Cherlyn Conway
Just as the temperature outside has been changing due to summer’s arrival, there have been some changes around the Ranch that have affected many clubs. On June 15 the business meeting and card making day was packed with information on the upcoming changes and how they affected Sassy Stampers.
This month’s project lead was Lynne McKeown who provided kits for the “Side Easel” card. This card was as “sassy” as the more than 45 Stampers who gathered to learn a new card and possibly some new techniques. The card might have looked difficult to some, but any fear quickly dissipated, as the table teachers were there with step-by-step guidance. The card had us scoring, stamping, coloring, layering, fussy cutting, and calculating the correct placement of the easel mechanism and the embellishments that make the card fit into the envelope. After our cards were assembled, there were many oohs and aahs as we compared our works of creativity and knew this card was a keeper.
JoAnn Gantos and Debbie Warrick, our club’s leaders, have been very busy with the changes that affect the Sassy Stampers Club. GroupWorks was the club communications platform to advise Stampers of events and news and housed many of the club documents. This platform was dissolved as of June 21, and many clubs had to scramble to find a new way to communicate with their members. GroupSpot was the selected new platform for Sassy Stampers. Much time has been spent by our leaders in learning the new platform and getting Stampers set up and transferring documents.
The next change involves the CATC building and classrooms, which will be going to an electronic swipe-in system. This change will involve anyone needing access to the building and classrooms to have a fob or app on their device to get into the space you’re going. Many hours have been invested in attending meetings and trying to understand this new system and getting club members to fill out the paperwork so they will have access to the building and classrooms.
As if running a club is not hard enough, our club leaders have been put to the test in trying to manage all the moving parts of each of these important changes that affect the club. The stamping community says thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the workings of our club.
Just as changes are part of everyday life, the things that will not change are the fellowship, fun, and the love and passion of stamping that sometimes rescues us from the holds of the everyday grind. I know you’re scratching your head and saying, “Really? How much of a grind is retirement?” We will adjust to the changes and look forward to each new month’s club meeting and the new discoveries of creativity and knowing every day can be a learning opportunity if we seize the moment.