April 2016 Newsletter - Bead Society of Northern California
Transcription
April 2016 Newsletter - Bead Society of Northern California
April 2016 DVHdesigns Lapidary Arts: Four Decades in Geological Time Presented by David V. Horste Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at 7:30 pm Social half-hour at 7:00 pm with coffee/tea Courtyard Marriott, 5555 Shellmound, Emeryville, 94605. The parking lot is a gated surface lot around the hotel. Bring your parking ticket into the hotel; get it validated after the meeting and BSNC will pay the parking fee. Members free with membership card, non-members $5 “You want to know the difference between a master and a beginner? The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” ~UNKNOWN Learning to cut and polish stones takes patience. Getting good at it takes a years. Discovering oneself as a lapidary artist takes decades. In this presentation David V. Horste will take us on a visual and storytelling journey through his 40 years of making jewelry and being a full time lapidary. David still has an extensive representative collection of pieces he's made over the decades along with archival images of highlights throughout his career. From his earliest creations in the mid 1970's through his years as a silversmith in Michigan, and into his current creations, David's presentation will showcase the evolution of his work from boyhood hobby into his current life as an internationally recognized lapidary artist. Special focus will be given to the roles of the many teachers, mentors, and patrons who have helped him along the way. Entertaining tales of how he came to be a "muse" to jewelry and bead artists around the world are guaranteed! David V. Horste of DVHdesigns is a custom lapidary source for designer focal beads and cabochons. He works in semiprecious stone and organic gems (jet, fossil ivory, shell, bone, etc.), along with up-cycled materials such as bowling ball, fordite, and scrap glass and pottery. David started cutting stones in 1976 at age 10. He has been a full time lapidary artist since 1992 with a specialty in larger, one of a kind, centerpiece and focal beads, along with unique, free form cabochons. You can see more of his work and find his online shops through his website, www.dvhdesigns.com 1 FROM IDEAS TO THE FINISHED PIECE: INSPIRATION, INNOVATION, AND FABRICATION – Christi Friesen your own personal folder in which to keep whatever has captured your eye. Even if you think you can’t do so with any sort of professionalism, it is important to keep a notebook and jot down your inspirations, tape down leaves and flowers, scraps of fabric for both designs and color combinations, doodle, scribble, and sketch designs you see on buildings like ironwork often found on older buildings. Let your brain innovate into “drift mode” which often happens in the shower, while you are sitting in traffic, during dreams (again, keep a book by your bed to jot down those late night inspirations and visions). “Humans are, by their very nature, creative and innovators.” Ideas often come by accident. It is said that if you concentrate on a problem you are having before you go to sleep, the solution often comes to you in your dreams. Look at what is already out there and adapt it to what you can use as your solution. Ask for permission; Share with others what you have learned; Respect what others are doing; Grow with your changes. Ideas that don’t work for one problem can be On March 15, 2016, Christi Friesen showed all of us how to take charge of our environment to use what we see around us every day as well as on special occasions. How to turn sketches in our books (more about that later) into a beautiful, finished piece worthy of admiration from one and all. Our minds are a deep well, a cone from which a spring bubbles up with inspiration ~ we just need to learn how to tap those ideas and visions as they evolve. The mystery is how to keep that spring full of what we see, dream, and experience as they swirl into cognition. Today, inspiration is all around us; museums are open to the public showing various periods of beauty, and if you are not living within their proximity, you can often visit them through the Internet. Learn how to “see” what is around you…how that fern leaf curls, the colors of a rusty gate, the shades of leaves on a sunny day and at dusk. Using our cell phones makes it especially easy today to capture scenes around us. The area that has really exploded is Pinterest ~ there are thousands of categories and entries on each and it is easy to create 2 the perfect solution for another idea. Be patient and keep good notes in your books. you have learned, by writing instructions and books, and by giving lectures. This validation from friends and students is truly wonderful to gain. If you are in position to expand on something truly new to the industry, you may also find yourself in position of creating new tools that make life easier for students to follow. The making of new tools is expensive and often knocked off, so it is important to research this development carefully. Often fabrication is the way to work through your problems. Do research on the Internet around what you are trying to create, experiment with various solutions, and refine each try until you find the result you seek. Christy tried to find a solution to creating wings for a dragon fly. Nothing was working until she found a site for a stone called Mica. It often flakes apart into layers, but she found that by using a thicker piece and sealing the edges with glue and then polymer clay, that she was able to cut and form the very solution ~ plus, she could glue on gems and colorize the areas with iridescent powders ~ taa daa ~ a solution to the problem! A major problem now with lack of financial stability is the loss of Arts and Crafts being taught in schools. Creativity is a work of the heart and without the early encouragement of teachers, the students’ inspiration is often crushed before it can be developed. Encourage students to seek inspiration on the Internet, especially by watching YouTube’s videos that can be played and replayed until you can understand what the instruction is all about….and then the students can evolve their own ideas from there. It is most important to not ever close down ideas through frustration. Set aside a period of time every day to search for inspiration or to work on drawing out your ideas. You set aside time to cook, make the bed, clean the house, work, shop for groceries ~ so it is also important to set aside a period of time, every day, to play. If you do nothing more than sit at the table and mix colors, do so. If nothing more than to form hearts over and over so that the shape becomes natural to your fingers but make a small change each time that amuse your brain cells, do so by exploring Christi’s e-blather: www.ChristisCreativeNeighborhood.com has monthly inspirations, tips and techniques; new projects and old favorites; design ideas, know-hows, new products, videos and events; and lot of fun stuff to encourage that mental stimulation into “play”. Christy was once asked how long it took her to make a certain piece: “All my life”, as each little bit of what has occurred has changed her perspective of how she evolved to where she is today. If you are interested, she currently has a FREE pattern and instruction on Fire Mountain Gems. Have fun ~ and Christi encourages you to share your creations with her. Remember, we all start with a brick of clay so “add some flourish to your life!” www.ChristiFriesen.com OK – you have notebooks of inspirations ~ now what do you do with it? (By the way, Christi has over 50 books and often will grab one and just flip it open for new/old ideas.) It is important to make something and enjoy it; just the fact that you made it, can share what you made with your friends. If someone really falls in love with it, sell it for profit and with which to afford to buy and make more. You can also see profit by teaching what ***The bestest part was that from 4:30-7:00 before the meeting, she held a FREE “Make and Take” introduction to polymer clay covering two long tables, and revolving members at the seats around the tables. Multiple techniques were explained and expounded upon so that everyone came away with many new creations to take home and bake at 275°. These pieces were each embellished with crystals and magical powders to bring them personally alive for each of us. 3 ~Marilyn Peters LIONS, TIGERS, & BEADS ~ OH MY! – Teresa Sullivan On February 16, 2016, Teresa Sullivan returned to the Bead Society with a totally different presentation resulting from her trip to South Africa with the famous Joyce Scott. In 2014 she accompanied Joyce and four other artists on a three-week trip to South Africa to work with artist groups there. Joyce had met members of a bead tapestry group during their exhibit at the Smithsonian, and discovered the work of another beading group from Cape Town. She hatched an idea to do some skill-sharing with them, and decided not to do it alone. created during the week. Monkeybiz is an awesome company that has shelves all around absolutely packed with beaded items that the local women have made. The women joined Joyce and Teresa to learn new bead techniques. Two groups of about 12 were taught for two days each. They had a celebratory bead party in the retail showroom at the end of the class. Instead of fancy foods to show appreciation of the women’s efforts, Joyce’s group pooled the money they would have spent and sent groceries home with each of the women. Joyce also presented each artist with earrings she made. Three women, Mathapelo Ngaka, Barbara Jackson, and Shirley Fintz started the initial group and now they distribute their products worldwide. Due to their large volume and the need to control materials costs, they source their beads and other materials from China. Monkeybiz recently completed a collaboration with renowned artists the Haas Brothers whose totally wacky sculptures are currently on exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in NYC. Monkeybiz products can be found in San Francisco at Thread Lounge, 724 Valencia St. Joyce Scott and Teresa met in 1994 when she took a dimensional seed bead class from Joyce. Joyce immediately caught Teresa’s attention when she saw Joyce's totally unusual beaded earrings. Joyce viewed an exhibit of beaded tapestries of South Africa's Ubuhle group at the Smithsonian Museum. Teresa had been Joyce’s assistant at both the Haystack Mountain School of Craft and the Penland School of Crafts. The more Joyce talked about South Africa and she saw examples of the fancy animals made by using brick stitch beading over sticks from the Monkeybiz Bead Group in Capetown , the more Teresa realized that she definitely wanted to go there, which she accomplished with Joyce’s group after a long, 24-hour flight. Joyce and the group visited Robben Island, where many former South African political prisoners give tours of the area to the tourists. Many of the political prisoners were attorneys and, while performing manual labor, often taught their fellow prisoners, and prison guards, to read. Newly literate prison guards who were deemed too friendly were transferred out. The group had some time to tour Cape Town, and viewed unique colonial architecture and modern artistic graffiti painted by local surfers and skateboarders. They then flew into Durban to the African Art Center. Here too, Market Day is on Fridays. In Durban, the men create wire baskets and finished wood pieces to add to the economy. There are over 1,000 artists in the surrounding areas. In these markets you find the famous Zulu Bead Work. (check out Hlengiwe Dube’s book, Zulu Beadwork: Talk with Beads” via Africa Direct on etsy). Zulu cultural historian Hlengiwe can date and place the beaded artwork village by village, tribe by tribe, and even family by family. Joyce’s group was given a guided tour by Hlengiwe and Phumzile Nkosi of the Phansi Museum, a three storied museum totally packed with the local beadwork. A true cottage industry, the women who do the beading stay at home where they often watch over generations of children, often numbering 12-15 per woman. The conditions are primitive and the women often bead by candlelight. The residents of the townships near Capetown, South Africa, where the Monkeybiz artists live, are economically challenged; 50% unemployment, AIDS rampant, and there are ads for funeral homes wherever you look. Every Friday, the Monkeybiz staff visits the township, collects and pays for what they have 4 exhibited, and William and Aissatou Bey-Grecia have sent funding and clothing back to the children they worked with in South Africa. Fellow traveler, professor Sonya Clark gave a talk at Cape Town University and also assisted Joyce in teaching. Artist and educator Oletha DeVane-Kozjar assisted William with art projects, and she and Aissatou Bey-Grecia were instrumental in setting up art and dance sessions in and near Durban and Cape Town. As a “thank you” from Bev Gibson of the Ubuhle group, Joyce’s group was taken out on a safari. They saw four of the famous five: lions, rhinos, hippos, and elephants. After their return, Joyce and friends sent containers of shoes, socks, sweaters, and t-shirts to the several art and dance groups the group encountered in South Africa. From Durban, Bev Gibson drove us to the group she cofounded with artist Ntombephi Ntobela, in the rural area known as the Midlands. South Africa has a lot of artists and there are many groups trying to organize them. This area of Africa covers a vast area. The women in the area create wonderful bead embroidered pieces with size 11/0 and size 8° seed beads. Like that of Monkeybiz, this group's goal is to gain economic empowerment through their beadwork. Apartheid was abolished in 1991, but economic progress has been slow. South Africa's minimum wage averages $12.00 per day. The women work sitting on the ground under the trees while taking care of their children. The pieces are vast and take months to finish. Even with the same beads, the color and design combinations are unique to each bead artist. All but one of the people in Joyce Scott’s group are African American, but the fact that they were from America, and at least in part, the color of their skin meant that they were not considered “black” in Africa. The multi-tiered race categories of the apartheid era still stand, which include an in-between “coloured” status for those who are not indigenous, European, or are “mixed”. Much was learned on this venture. If you are interested in further investigation on the bead groups in South Africa, here are the connections: Monkeybiz Bead Group – Capetown – monkeybiz.co.za Thread Lounge (SF boutique that carries Monkeybiz products): threadlounge.com Haas Bros – thehaasbrothers.com (Monkeybiz collaboration “The Haas Sisters”) African Art Center – Durban – afriart.org.za Ubuhle Bead Group – Midlands – ubuhlebeads.co.za The Phansi Museum – Durban – phansi.com Sonya Clark – sonyaclark.com Joyce Scott does not have a web site, but Google her name for additional information and pictures of her awesome work Oletha Devane-Kuzjar – olethadevane.com Williams Rhodes – threepointninecollective.com and williamrhodesart.com Teresa Sullivan – teresasullivanstudio.com The classes that Joyce held were all too brief, but the difference in the resulting bead work can change the financial status of entire village. Even with language differences, the beads and beading techniques transcended the barriers. The groups have hard logistics: there are few needles, thread, and quality beads. Joyce Scott’s godson, William Rhodes, is an art educator who has led the Dare to Dream art enrichment program in the Bayview area of San Francisco for 7 years. He began a Nelson Mandela-themed quilt project here, then brought it to the townships for an across-the-globe collaboration. Since his return, both groups of children have kept in touch, the finished quilt has been widely ~Marilyn Peters 5 JEWELRY IN MUSEUMS OF THE WORLD – PART 1 – Dr. Robert Liu jade, lapis, carnelian, agate were considered precious and were often considered high status by the elite, although glass was undoubtedly also probably a precious materiel when first introduced into use. Because many stones, such as lapis and turquoise were found in far off places, they were brought into China by both land and sea routes. In many ancient cultures, the making of high status items was controlled by the elite society and were often created right on the palace or temple grounds. In order to understand the real items, Dr. Liu and Walker Qin entered into study of both categories. Dr. Liu showed a chart comparing various aspects of the Indus Valley and the Zhou Dynasty. Dr. Liu’s lecture on January 19, 2016 was the result of a collaboration with Walker Qin, a Chinese bead collector from the Beijing Bead Museum and Research Center, who has traveled to 45 countries and photographed jewelry in 66 museums. Dr. Liu and Mr. Qin have combined their images and knowledge for this PowerPoint lecture, which focuses on the Indus Civilization and the Zhou Dynasty/Warring States Periods. Photographs from 17 museums were included, as well as Dr. Liu’s own research drawing from 40 years of the Ornament Magazine archives. Qin's images are from French, Chinese and American museums, while Dr. Liu’s are from Chinese, European, Canadian and American museums. There about 55,000 museums in over 200 countries worldwide. The older Indus Valley culture, 3300-1300 BCE, had some form of script, but it has not yet been deciphered. The beads were created for the elite, and it appeared that this was a peaceful society. Their beads were made of faience, stone and other materials. The more modern Zhou period, 1046-256 BCE, were small city states, often at war, had an established written script, and used metal, glass, and stones such as jade. Because of the rarity of some of their beads, there were imitations, like terracotta simulating carnelian in the Indus Valley; one often sees such substitutes in museum collections. Items used in those periods were labor intensive and took years to make; an Indus Valley carnelian belt might take 2-3 years to make, with 3-8 days to drill a hole in one long carnelian bead. Beads made of faience often had little glaze remaining, unlike many Egyptian faience, since harsh environmental conditions often destroyed the glaze. Because of this, it is often hard to tell the original appearance of many beads and jewelry; organic stringing materials often deteriorated, whereas metal wire may remain intact. Since he has just concluded extensive research on the Zhou and Warring States beads of ancient China, Dr. Liu also added new information and images on the beads which are still the most precise and elaborate beads ever made, and for only a period covering about 300 years or less. Beads like etched carnelians and dZi had designs placed on their surface withs alkaline solutions which were heated, resulting in white lines that contrasted with their original colors. This has now been demonstrated by archeologists like Mark Kenoyer of the University of Wisconsin. Beads from these periods were obviously made by someone, but the when, where and how is unknown, although we may know where they were found. Throughout history, the making of most craft or small items like beads were not recorded. Beads made of Many unknowns remain about ancient beads. For example, Warring States beads often had 7 dot rosettes as part of their decorations, which usually included stratified or horned eyes; 7 dot rosettes are also found on other Warring States jewelry, sculpture and vessels. 6 many jade burial suit discovered in Han times, c. 206BCE, where thin plaques of hand carved jade were wired together to totally cover the body, even down to the fingers. A later body suit was discovered but the pieces were recreated in glass. Obviously the tiles made of glass were faster, easier to create and much cheaper, pointing how the use of glass penetrated far into traditional culture. The most elaborate Warrings States horned glass eyebead was purchased during the 1990’s for $1,000 and sold for about fifty times that after the death of the owner. Other collectors, like Dr. Singer, donated his collection to museums throughout New York so that people could view the pieces and study them where possible. Perhaps the number seven denoted some other symbology, possibly a genesis mythology? While scientists and contemporary craftspeople, like Sage and Tom Holland, now know many of the techniques for making such elaborate and precise beads, much remains unknown or how these ancient beadmakers were able to do such fine, delicate work. An example would be the application of microdots, perhaps 10-12 per centimeter, unmatched by any current beadmaker. No glass workshops have been found but ancient craftspeople may have utilized large kilns like those used by Shandong glass beadmakers in the 1980s or small, vertical kilns like those used by Japanese beadmakers. The techniques that enabled Zhou/Warring States glass craftspeople to make elaborate and precise glass, frit, and faience-core glazed composite beads lasted only several generations and then died out ~ again, no one knows why. Lead and barium were distinctive elements used during this period, although only lead was utilized in later glass. Glassmaking in China was given no respect, so there is no written history. Now researchers, including Chinese scientists, are studying this aspect of Chinese history during the Zhou period as that is the only time that these glass beads with stratified eyes/horns and rosettes were made. There are too many unknowns and it makes the investigation interesting as well as frustrating. There have been ! In 1911, when the Manchus were overthrown, many court regalia, including much jewelry and beads, was sold to western countries. The Cultural Revolution’s was also destructive of much traditional cultural items. In China, regime change often resulted in the discarding of such jewelry and their sale to the West. Someone made these pieces. How were they made. What happened to the workers and artists. The glass beads were not just deemed pretty pieces for art sake, what was their meaning and what was the history behind these pieces. Science does not allow for guesses ~ the investigation continues….. SAVE THIS DATE April 16-17, 2016 for the BSNC7 Bead Bazaar ~Marilyn Peters April 16 & 17, 2016 Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 10am-4pm April 16 & 17, 2016 Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 10am-4pm April 16 & 17, 2016 Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 10am-4pm April 19, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm April 22-28, 2016 Friday – Thursday April 23 & 24, 2016 Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm May 7 & 8, 2016 Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10am-4pm May 17, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm May 20 & 21, 2016 Friday & Saturday June 2-5, 2016 Friday - Sunday June 21, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm July 19, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm September 20, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm October 15-16, 2016 October 18, 2016 Tuesday, 7pm Calendar of Events BSNC ANNUAL BEAD BAZAAR!!! NC Nagle GemStones & Beads will be exhibiting at the Bead Society of Northern California's Annual Bead Bazaar. For more info: www.ncnaglegemsandbeads.com The Garden of Beadin’ will be at Bead Society of Northern California's Annual Bead Bazaar. BSNC Members get 10% off with their card. Call 2 weeks ahead of the show with any special orders. Visit GardenofBeadin.com for more info. April Speaker: David V. Horste Jewel Pledge Trunk Show - Choose from a vast selection of 18k rose gold-plated, rhodium-plated, and black rhodium-plated pendants, components, and other items, many encrusted with rhinestones! For more info call 510.652.2583 NC Nagle GemStones & Beads will be exhibiting at the 67th Annual Jewelry, Gem and Mineral Show & Sale. Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Mineral & Gem Society. For more information: bit.ly/SCMGS or www.ncnaglegemsandbeads.com NC Nagle GemStones & Beads will be exhibiting at the 57th Annual "Spring Bling" Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show. Sponsored by the Vallejo Gem & Mineral Society. For more info: www.renorockhounds.com or www.ncnaglegemsandbeads.com May Speaker: Ralph & Deborah McCaskey J.M. Imports Trunk Show - Browse through an impressive selection of precious & semiprecious gemstones in unusual cuts & shapes (cubes, twisted nuggets, faceted pillows), including many one-of-a-kind strands. For more info call 510.652.2583 Blue Door Beads’ 4-Year Anniversary Party & Sale - Enjoy discounts storewide, plus chances to win prizes such as gift certificates, beads kits, tool & supply kits from local companies, and free beads by entering our store raffle! Come to Blue Door Beads on Saturday, June 4th for champagne & chocolate while you shop! For more info call 510.652.2583 June Speaker: Tom Boylan July Speaker: Gwen Fisher September Speaker: Rosanna Falabella Craneway Pavillion 1414 Harbour Way South Richmond, CA Craneway Pavillion 1414 Harbour Way South Richmond, CA Craneway Pavillion 1414 Harbour Way South Richmond, CA Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 Blue Door Beads 4167 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, CA 94611 307 Church Street Santa Cruz, CA 94560 Reno Livestock Event Center 1350 North Wells Avenue Reno, NV Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 Blue Door Beads 4167 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, CA 94611 Blue Door Beads 4167 Piedmont Avenue Oakland, CA 94611 Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 Classes with Christi Friesen October Speaker: Luana Coonan Courtyard Marriott Emeryville, CA 94605 8 DISCOUNTS FOR BSNC MEMBERS! The following stores offer discounts – show your current membership card ALAMEDA Bead Inspirations www.BeadInspirations.com 1544 Park Street Tel: 510-337-1203 10% discount except class fees, books, consignment jewelry & instructor material kits. SANTA CRUZ Kiss My Glass 660A 7th Avenue Tel: 831-462-3077 15% Discount BENICIA Beading Around the Bush 126 East E Street Tel: 707-747-9094 15% discount except for classes, books & sale items. VACAVILLE Beads on Main www.BeadonMain.com 313 Main St. Tel:707-446-1014 10% discount at our bead store. Does not apply to finished jewelry, magazines/books, class fees, already discounted merchandise & Swarovski crystal packs. or if member is eligible for our wholesale customer discount. BERKELEY Baubles & Beads www.BaublesandBeads.com 1676 Shattuck Avenue Tel: 510-644-2323 15% discount except for classes, books & sale items. If shopping online, use coupon code NCBS15. VALLEJO Beads in Pomegranate Seeds 538 C Florida Street Tel: 707-557-3337 10% Discount CONCORD Just Bead It! www.JustBeadItConcord.com 2051 Harrison Street, Suite C Tel:925-682-6943 INTERNET STORES Beadshaper www. Beadshaper.com coupon code is: BSNC58713coupon 10% discount on handcrafted items bought directly from Beadshaper through the Beadshaper web site and at the Beadshaper booth at shows in Northern California. This does not apply to Beadshaper items sold at art galleries, boutiques, or through another vender. The discount only applies to items created by the Beadshaper. It does not apply to Beadshaper classes or items purchased by the Beadshaper for resale. It cannot be applied together with any other discount. DANVILLE Cottage Jewel www.CottageJewel.com 100 Prospect Avenue Tel: 925-837-2664 10-15% off everything not marked net. GARBERVILLE Garden of Beadin’ www.GardenofBeadin.com 752 Redwood Drive Tel: 800-232-3588 Fax: 707-923-9160 Email: [email protected] 10% off for all BSNC members, in our store or at any of our shows. Does not apply to already discounted merchandise. CBA, Inc. www.ChinaBizAccess.com Tel: 916-873-6230 Fax: 916-983-9128 15% discount except for on already discounted merchandise. Enter member code BSNC in comment area when ordering. OAKLAND Blue Door Beads www.BlueDoorBeads.com 4167 Piedmont Ave Tel: 510-652-2583 10% discount. Natural Touch www.NaturalTouchBeads.com Tel: 707.781.0808 NCBS members receive 10% off their Resin Bead Purchases. Put note in comments section of checkout or call 707.781.0808 Discount does not apply to sale items or markdowns. BROWNS VALLEY Wild Things Beads www.WildThingsBeads.com PO Box 356 Tel: 530-743-1339 20% discount on Czech pressed beads and fire polish. SAN JOSE Sew Bedazzled 1068 Lincoln Avenue Tel: 408-293-2232 10% discount except on classes. 9 President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Program Chair Volunteer Coordinator Newsletter Editor TERI LAWSON JULIE HANKS MARILYN PETERS JUDY SINCLAIR MARILYN PETERS JULIE HANKS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Annual Membership Dues, which include digital mailings and meetings are $20 per year. The year begins on the month you join. Dues are accepted at monthly meetings or can be paid online using PayPal or a credit card, or with a Membership Application printed from our website. 10