Spring is always the season to celebrate renewal. Flowers start to appear, birds build nests, and NAWA has much to celebrate as we slowly come out of the pandemic. We are going to have our first in-person Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon after two years of Covid. The Membership Meeting and Luncheon was held at the National Arts Club, and it was a great opportunity to see each other in person. For those who are unable to attend, it was also be on Zoom. In addition, over 50 new members were juried in March and now have the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits that NAWA has to offer. After two years, there will be an induction ceremony in person at the National Arts Club in November. Finally, little by little, there will be more in person exhibitions and gatherings in the future.
The statement below by Yoko Ono inspired me to share my thoughts about the NAWA volunteers with my hopes that more NAWA members will consider volunteering.
“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” -Yoko Ono
Reflections on NAWA Volunteers
- Innocence because you discover unknown aspects of the inner workings of NAWA that you never knew existed
- Exuberance because it is always exhilarating to get involved with an interesting aspect of a committee that you are drawn to
- Reverence for all the hard work and results that are achieved by each committee member
- Perseverance because volunteers, like artists, work through the challenges. These are the stages that a volunteer experiences when she generously chooses to dedicate her time to NAWA.
What traits does a volunteer possess? These are qualities that can be found in all the NAWA artists.
- Passion: Passion can be infectious, so it’s an important trait that all great volunteers must share. Artists have that same passion about their work.
- Commitment: Volunteers are dedicated to their work with committees to make certain that progress is made with the necessary drive that leads to a successful outcome. Artists have to be committed to their practice and have the focus and drive to grow as an artist.
To all the NAWA volunteers, I want to thank you for all the work you do. You are truly appreciated. For the NAWA members who might be thinking of volunteering, please know that even a small amount of time on a specific task within a committee is an important contribution that can make a big difference for the NAWA organization. There is also an added bonus. When you become part of and collaborate with a team of very creative and talented artists who support each other in the true spirit of the NAWA Sisterhood, you will benefit from the ideas that are shared.
Wishing everyone a creative and inspiring spring,
Christie
