Dear Members of PSAK,

It is with a sad heart that I step away from my duties as president of the Pastel Society Alaska (PSAK). I’m dealing with a significant health challenge, and for now my energy and focus needs to go towards healing.

I love the PSAK and am honored that I was instrumental in getting the organization formed and moving forward. We are a unique art group, especially with our mission to use our art to make the world a better place. To date we’ve helped a starving orphanage in Panama during the Pandemic, and helped resupply an artist from Ukraine and her immediate family who fled the Russian invasion with little more than the clothes on their backs. 

I had the opportunity to attend the national convention of International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) last summer and promote our Alaskan pastel society to painters from all over the world. Some of the connections were with well-known artists, and they in turn are now working to come to our beautiful state for in-person workshops. We have a lot to look forward to.

We’ve also more than doubled the number of paying members last year in the PSAK. As we grow, we can help more charities in the world. I’m excited about the possibilities.

For these early months our co-vice-presidents are able to keep the PSAK ball rolling, but you as members will need to step into the gap. Here are some ways you can help:

• Thank you to those who have become full-fledged, paying members. Your membership fees help with administrative costs of hosting shows, raising fund for charities, and bringing expert instructors north. 
• Make sure you have signed up for our newsletter, as that is where most of our up-to-date information gets sent out first. Need to sign up? You can do that here.
• Other sources of news are on our Facebook page and our Instagram account.
• We will need a new president to lead us this next year. Both vice-presidents are staying on and can help you, but aren’t able to take over the president’s role. Are you interested? Feel free to reach out via our email if you have questions or want to put your name forward. Don’t be shy; we need our members to show strength and participate.
• There will be other slots to fill such as assistant to our secretary, who is my daughter, Brinae. She wants to continue in the role as Secretary for PSAK, but will also be helping me with health needs. Someone to help with Facebook posts and secretarial duties in the next few months would be wonderful.
• Lyn Diefenbach from Australia is coming to teach in-person workshops in February and March. There are a variety of advertising duties and other work that needs to be done in preparation for her coming. These are brief, one-time duties that are an excellent way to start getting involved.
• We need a Zoom volunteer, someone willing to train how to run a hybrid Zoom meeting. Gina Murrow, our Director of Communications can help you. She is out of state most of the time, and needs someone on the Alaska end who can set up the camera and mic, and communicate via the Zoom platform. It’s not hard to learn to do. 
• We’ll need volunteers to help put on art shows, be a liason with other art groups in the area, and head up committees. What talents do you have that you’d be willing to share? Reach out to our Vice Presidents via our PSAK email, and let us know your ideas.
• Bring your friends: we love meeting new members and forging new friendships. Whether they are new to pastels or been doing it awhile, everyone is welcome.

So you see, we have great things on the horizon, but we need your help. 

And I need your prayers and support. This will be a long journey to healing, but God willing, I’ll be back. 

If you want to be part of something GREAT, now is the time to join in.

Sincerely,

Karen Denny

President

Pastel Society Alaska