In Memory
9-11-01
Our 2008 Executive Board
Pres - Mary Wiseman - mwis459337@aol.com
2008 Board Members
Education & Skill Bldr.
Connie Korach
Newsletter
Mary Bobrowski
Membership
Diane Maruszczak
Board Members at Large
Eileen Carroll
Lucy Kozanecki
Joan Woodward
Mary Zabawa
Appointed Positions
Sunshine
Fern Ameel
Historian
Alice Ochla
Turning Point
Bette Sykes
Librarian
Leona Ferranti
Webmaster
Mary Bobrowski
Welcome!
Thanks for stopping here to learn more about GLDA - hopefully you will find anything and everything you might want to know about this great group of artists. Please feel free to contact any board member if you need further assistance.
Some document and form links will open in Adobe Acrobat Reader - if you do not have
Acrobate Reader on your computer, you can download the latest version (Free) - click on logo.
All About...
.pdf forms & documents
Sec- Robin Harkless - robin.harkless@curtismetal.com
Vice Pres - Maria Sniezyk - sniezy@sbcglobal.net;
Tres - Bonnie Schott - meinschatze@comcast.net
Chapter History
A small group of seven excited painters met on Saturday mornings in 1973. With encouragement from their teacher Gloria Mansberger, a Master Teacher and member of the National Society of Tole & Decorative Painters all seven ladies joined the National Society and became an official group in 1974. In 1975 "Tole Masters of Michigan" became the first Michigan affiliated chapter of the National Society with over 100 members from all over the state.. Apples on a palette was our official emblem - Gloria Mansberger was the artist.
The first of our members to receive their CDA at a National Convention were Terry Perniciaro, Sharon Blake and Rita Warner. Four members of the Tole Masters of Michigan - Terry Perniciaro, Sharon Stockel, Betty Vander Honing and Rita Warner were asked to teach at the 1978 Convention in St. Louis.
1979 saw our first "mini-convention" called the Great Lakes Decorative Art Convention, it was held at the Sheraton Southfield Hotel. We had many big name teachers attending, among them were Priscilla Hauser, Peggy Hobbs, Mary Lou Garrison, Helen Roberts, Mary Jo Leisure, Jo Avis Moore, just to name a few. The "mini" was a huge success and the West Michigan Decorative Artists group helped with decorations and donated the banquet decorations.
In 1984 "Tole Masters of Michigan" members voted to change our name to
"Great Lakes Decorative Artists". A new logo of a sailboat on a palette was designed by Sharon Blake and painted by Mary Wiseman.
Over the years the club split into many more chapters across Michigan and in 1985 GLDA started the first "Michigan Mixer" so we could get together with everyone. Approximately 70 people attended the first Mixer held in Lansing. Today there are 10 chapters and there has been a Mixer every year since with chapters taking turns hosting the event.
Our chapter activites are too numerous to mention them all. Over the years we have.....
decorated a room and held a boutique at Meadowbrook Mansion; had several mini conventions and week-end retreats; published a cookbook (among ourselves); displayed our work in libraries and malls; exhibited at the State Fair; stenciled and hand painted quilts for charity; we have had Show & Tell since day one; taught painting at the Veterans Hospital and Avondale School; have had a silent auction almost every year since 1978 and we have many fun activities at all our meetings - raffles, secret pal, lucky bucks, make-it and take-it day and several paint-in's.
We don't know all the names, but whoever those ladies were back in 1973 - we're so glad they had a vision for our painting chapter! We have learned and accomplished much; we have fun and most of alll - we enjoy the bonds of friendship and all that has enriched our lives from the wonder of a paint brush :)