The University of Findlay - Annual Report, November 2008

Annual Report of the Mazza Enthusiasts
November 9, 2008

OFFICER'S REPORTS

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT:
Mazza Enthusiasts are found in all functions of the museum. The Enthusiasts continue to volunteer and support the museum with all of the fun-filled activities that have become synonymous with the name of Mazza.

This year has been a year for change. The museum has added new staff and I have stepped up to take the chairmanship prematurely. My goal is to bring cohesiveness to the Mazza Enthusiast Board. Just as our unique artwork, we all have different approaches to our passion of volunteering to the Mazza Museum. We need to celebrate our differences and use that uniqueness to create new ways to benefit the museum. Thank you for your continuous dedication and support of the museum through your participation as a Mazza Enthusiast. I am looking forward to the upcoming year. Just as a child on one of our museum tours said, " I am trying to hold the WOW inside!"
Linda Mummert, Chairman

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:
Over the last year Nancy Fay and her assistant, Marsha Williams, have prepared and delivered 21 welcome bags to our visiting artists who presented at the summer institute in July and the Weekend Institute in November. Also receiving welcome bags were Libby Carruth Krick and George Carruth on Feb. 24, 2008. Sympathy and congratulations cards were sent throughout the year.

PARLIAMENTARIAN:
Parliamentarian Peggy Havens announced to the Mazza Enthusiasts' Constitution and By-laws will be reviewed in 2009.

TREASURER:
Treasurer Marna Weaver presented and the Mazza Enthusiast Board approved the 2009 budget at the October meeting. Copies of the budget are available in the office or from any ME board member.

HISTORIAN:
As historian, I maintain the Mazza scrapbooks that document events associated with the Mazza Museum. In 2008 the expenses fr historical supplies were $403.93.
Karen Alcott, Mazza Historian

COMMITTEE REPORTS

DOCENTS:
Sandy Reinhardt, Carol Roessing, Ginger O'Malley and Marsha Williams served on the docent committee in 2008. Terry Olthouse gave informative art lessons and Curator Dr. Jerry Mallett shared his stories about the artists in each of the galleries. About 5000 students were given docent-led tours.

In April, seven new enthusiastic docents completed training and received active status. They are Laurie Beutler, Norma Bibler, Judy Dorsey, Deb Foster, Linda Graybill, Judy Hall and Joyce Fortman.

On May 5th many docents traveled to Waterville to visit George Carruth in his studio, where he and his wife chaired the making of his sculptured art.

This September's new docent class consists of thirteen eager members. Training will focus on questioning techniques, media classes by Terry Olthouse and viewing of artist videos.

FUTURE PLANNING:
Visiting artists for 2008 were: George Carruth and (daughter) Libby Krick on February 24th for the Discovery Series, Diane Stanley on April 27th for the Mazza Medallion, C.F. Payne on September 28th for the Mazza Celebration, and Jane Dyer on October 26th for the Mazza Presents Holiday Special.
Marilyn Hackenberg, Future Planning Chairman

GIFT GALLERY:
The furnishing and decorating of the new gift shop were completed in 2008.

LOCAL EXHIBITION:
Our Hancock County-Findlay Public Library survived the flood and finally got their building dried out enough to resume our Mazza art and book rotations in February, in spite of the fact that the building is still under construction. The doctors' offices exhibits are continuing every other month. We have distributed 72 children's books this year. Our goal as a committee is to keep the Mazza art and books before the public and to enhance children's love of reading.
Barbara Wisner, Chairman
Committee members: Barbara Lindamood and Nancy Fay

MAZZA ARTISTS LIAISON:
Mariann Younger, with the assistance of Cam Taylor, are continuing the practice of sending birthday, Valentines, and Thanksgiving cards to the artists. In addition, Mariann has begun to increase her contacts by telephone.

MAZZA MEDALLION:
Mazza Medallion Report for Annual Meeting-2008
In the spring of 2008 the Mazza Medallion of Excellence Award for Artistic Diversity was awarded to Diane Stanley. Ms. Stanley is now the seventh recipient of this award since its inception in 1996. The Mazza Medallion Committee is constantly seeking new ways to generate publicity about the Mazza Medallion Award. One of our goals is to eventually have the award acknowledged on the book jacket cover or flap of the Mazza Medallion recipient's work. The committee will be examining the selection process in order to increase the number of responses to the nomination ballot sent out the Mazza Enthusiasts. The committee wishes to thank all who participated in the selection process.

MEMBERSHIP:
Deb Bouts, Membership Chairman, reports:

ME 2008 total donations was $13,685.00
There are 373 ME members in 2008
There are 374 ME gifts in 2008 Names are being deleted and added to the 2009 ME brochure mailing list. The brochures are being prepared to be mailed out in January.

PUBLICITY:

SPEAK!:
SPEAK! is a traveling exhibit of 33 original illustrations by internationally recognized children's book artists. The framed works of art are delightful illustrations of the artists' favorite dogs. Since its debut in October, 1997, SPEAK! has been exhibited in public libraries, universities, and schools throughout the nation. If you would like a brochure or information about scheduling SPEAK!, please contact Jeff Salisbury at or through the Mazza Museum office at (419) 434-5343.
Peggy Havens, Chairman

SPECIAL EVENTS:
It is the Special Events committee's job to provide a festive reception for the visiting artist events which require tickets. These events are open to the public. We plan the decor and food, do the set-up and tear down for each event. In 2008 our "event artists" included George Carruth and Libby Krick, Diane Stanley, C.F. Payne, Jane Dyer, and Loren Long.
Jill Scholes, Chairman
Louise Wineland, Committee member

VISITING ARTISTS/AUTHORS:
Cheryl McNish, as Visiting Artist Chairperson, coordinates approximately 50 volunteers. They drive our visitors to and from airports in Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, or Toledo and through the community during their stay. Volunteers enjoy the one-on-one time with Mazza guests as they transport them.

BOOK SEARCH/LIBRARY:
The Mazza Enthusiasts budgeted $2,375.00, which is 25% of the membership receipts, for use in purchasing books for the Mazza Museum Media Center. An additional $685.63 was carried over from last year's budget to be used for reference materials for the Media Center. Priority is given to purchasing three copies of each book from which we have art.

A "books needed" list is maintained and circulated to various individuals upon request. This past year, a concentrated effort was made to purchase Caldecott-winning titles. A total of 153 books were purchased this year for $2203.42. Books will continued to be purchased through the month of November in an attempt to exhaust the remaining balance of $858.21.

Various projects have been completed which have upgraded our standards of operation and aligned us with the other satellite libraries on the Findlay campus. Most of the materials have been cataloged so they can be searched and accessed from the Shafer online catalog. After the cataloging and weeding process, our collection numbers 7027 books, 384 of which were added this year. Students, docents, and community members will be able to search for items not only by author, title and subject, but also by genre and media used. These last access points will benefit students majoring in art, and art and elementary education. The DVD project also proves beneficial because they can be circulated to teachers for classroom use.
Barbara Meyers, Book Search Chairperson
Mary Miller, Library Manager