and grant opportunities and many other benefits all for the low, low price of around $55 per year.

Strange as it may sound, I actually rather enjoy the meetings. It’s a rare chance to get together with other craftspeople and chat. The committee members are excellent and we function through consensus rather than majority, so things are relatively harmonious. As the Awards Committee is basically responsible for acknowledging the hard work and exceptional skill of CCNL members, much of our time is spent shelling out money to deserving projects and deciding on to whom recognition should be awarded. Frankly, it’s probably the most optimistic committee on which to sit. In the depths of winter, a little optimism and camaraderie never go astray!