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Heart of the Umpqua Artists
An overview of Our chapter of The Society of Decorative Painters
In March 2004, eight friends gathered together to become the steering committee to form a local chapter of the National Society Of Decorative Painters. In May of that year, we were accepted as members of the National Society. The mission of the Society is to stimulate worldwide interest and appreciation for decorative painting. They also recognize diversity and excellence in the art form and serve as the resource center for all aspects of decorative painting.
Our local chapter is open to all individuals of all skill levels. Heart of the Umpqua Artists meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Tri City Church of Christ, 180 Briggs Road, Myrtle Creek, Oregon. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. (though we arrive early to set-up) and the meeting and program usually last until about 2:30 or 3:00 p.m.
The Chapter usually relies on its membership for the teachers who instruct throughout the year, but we are able to trade teachers with surrounding chapters and may ask other individuals to come in as guest teachers. This allows for a variety of styles, techniques, surfaces, and paint mediums to learn from. When able, the Chapter will host a nationally know travel teacher/artist (Big Brush). This will allow us a chance for an in depth study with nationally known artists.
One of the ways to help fund our chapter and teachers is by having monthly table drawings (raffles). The chapter encourages all members to bring paint related items, of good quality, that you yourself would like to win. In return, the chapter allows a certain amount of points (explained below) for two table drawing (raffle) items that you bring.
The chapter has a newsletter, “News from the Heart”, published every other month. It keeps all members informed of what is happening in the chapter. The newsletter includes notes, tips, techniques, favorite recipes, conference info and upcoming classes as well as advertisements from related businesses. Our web site is: www.heartoftheumpqua.com.
Hospitality has 2 to 3 members signed up to bring that morning’s refreshments for the members (although others are welcome to help fill in and bring their favorite goodies to share). The chapter provides the tea and coffee for the day. Unless stated otherwise in the newsletter, bring a lunch or buy something nearby (McDonalds, A&W and the Broaster House are close by.
Points (mentioned above) are earned by bringing raffle items, refreshments, holding a board position, wearing your chapter badge, attending a meeting, are just some of the ways that you may earn these “points”. The points can be converted to money (each point having a money value set by the board) when paying for nationally known travel teachers/artists that are hosted by the chapter.
Many chapters pay for building rental. We pay no fees to Tri City Church of Christ. They allow our chapter to meet once a month free. We support the church food pantry as a way to say thank you. If each person would bring one (1) non-perishable food item each time you come to chapter, it is a great thank you to the church. We need all chapter members to participate.
We rely on membership participation to help keep our chapter fun, interesting and growing. It is vital that we volunteer to help keep our chapter solvent and to help spread the word that decorative painting is fun, interesting and everyone can learn to paint.
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Chapter of the 
