History (Verbose)

2000-2001
President: Dick Kiracofe
1st Vice President: Elinor Johansen
2nd Vice President: Darlene Horst
Secretary: Mary Sigle Morris
Treasurer: Fran White Shurtleff
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jo Williams
Membership: Alice Brannen
Newsletter: Bobbie Halpenny
Nominating: Alice Brannen

Dick’s Reflections…
“Due to no one wanting to be president, the art society considered disbanding, so I accepted (the presidency) and we experienced a sizable increase in membership. Due to excellent help from officers and members, we managed without hired help as was necessary the previous year. It was a privilege to work with ladies who were very cooperative and helpful in keeping society alive. We had an excellent Spring Show with an unusually large crowd (some standing) for the awards presentation.”

2001-2002
President: Darlene Horst
1st Vice President: Susan Boyle
2nd Vice President: Pat & June Kirl
Secretary: Mary S. Morris
Treasurer: Fran White Shurtleff
Parliamentarian: Evalyn Coulter
Public Relations: Littie Grooms
Historian: Bev Zerbe and Evalyn Coulter
Photographer: Evalyn Coulter
Santa’s Show and Sale: Rescheduled for May?
Denton Arts Festival: Littie Grooms
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jo Williams
Membership: Alice Brannen
Yearbook: Deanna Wood
Newsletter: Deanna Wood
Nominating: Pat Gobble
Sunshine/Phone: Jan Carr
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: Richard Kiracofe, Candance Arnette
Monthly Members Show: Pat and June Kirl
Hospitality: Lynette Harris

Major Events:
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: July 28- August 22
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: April 7- May 16

2002-2003
President: Judy Uebelacker
1st Vice President: Beverly Sipos
2nd Vice President: Pat and June Kirl
Secretary: June Impson
Treasurer: Sigrid Dubiel
Parliamentarian: Pamela Gray
Public Relations: Littie Grooms
Historian: Bev Zerbe, Evalyn Coulter
Arts and Jazz Festival: Littie Grooms
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jo Williams
Membership: Sherrie Walker and Lynette Harris
Yearbook/Newsletter: Deanna Wood
Sunshine/Phone: June Dalton
Mini-show: Pat and June Kirl
Hospitality: Shuba Mantri
Nominating: Pamela Gray

Major Events:
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit
Website begun

2003-2004
President: Jo Williams
1st Vice President: Ruth Andujar Keefer
2nd Vice President: Donna Lewis
Secretary: June Impson/Mary S. Morris
Treasurer: Nancy Donley
Past-President: Judy Uebelacker
Parliamentarian: Judy Uebelacker
Hospitality: Alice Miller, Glenda Smith, Joan Hart
Historian: Evalyn Coulter
Photographer: Beverly Sipos
Parliamentarian: Judy Uebelacker
Yearbook: Deanna Wood
Newsletter: Deanna Wood
Membership: Vidya Kagal
Nominating: Dick Kiracofe
Sunshine/Phone: June Dalton
Spring Exhibition: Deanna Wood
Annual Members’ Show: Fran Shurtleff (Deanna Wood)
Arts & Jazz Festival: Jo Nash
Webmaster: Beverly Sipos
Executive Director: Ingrid Scobie

Major Events:
Hired an Executive Director
Received funding from TexasBank for two years to help defray the expense of salary for ED
Monthly Mini-Shows
Critique Group Meetings
December High School Art Competition
Implemented an updated look for the newsletter using WheelerPress for printing and design.
Name changed to Visual Arts Society of Texas
The website expanded under Beverly Sipos
Annual Juried Exhibitions accepts slides for entries *first ever
Constitution and By-laws changed
36th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Juror: Carol Benson, April 18-May 27

2004-2005
President: Jo Williams
1st Vice President: Diane reader Dorn
2nd Vice President: Beth Haywood
Secretary: Millie Johnson
Treasurer: Nancy Donley
Past President: Judy Uebelacker
Hospitality Chairs: Alice Miller, Joan Hart, Glenda Smith
Historian: Marilyn Brannon
Photographer: Fran Shurtleff
Parliamentarian: Judy Uebelacker
Yearbook Editor: C. J. Solberg
Newsletter Editor: Devon Wattier
Membership Chair: Vidya Kagal
Volunteer Coordinator: C. J. Solberg
Nominating Chairs: Jo Nash, Evalyn Coulter
Sunshine/Phone Chair: June Dalton
Spring Exhibition Chair: Erin DeGenaro
Members’ Exhibition Chairs: Deanna Wood, Jennifer Quarles
Arts & Jazz Festival Chair: Susan Bryant

Staff:
Executive Director – Ingrid Scobie
Webmaster – Beverly Sipos

Major Events:
VAST received 501 c-3 status
Sharon Zimmerman Watercolor Workshop
Summer Members’ Exhibition, Juror: Carol Fairlie, July 25-August 19
Workshop on Color with Sally Packard
VAST publishes first-ever calendar for 2005 as a fund-raising project
Monthly mini-shows
Critique Group
VAST sponsors first-ever Studio Tour
Gale Webb Workshop, Feb. 28-March 3
VAST holds first-ever gala honoring Spring Exhibition juror, Jesus Moroles
VAST partners with Denton High School to sponsor auction to benefit tsunami victims
37th Annual Awards Exhibition, April 24-June 2

Jo’s Reflections…
“I just had gobs of fun being president; I had the greatest boards both terms. The biggest boon to the organization was hiring Ingrid Scobie as our Executive Director. I came in to my presidency bursting with ideas, and Ingrid and I brought most of them to fruition. I look forward to continue working in this organization.”

2005-2006
President: Lynne Cagle
1st Vice President: Dana Blanchard
2nd Vice President: Leslie Kregel
Secretary:
Treasurer: Mike Stretcher
Hospitality Chair: Barbara Miller
Historian: Robin Butt
Photographer: Fran Shurtleff
Parliamentarian: Ernie Benton, Jr.
Yearbook Editor: Lynne Cagle, Donna Kutlus
Newsletter Editor: Devon Wattier
Membership Chair: Rebecca Hines
Volunteer Coordinator: Craig Nance
Nominating Chair: Mary S. Morris
Sunshine/Phone Chair: June Dalton
Spring Exhibition Chair: Amber O’Dell
Membership Exhibition Chairs: Deanna Wood, Amber O’Dell
Arts & Jazz Festival Chair: Erin DeGenero

Major Events:
Members’ Juried Exhibition, Juror: Joye Moon, July 31-August 25
Monthly mini-shows
Critique Group
Melodee Martin Ramirez Workshop
Studio Tour
Second Annual calendar published
VAST plans 2nd Gala honoring Rob Erdle
VAST plans Carol Carter Workshop
VAST plans annual juried exhibition, Karl Umlauf, juror

1990-1991
President: Littie Grooms
President-elect: Claude Cheek
1st Vice President: June Dalton
2nd Vice President: Diana Shenberger
Secretary: Ona Shirley
Treasurer: Louise Higgins
Parliamentarian: June Impson
Hospitality: Mary Pilgrim
Publicity: June Impson
Historian: Juanita Brown
Santa’s Show and Sale: Leon Brown
Telephone Chairperson: Christina Moon
Spring Fling: Betty Neu, Martha Robbins, Mary Boswell
Annual Awards Show: Eva Williams
Hospitality: Ann Hinton
Newsletter: Lori Wolfe
Membership: Vera Speece
Sunshine: Martha Storrie
Committee Nominations: Mary Boswell, Alice Waddell
Workshop Coordinators: Jo Williams, Littie Grooms

Major Events:
Presidents Show: August 2-21; Chair: Alice Waddell
Santa’s Show and Sale: November 10-11
High School Show exhibited during the November meeting
Annual Awards Show, Meadows Gallery, CVA March 3-April 5
Spring Fling: April 20-21

1991-1992
President: Claude Creek
President-Elect: June Dalton
1st Vice President: June Dalton
2nd Vice President: Dorothy Thetford
Secretary: Judy Dwyer
Treasurer: Louise Higgins
Parliamentarian: Mary Pilgrim
Publicity: June Impson
Historian/Photographer: Juanita Brown, Eva Williams
Santa’s Show: Barry Vermillion,
Denton Arts Festival: Chair Betty Neu
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Mary Pilgrim
Membership: Vera Speece
Sunshine: Martha Storrie
Yearbook Editor: Carol Leonard, Lori Wolfe
Mini-show Assistant: Betty Neu
Hospitality: Mary Boswell
GDAC Representative: Claude Cheek
Workshop Coordinators: Jo Williams, Doug Walton, Littie Grooms, Margaret Kessler
Critique Coordinator: Jo Williams
Nominating Committee Chair: Martha Robbins
Membership fees where $15 single and $20 family

Major Events:
Monthly mini-shows
Presidents Show, August 23-September 10
Santa’s Show, November 9-10
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, March 15-April 17
Denton Arts Festival ? first year to replace Spring Fling? April 25-26

1992-1993
President: Claude Creek
President-Elect: Betty Neu
1st Vice President: Betty Neu
2nd Vice President: Mark Fleege
Secretary: Janice Carr
Treasurer: Louise Higgins
Parliamentarian: Mary Pilgrim
Publicity: Lois Ratcliff
Historian/Photographer: Juanita Brown, Eva Williams
Santa’s Show: Barry Vermillion, November 21-22
Denton Arts Festival: (replaced Spring Fling) Jo Nash? See above
Telephone Chairperson: Dianna Brandborg
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Littie Grooms, Kathe Ambuster
Newsletter: Jule Sewell
Membership: Dorothy Thetford, Diane Walker-Gladney
Sunshine: Mary Jane Fletcher
Yearbook Editor: Carol Leonard
Nominating Committee Chairperson: Jo Williams
Mini-show Assistant: Karyn Toney, Evalyn Coulter
Hospitality: Kay Hinton
GDAC Representative: Claude Cheek
Workshop Coordinators: Jo Williams, Littie Grooms
Critique Coordinator: Jo Williams
Nominating Committee: Martha Robbins, Leon Brown, Littie Grooms

Major Events:
East Gallery Opens
President’s Show: August 23-September 10, East Gallery (begins the tradition)
Santa’s Show, Civic Center: November 21-22
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: April 18- May 26

Claude’s Reflections…
“I think the best part of being president was that you could meet all the great artists that
we had @ that time for demonstrations. Other significant memories: the workshop artist
Doug Walton, good membership growth, good programs, and the wonderful cooperation
of the entire membership.”

1993-1994
President: Betty Neu
President-Elect: Pat Gobble
1st Vice President: Pat Gobble
2nd Vice President: K. Brown
Secretary: Mary A. Morris
Treasurer: Louise Higgins
Parliamentarian: Mary Jane Fletcher
Publicity: Littie Grooms
Historian/Photographer: Juanita Brown and Eva Williams
Santa’s Show and Sale: Barry Vermillion
Denton Arts Festival: Jo Nash
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jeanne Heartsill
Telephone Chairperson: Rose Marie Dunlap
Membership: Dorothy Thetford and Diane Walker-Gladney
Yearbook Editor: Jule Sewell
Sunshine: Mary Richards
Mini-show: Chris Brown, Eva Williams, Kay Hinton
Hospitality: Evalyn Coulter
President’s Show: Melisa Cadell Comeau

Major Events:
President’s Show: July 23- August 18
Santa’s Show and Sale: November 6-7
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: March 12-April 22
Denton Arts Festival: April 23-24
“East Gallery opens” states Betty Neu.

1994-1995
President: Pat Gobble
President-Elect/1st Vice President: N.K. Brown
2nd Vice President: Jim Brooks
Secretary: Susie Hillyer
Treasurer: Evalyn Coulter
Parliamentarian: Betty Neu
Publicity: Littie Grooms
Historian/Photographer: Juanita Brown
Santa’s Show and Sale: Jo Nash
Denton Arts Festival: Jo Nash and Betty Neu,
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Lisa Polack
Newsletter: Mary S. Morris
Yearbook: Jule Sewell
Membership: Mary A. Morris
Hospitality: Frankie Brown
Sound/Lighting: Terry Brown
President’s Show: Vera Speece and Betty Neu

Major Events:
President’s Show: July 17-August 12
Monthly mini-shows
Santa’s Show and Sale: show canceled because of too few booth reservations
High School Art Competition, November meeting
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Lisa Polack, March 12-April 21
Denton Arts Festival, date?
Martha Robbins passed away in April

1995-1996
President: Kay Brown
President-Elect/1st Vice President: Dorothy Thetford
Secretary: Jean Roberts
Treasurer: Barry Vermillion
Santa’s Show and Sale: Newell Kay Brown and Jo Nash
Denton Arts Festival:
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Nell Elliot
President’s Show: Melisa Cadell Comeau

Major Events:
President’s Show: July 23-August 18
Monthly mini-shows
Santa’s Show and Sale: November 4-5
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: March 10- April 16

1996-1997
President: Dorothy Thetford

Major Events:
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: July 16- August 16, Chair: Jane Fier
This was the member (President’s) show renamed in memory of Martha Robbins.

Dorothy’s Reflections…
“Highlights of my term: an accepted invitation from the Irving Art League to exhibit our member exhibition for one month in their facility; personally rewrote constitution and bylaws for approval by the membership; served as welcoming hostess at the meetings and both exhibition receptions; represented NTAAL to GDAC, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival and the City of Denton.

My Greatest Contribution: “Created a five-minute time slot before each monthly meeting and scheduled a representative of various art-related entities to inform our members of their purpose and connect to NAATL and GDAC. For example, Herbert Holl and Sara Harvey provided an insight of their jobs and their relationship with NTAAL, also Carol Short, and her/our connection on behalf of Denton Arts and Jazz, and then the Chair of TAG (auction of the Arts Guild), etc. We had a special guest at each meeting who spoke before each program to inform our members of how all of the groups were related. ‘Twas well received. -I designed and provided a display structure to accommodate member’s artwork. -And scheduled NAATL artists to exhibit in public places for four to five-week intervals. -I sent personal notes to each artist winning an award in the Spring Exhibition informing them of the donor of the award with the suggestion that they write a thank you note.” (We have continued this gesture with our Spring Exhibitions).

Unfortunately, a scrapbook was never assembled during that year. This was due to the passing of Susie Hillyer, co-chair of the historical committee.

1997-1998
President: Littie Grooms
1st Vice President: June Impson
2nd Vice President: Lynette Harris
Secretary: Chris Brown
Treasurer: Fran Shurtleff
Parliamentarian: Evalyn Coulter
Public Relations: Littie Grooms
Historian: Carol Delesandri
Santa’s Show and Sale: Kay Brown
Denton Arts Festival: Betty Neu, Dorothy Thetford
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Littie Grooms
Membership: Mary A. Morris
Yearbook: Kay Brown
Sunshine/Phone: Jan Carr
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: Kay Brown
Newsletter: Mary S. Morris
Nominating: Kay Brown, Chris Brown, Dorothy Thetford
Member’s Show: Lynette Harris and Sharon Dawson

Major Events:
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: March 15- April 23
Denton Arts Festival: Betty Neu, Dorothy Thetford

1998-1999
President: Fran Shurtleff
1st Vice President: Doug Peck
2nd Vice President: Lynette Harris
Secretary: Mary S. Morris
Treasurer: Bobbie Halpenny
Parliamentarian: Evalyn Coulter
Public Relations: Littie Grooms
Historian: Jane Fier
Denton Arts Festival: Betty Neu and Dorothy Thetford
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: Jane Fier
Membership: Mary A. Morris
Yearbook: Holly Garner
Sunshine/phone: Jan Carr
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Doug Peck
Monthly Show: Lynette Harris
Hospitality: Jane Fier
Newsletter: Nancy Byrom

Major Events:
Martha Robbins NTAAL Exhibition: July 26 – August 27
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit
Denton Arts Festival
High School Art Competition: November meeting

1999-2000
President: Richard Kiracofe
1st Vice President: Nell Elliot?
2nd Vice President: Lynnette Harris?
Secretary: Mary S. Morris?

1980-1981
President: Enoch Broyles
1st Vice President: Dottie Dowling
2nd Vice President: Alice Waddell
Secretary: Jo Williams
Treasurer: Jimmie Hughes
Parliamentarian: Martha Robbins
Hospitality: Ann Dane
Publicity: Carolyn Dorr
Historian: Rosalie Fulton
Fall Show Sale: Jeanne Heart sill
Telephone Chairperson: Lynne Ludwig
Calligraphy: James J. Johnson, Jr.

Major Events:
Meetings first floor of First State Bank building (currently Wells Fargo building)
Monthly mini-shows
Santa’s Arts and Crafts Show, Civic Center; Chair: Jeanne Heartsill
Chamber of Commerce Exhibit: Dottie Dowling, Linda Franklin, Rosalie Fulton, Martha Robbins
Flow Hospital Show- Emilie Cunningham, Thurma Burke, Truett Meredith, Martha Robbins, and Shirley Sawyer
Westgate Hospital Show: Martha Robbins and Thurma Burke
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: ?
The membership dues this year were $7.50.

1981-1982
President: Jeanne Heartsill
Treasurer: Cleve Waddell
Santa’s Arts and Crafts Sale, Civic Center
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Civic Center
Meetings moved to the First Methodist Church.

1982-1983
President: Jo Williams
1st Vice President: Emilie Cunningham
2nd Vice President: June Donowho, Judy Dwyer, and Rosemary Parker
Secretary: Yvonne Mesler
Treasurer: Cleve Waddell
Parliamentarian: Enoch Broyles
Telephone: Randall Biddy
GDAC Representative: Jo Williams
Publicity: Carole Wilson
Historian: Rosalie Fulton
Fall Show and Sale: Jo Nash, November 6
Spring Fling: Jo Nash April 16-17
Membership: Alice Waddell

Major Events:
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit- Jo Nash April 1-30
Santa’s Show-chairperson Jo Nash
Meetings held in St. David’s Episcopal Church

Jo’s Reflections…
“We implemented the first-ever juried exhibition. It was a painful experience for some, but I felt it was really important for improving the quality of the art hanging in the show. I remember many meetings with Jo Nash about the show, and she was a trooper about making this change.”

1983-1984
President: George Neill
1st Vice President: Mary Jane Fletcher
2nd Vice President: Judy Dwyer, Rosemary Parker
Secretary: Penni Abbott
Treasurer: Leon Brown
Parliamentarian: Jo Williams
Hospitality: Faye Campbell
Publicity: Sue Jackson
Historian: Ginger Worth
Fall Show and Sale: George Neill
Spring Fling: Ann Dane
Telephone Chairperson: June Donowho
GDAC Representative: George Neill
Newsletter Editor: Louise Massey, Susie Hillyer
Yearbook Editor: Yvonne Mesler

Major Events:
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, Civic Center, Chair: Carol Fairlie
Santa’s Sale, Civic Center: George Neill
Spring Fling: North Texas Fairgrounds, May, participated
This is the first year to have a printed program for the Spring Show.
The meetings were held at Good Samaritan Village.

1984-1985
President: Mary Jane Fletcher
1st Vice President: Joy Brown
2nd Vice President: Martha Robbins, Jo Williams
Secretary: Jesse Edith Self
Treasurer: Leon Brown
Parliamentarian: Jo Williams, Enoch Broyles
Hospitality: Ernie Derden
Publicity: Louise Massey
Historian: Thurma Burke
Fall Show Sale: Leon Brown
Spring Fling: Jo Nash
Telephone Chairperson: Ona Shirley
GDAC Representative: Mary Jane Fletcher
Newsletter Editor: Mary Pilgrim
Yearbook Editor: Betty Neu

Major Events:
Monthly mini-shows
Santa’s Show and Sale: Civic Center
Spring Fling: April 27-28 Denton Fairgrounds
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, March 9-26 held for the time in the Center for the Visual Arts and annually thereafter, Chairs: Carol Fairlie, Jo Williams (Judy Schneider ??)

1985-1986
President: Jeanne Heartsill
1st Vice President: Jo Ann Hanes
2nd Vice President: (Liz) Elizabeth DeGregorio, Martha F. Robbins
Secretary: Ona Shirley
Treasurer: Leon Brown
Parliamentarian: Yvonne Mesler
Hospitality: Wanda Crump
Publicity: Louise Massey
Historian: Thurma Burke
Fall Show Sale: Leon Brown
Spring Fling: Jo Nash, Rosemary Parker
Telephone Chairperson: Alice Waddell, Kathe Ulatoski, Josie Cloud, Betty Robertson, Malinda Hampton
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jo Williams, Carol Fairlie, Judy Schneider
GDAC Representative: Jeanne Heartsill
Newsletter Editor: Mary Pilgrim
Membership: Mary Jane Fletcher
Photographer: Emily Cunningham
Properties: Richard Fielder
Sunshine: Polly Perkins
Yearbook Editor: Betty Neu

Major Events:
Show and Sale: Dec 7-8, Civic Center
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, March 16-April 6
Co-chairs: Carol Fairlie, Judy Schneider
Spring Fling: April 19-20 at the Fairgrounds
Monthly mini-shows
Meetings begin to be held at the Center for the Visual Arts

Jeanne’s Reflections…
“I remember Jo and Johnny Williams, Cleve and Alice Waddell, Gary (Heartsill) and myself used to hang it (Spring Exhibition). Highlights of the Spring Exhibitions were lots of university students and some of the well known names in art in our area Nell Byrd, Cece Turner, Missy Sofi, and others entered. The membership show was installed in Festival Hall and was judged by past presidents. We were in charge of the Spring Art Sale (Spring Fling) and later became Jazzfest. We always had a great one and it was held at the Civic Center. We (the organization) was small and it was hard to keep going, but thanks to my board who did their jobs making my easy we got more members and kept right until present. My most memorable moment was just being allowed to be president of such a great batch of people with so much talent.”

1986-1987
President: Tom Garbacik
2nd Vice President: Kathe Ulatoski
Secretary: Littie Grooms
Treasurer: Leon Brown
Parliamentarian: Yvonne Mesler
Hospitality: Wanda Crump
Publicity: Louise Massey
Historian: Thurma Burke
Fall Show Sale: Leon Brown
Telephone Chairperson: Alice Waddell
Spring Hanging Show-chair: Judy Schneider
GDAC Representative: Tom Garbacik
Newsletter Editor: Mary Boswell
Membership: Joy Brown
Photographer: Emily Cunningham
Properties: Richard Fielder
Sunshine: Polly Perkins
Yearbook Editor: Betty Neu

Major Events:
Monthly mini-shows
Fall Arts and crafts sale: Oct 4th at the Center for Visual Arts
Santa’s Sale: Nov 22-23, Civic Center
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Judy Schneider
Spring Fling, May 2, Chair, Jeanne Heartsill
First catalogue printed for the 19th Annual Juried Exhibition.
The Vision becomes the name of the newsletter.

1987-1988
President: Alice Waddell
1st Vice President: Barbara Stracuzzi
2nd Vice President: Mary Boswell
Secretary: Littie Grooms
Treasurer: Leon Brown
Parliamentarian: Susie Hillyer
Hospitality: none
Publicity: Betty Neu
Historian: Thurma Burke
Fall Show Sale: Leon Brown, Oct 3rd CVA
Telephone Chairperson: Betty Robertson
Spring Fling: Dottie Dowling, April 30-May 1
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Jeanne Heartsill, Mary Boswell March 6-April 7
GDAC Representative: Alice Waddell
Newsletter: Vera Speece, Lori Wolfe
Membership: Ona Shirley
Photographer: Emily Cunningham
Properties: Sue and Jim Huckaby
Sunshine: Polly Perkins
Yearbook Editor: Betty Neu
Nominating Committee Chair: Mary Jane Fletcher

Major Events:
Santa’s Arts and Crafts Sale, Nov 28-29
1st High School Art Show held at the November meeting
Herbert Holl becomes the GDAC Executive Director

1988-1989
President: Mary Pilgrim
1st Vice President: Eva Williams
2nd Vice President: Mary Boswell
Secretary: Martha Storie
Treasurer: Littie Grooms
Parliamentarian: Susie Hillyer
Historian: Thurma Burke
Hospitality: June Dalton, Joanna Bates
Telephone Chairperson: Betty Robertson, Jean Kirkakofe
Spring Fling: Chair Jo Nash April 22-23
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Mary Boswell March 5-April 7
GDAC Representative: Mary Pilgrim
Newsletter: Vera Speece, Lori Wolfe
Membership: Mary Jane Fletcher
Photographer: Emily Cunningham
Sunshine: Polly Perkins
Yearbook Editor: Carol Leonard
Nominating Committee Chair: Martha Robbins
Workshop Coordinator: Littie Grooms

Major Events:
Fall Show Sale: Leon Brown, September 24th at the CVA (last one)
Santa’s Arts and Crafts Sale, Nov. 12-13, Chair: Leon Brown
Spring Fling: Chair, April 22-23, Chair: Jo Nash
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, March 5-April, Chair: Mary Boswell

1989-1990
President: Mary Boswell
President Elect: Littie Grooms
1st Vice President: Shirley Beers
2nd Vice President: Ruth Booker
Secretary: Eva Williams
Treasurer: Littie Grooms
Parliamentarian: Mary Pilgrim
Hospitality: Vera Speece
Publicity: Carol MacDonald
Historian/Photographer: Juanita Brown
Santa’s Show: Leon Brown November 18 Civic Center
Spring Fling: Betty Neu April 21-22
Telephone Chairperson: Janis Saville
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit: Vera Speece, Eva Williams
GDAC Representative: Mary Boswell
Newsletter: Lori Wolfe
Membership: Martha Storrie
Sunshine: Ona Shirley
Yearbook Editor: Carol Leonard
Nominating Committee Chairperson: Jo Williams
Workshop Coordinators: Shirley Beers, Jo Williams

Major Events:
Annual Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibit, March 4-April 6, Co-Chairs: Vera Speece, Eva Williams
President’s Show: 1st Member’s Exhibition juried by presidents June 4-30
High School Art Show: November meeting

1975-1975
President: Marilyn Tischler

1976-1977
President: Stanley Sawyer
Stanley’s Reflections…
“The art league was originally started by Jim? who operated a hobby shop located in an old house at 903 N. Elm. (The building is currently occupied by Rizo’s Salon.) He organized a meeting of arts and craftspeople who were interested in getting together to determine how to publicize their talents in the Denton area. We were also interested in establishing a market for the pieces that we produced. One of our first activities was to have an arts and crafts sale on the parking lot of the hobby shop. Our first meetings were held at the hobby shop and in members’ homes.

As we became a formal organization, several names were proposed. I think that we finally settled on the name of Denton Area Arts and Crafts League. This later became the North Texas Area Arts and Crafts League, and still later, the North Texas Area Art League. There were more crafts people in the organization at first. As we grew, we attracted more talent and the quality of the work improved as we added more artists to the organization.

I remember working with Marilyn Tietchler, Ann Dane, Geri Aschenbrenner, Jim Johnson, James Spurlock, and Martha Robbins.”

1977-1978
President: James Johnson, Jr.

1978-1979
President: James Johnson, Jr.
Jim’s Reflections…
“A Brief History of the NTAAL Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibition:
The exhibition which eventually evolved into the NTAAL Juried Fine Arts Awards Exhibition began in 1968 as the first community wide activity of the newly formed Cultural Affairs Committee. Fine Arts Festival was the name originally given to the exhibition. Later the concept of Fine Arts Festival was expanded to include areas in addition to the visual arts. The exhibition was held under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Committee for three years prior to the actual formation of the Greater Denton Arts Council in 1971. The Cultural Affairs Committee consisted of Olgy Ivy, Chairperson, Emma Ruth Russell, Steven Farish, and Prentice Barnett.

In the beginning, the juried exhibition was displayed on the second level of the Denton Civic Center. Ribbons were awarded in the various categories. The practice of offering a purchase price for one (sometimes two) outstanding works (in any medium) was begun in 1969 and continued until 1983 according to permanent collection records. These works form the basis for the Greater Denton Arts Council Permanent Collection. At least two NTAAL members are represented in the collection, Jo Williams and James J. Johnson.

The early exhibitions were under the supervision of Ken Havis, Director of the North Texas State University (UNT) Art Gallery. Viewing of the exhibitions at the Civic Center was a challenge because of the many joggers running past the exhibition. Another challenge was the hanging of the show. Because of the brickwork, there was no way to attach the pictures. Special hangers were found that hung on the edge of the protruding bricks. The exhibition eventually grew so large that the entire second level and part of the main floor of the civic center was used for the event.

In 1979, a proposal was submitted to the Arts Council requesting that the responsibility for the show be given to NTAAL. The request became a reality largely due to the efforts of Martha Robbins, NTAAL President and James J. Johnson, GDAC President (1980). In 1980, the first NTAAL sponsored Spring Juried Exhibition was held with Martha Robbins and James J. Johnson presiding at the awards ceremony. The practice of selecting qualified jurors, begun in the early years, has continued to the present. Jurors have included a variety of museum and gallery directors, artists, and college and university art faculty. Some of these jurors include: Mark Lombardi, Curator, Houston Contemporary Art Museum; Arnold Leondar, Chairperson, Tarrant County Community College; and Dr. Kenneth Prescott, Chairperson, University of Texas Department of Art. For a period after 1979, separate jurors were used for the GDAC Purchase Award. In the beginning there were no restrictions on entries such as the current 3 entries, 1 accepted rule. Because of the pre-selection process and the selection of qualified jurors, the quality of the show has improved immensely.”

1979-1980
President: Martha F. Robbins
Meetings at Western Bank Community Room on University Dr. and Fulton