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MARQUETARIANS
A few words from your President

Being asked to take the top position in any organisation is an honour and a responsibility. When that organisation has been around for longer than one's own lifetime, and is well-respected around the globe, rather more so. I hope I will serve the Society well and should you think that is not the case at any time – please tell me!

My appointment has come about in an unusual way. Normally the incumbent President's term would run its course and a suitable replacement would have been lined up in good time to be proposed to the AGM. Sadly health problems led our previous President to feel unable to complete his term, which left a void and a rather surprising nomination out of the blue. I took a while to consider, hence the reason I seem to have just popped up into the post part-way through the year.

I thank my predecessor, Ernie Maxey, for his stalwart service to the Society over many years. He was the first person from the Society I met when I joined the fledgling Thurrock group and it is his support and encouragement that accounts for where I am now (or in other words, it's all his fault!).

The Society is at an interesting time. Over recent years both membership and the number of competitive entries to our National Exhibitions have been a little variable. However, the latter saw a dramatic turnaround this year, with a notable resurgence amongst our Independent members. In particular our overseas members went to considerable effort and expense to support the exhibition and allow us to see their work first hand – and we are the richer for that.

On the other hand, financial pressures for us and everyone else it seems, are still strong and regrettably some may feel that Society membership is a "luxury" they will have to forego. For that reason your Executive Committee has been squeezing expenditure wherever it can, though with our major outgoings being items like printing, postage and insurance there is now little room left for manoeuvre.

Quentin Smith
our President from June 2011

So what of the future? 2012 is a big year. I'm not referring to the Olympics, or the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, it's OUR Diamond Jubilee! I understand plans are underway for an enhanced National Exhibition, and I would hope that we can put on some other events as well. Do you have an idea? If so, please let the Executive know or, better still, tell us what support you need from us for you to make it happen. Also, please support the Exhibition – if every UK member entered a single item we would have one of the biggest shows ever.

I have noticed that several experienced marquetarians are forging stronger links with other visual media groups – artists co-operatives and photographic clubs amongst them. I say "other" artistic groups as I consider we already are one. I think this is a positive move that may lead to increased exposure for marquetry in the visual arts and improved originality and composition in our work. It might finally put the "art-v-craft" question to bed as well!

The most important thing though is for all our members to enjoy their marquetry, and your Executive Committee is here to help you achieve that. If you have a question or problem please address it to the appropriate officer. However, if you would like to contact me here in my Ivory Tower please do so – my contact details are inside the front cover of the magazine.

Best wishes
Quentin

MEMBERS OF THE MARQUETRY SOCIETY

A message for 2012 from your Chairman

Peter White
our Chairman from
June 2007

You know, I feel very positive about the well being of the Marquetry Society right now. Although we suffer the inevitable loss of members each year, we have also welcomed many newcomers into the fold. It may be that, more so than in previous years, many of them join as independent members rather than members of an affiliated group.

I’m sure that, if it were practicably possible for them they would, but there will be good reasons why they can’t. The ever increasing cost of travel must be a factor and for some, driving distances in the evening can be a problem.

Most groups I know would be happy to welcome along these Independents on an occasional basis and the benefits of this would be twofold. The opportunity to pick up ideas and watch others at work, maybe purchase some veneers and enjoy the sociability is obvious.

But this in turn stimulates the host group members as well, and perpetuates the wider interest in marquetry.

Thankfully, with the wealth of information on our website, the depths of which are well worth plumbing, and the eagerly awaited Marquetarian, which I feel has remained a real quality read, we have so much to hold our interest and enthuse us. However, this very accessibility may have contrived to lower the number of newcomers becoming group members. I think it may be a factor, but it is a trend we should accept as an inevitable shift and not see as a negative.

Interest worldwide has grown terrifically in just the last year, which I am sure is down to Alan encouraging overseas marquetarians to contribute to the website. Just click on ‘The World of Marquetry’ from our homepage and explore for yourself. To all our overseas friends, I would like to thank you personally for supporting Alan and for your contributions.

I wonder if the time is right for a resurgence of interest in the arts and crafts. Those of us already hooked, know the benefits and pleasures of creating something with our own hands: something that will live on, long after we have gone. My hope is that, as long as we keep exhibiting our work and see it displayed in our magazine and on this website, we will stimulate the creative urges of those wishing to break out from hand fed entertainment, to become marquetarians themselves.

My thanks to all my fellow committee members and marquetry friends around the world for keeping me feeling positive about what we do, and what we stand for.

Peter White January 31st 2012

A letter from your new Hon. Secretary
An overview from our most genial Hon Sec

Dear All

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Mansfield, our webmaster, and his team at Redbridge, London for all their work in producing our website. Since Alan took charge the site has gone from strength to strength to become what you see today - the premier site for all things marquetry. This is made possible by you our visitors sending in your queries and information.

As Secretary I receive a number of enquiries about the benefits of becoming a member of the Society. If you are new to marquetry and live within reach of one of our affiliated groups they will provide all the help you need to get you started. If you do not live near to a group then your option is to become an independent member.

Approximately half of our membership comes under the umbrella of being independent and they are happy to belong as such. They also have a voice in the Society’s affairs.

Regarding training, our DVDs are becoming popular and there are more in the pipeline. Additionally we can arrange for face to face training sessions and will put them on if the demand is there.

Neil Micklewright
Our new Hon Sec
from mid 2008

Other enquiries include educational establishments looking for marquetry teachers which we have provided. We have participated in VAN (Voluntary Arts Network) projects promoting voluntary arts and crafts.

The list of enquiries goes on and is increasing in both the number and range of topics. So please keep them coming. I can guarantee a reply from either Alan or myself. It all goes to promote marquetry in all its forms which is why the Society was formed in the first place.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter

Neil Micklewright, Hon. Secretary.

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DVD OFFERS

Three Superb Special Offers!: Offer 1: The Publicity Dept of the Marquetry Society is now making available for purchase a DVD of the award winning pictures and applied pieces that were entered into our 2011 National Exhibition.

The DVD’s are a fantastic reference library of the very best examples from today's marquetry that you will be pleased to own.
The photography is all in high quality JPEG format and is available in a universal format.

The DVD’s are currently available at £8.00 each (UK) & $15.00 (USA)

Offer 2: We also have an excellent "Marquetry Techniques & Tips" DVD available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

Offer 3: And another superb DVD "Geometric Marquetry The Easy Way" also available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

Offer 4: And yet another superb DVD "Alan Townsend Presents" is also available at £10.00 (UK) & $20.00 (USA)

To purchase a copy of either DVD please contact our Publicity Dept by simply e-mailing your requirements to: peter@marquetry.org - (or if using Windows Mail, Outlook Express, etc, click here: peter@marquetry.org )

USA members -
please order your DVD through our USA representative Mr J. Monks (contact details on our Marquetry Society page)

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To contact the Marquetry Society Web Site please click this e-mail link: Web Site

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If you would like more details on The Marquetry Society, contact:

The Hon. General Secretary

Neil Micklewright
14 Buntingsdale Road
Market Drayton
Shropshire
TF9 1LT

Tel: 01630 656550

click here to e mail Neil

The Membership Secretary

Ken Southall
Aspen Cottage
Nettlestead
Ipswich
Suffolk, IP8 4QT

Tel: +44 (0)1473 831174

click here to e mail Ken

PRINTABLE MEMBERSHIP FORMS:-

For a membership form you can print and then submit to our membership secretary, Ken Southall (address above)
Click here

For a USA and Canada membership form
Click here

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Subscriptions

Location	To Join	Renewal
UK	£20. 00	£19. 00
Europe	£22. 00	£21. 00
Overseas	£24. 50	£23. 50

If you need a currency converter at the latest rates then click the link below

http://www.xe.net/ucc/full.shtml

Membership of The Marquetry Society includes the quarterly journal with hints, tips, letters, designs and of course the prizewinners from the National. Membership also entitles you to enter the National competition.

Special bank arrangements for USA and Canada

After some months of negotiations with the United States IRS Department, we have been granted Tax Exemption as a "Non Profit Organisation" and can now run a bank account in the USA for American members to pay their dues through. Will all US members and citizens wishing to join the Marquetry Society, please send their forms and checks via;

Mr G J Monks, 8071 Wildflower Way, San Diego, California, CA 92120

Should Canadian members also wish to avail themselves of the slightly preferential rates of currency exchange between US$ and C$, please do so through the same address.

All general enquiries should be sent via the Membership Secretary Ken Southall in the UK.

It is the policy of the Marquetry Society never to infringe any copyright holder's ownership rights in any way or form by knowingly displaying a copyright protected work on their web site, or in any of their publications, without the consent of the copyright holder.

If a copyright holder feels, however, that we may have compromised their position by inadvertently displaying a piece that may, or could, be viewed as possibly contravening their title of copyright over the work; would they please bring this to our attention by contacting us in the first instance via the e-mail links they will find on this web site.

We will then do our utmost to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, to the complete satisfaction of each party concerned. Any such item thus in dispute shall be removed from the web site while the infringement is being investigated and an appropriate notice shall be displayed in its place until the problem is amicably resolved.

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