President’s Letter-August/September 2023

It’s Time to Set Sail Toward a Brighter Future!

Fall is just around the corner!  In the last edition, I talked about growth and strength.  As my first year as OCAG President comes to a close, I reflect on our need to continue to grow and strengthen as an organization.  I think the image of a sailboat in its slip serves as a great analogy here.

Figuratively, we have a beautiful boat (our Victorian Lady) with a captain (President and Executive Board) who can see where we are going (vision) and can steer the rudder.  We have a strong crew (members, artists, volunteers, employees, instructors, etc.) at the ready to hoist the sail and help us get to our ultimate destination.  We don’t get to go out on the water to catch fish as much as we’d like, though, since our crew (committees/teams, team leaders, and volunteer staff) is pretty lean.  We also need wind/fuel (time, energy, and funds) to get us where we are going and to maintain that beautiful boat.
In these recent hard economic times, that also presents a challenge, but my vision is that with enough help, we can overcome that challenge through a long-term strategy for the Guild to become self-sustaining financially. It can be done!

As we look forward to 2024, Ocean County Artists’ Guild’s Golden Anniversary year, we can remember that the Guild is a member organization, originally created by artists, for artists. 
A “guild,” by definition, is “an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal.”  We are a group of artists and art lovers with the common goal to help grow art, artists, and cultural experiences in Ocean County and beyond.

Our strength comes from our amazing “crew,” our body of members, artists, donors, sponsors, and volunteers.  All that we have accomplished is a direct result of the time, energy, wisdom, and funding brought to us by wonderful members like you!  Watch your inbox for details on our upcoming OCAG Volunteer Appreciation event to be held in September.

Our Executive Board and Committees are working overtime to bring more value to your membership, our artists, our art students, and the community at large such as:

• new education programs and classes to include digital art, digital photography, voice, acting, meditative music, pottery, and crafts
• Increase member engagement online
• More free classes with materials included
• New curriculum and learning experiences for beginner, intermediate, and advanced visual arts
• More opportunities for emerging and professional artists to market and display their art in the community and online
• Growth of community outreach programs and community partnerships
• More community art projects
• Improvements to our facility to enhance accessibility, safety, and curb appeal to help attract more visitors to the Guild’s house and grounds

As you can see, we have a grand vision, a “gilded” vision, that reflects the need to cast a wider net.  As your President I have been a witness to all the good we have done and continue to do.  I can also envision how a growing and more engaged body of members can help us grow more art, artists, and cultural experiences in Ocean County and beyond.

So, I ask you, what are your dreams for your art?  What are your dreams for the Guild?  What is on your list of destinations for our boat to sail to?  I want to hear from you!  Feel free to submit your ideas and proposals and communicate what you would like to see!  Please drop me a line at cesarettikimberly@gmail.com.

The art organization of our dreams can become a reality!  Yes, we can “gild” the Guild in our 50th Anniversary year – 2024!  I cordially invite each and every one of you to join me to help OCAG the best version of itself – for you, our community, and beyond!  With a little help from our friends, OCAG can sail into the brightest future!

As you know, we have an upcoming election for the OCAG Executive Board for 2023/24 and have a few vacancies to fill.  Nominations are in and you may be one of the lucky members that were nominated for a position!  By the time of this newsletter, the list of nominees should be confirmed.  Please be sure to check your email inbox first for the slate of nominees and then for the follow-up email message with the ballot and request for a vote in late August.  OCAG Board Positions are as follows:

Executive Board

• President
• Vice President
• Recording Secretary
• Treasurer
• Membership Secretary
• Corresponding Secretary
• Trustees

Board of Trustees

• Up to 9 trustees

Thanks so much for all of your support this past year!  Enjoy the rest of your summer at the Shore!

Warmest Regards,
Kim Cesaretti
OCAG President 2022-2023

Help Us Help OCAG Become the Best Version of Itself!

Another way you can help OCAG is by joining a committee.  Our committees, staffed by many dedicated member volunteers, are the lifeblood of our organization.  They feed our growth, enhance the experiences of our members, and keep us strong.  Anyone with a desire to help or be involved with the organization can become a member of a committee.  Many hands make for light work.  Please check your email box for upcoming Calls for Volunteers.

Our current list of OCAG Committees is as follows:

We have a few other exciting new volunteer opportunities, too!  Do you like to party? Currently, we are in need of Chairs for Sailfest 2023 and OCAG 50th Anniversary Planning committees.

Sailfest is like a big block party!  It will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 10 am to 6pm.  We set up a few tents, provide some entertainment, hand out information and brochures, and do a little craft with the kids that stop by.  It’s a great opportunity to do community outreach, show the public who we are, what we do, and where they can find us and join us!

Our organization is celebrating a milestone in 2024 – our 50th Anniversary!  Help us Gild the Guild by joining this fun committee and brainstorming the many ways we can celebrate our Golden Anniversary!

Please reach out to me to learn more about the committees, volunteer opportunities, and how to lead or join one!  You can reach Kim at 732-814-2018 (Mobile/Text) or by email at info@ocartistsguild.org.  You can also contact me directly with any other questions or ideas you have.  My lines are open!