Ann Arbor Potters Guild Membership Information

The Ann Arbor Potters Guild is a cooperative organization. It has approximately forty-five permanent, several adjunct, and a few inactive, emeritus and associate members. When space is available in its facility, the Guild may accept applications for Visiting Potter and Adjunct membership status from qualified individuals. These opportunities are for the mutual benefit of the Guild, and the potters desiring to work in this cooperative workshop. In its well-used building, all equipment is shared by students and members; all kiln space for members is earned by labor; all materials are paid for by dues; all Potters Guild participants share their knowledge in a community atmosphere. Application information is available by emailing the board at pgbdmembers@umich.edu.

 

Visiting Potter (3 to 6 months)

ELIGIBILITY : An accomplished clay artist, who is not a current or very recent Guild student, and whose immediate prospective circumstances merit special consideration for this temporary Guild membership. The candidate should demonstrate independent ability, creativity and craftsmanship, as well as a contributing attitude and desire to work with others in a cooperative environment.

COST: Payment of dues is identical to permanent membership. The amount paid would be pro-rated from that amount.

KILN SPACE: Kiln space is earned by working for points.

APPLICATION: Application can be at any time by contacting the Board of Directors at pgbdmembers@umich.edu to express your interest. The membership chair will contact you to discuss needs and background. If qualified, an interview will be arranged with the board to present examples of work, a resume and for discussion of background, and reason for the visit. If it is necessary, the membership chairperson can make the presentation. The board will consider the application and then vote. Acceptance requires that 5 out of a possible 7 vote yes. Notification will be by phone, mail, e-mail, or as arranged.

CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP: This membership is limited to 3-6 months, renewable once by application and Board review. This is not a tenure track position, and it is not possible to jump from this to a permanent membership without going through the standard application process.

Fulfillment of the Visiting Potter's Guild obligations includes weekend cleaning, clay making, seasonal cleaning, kiln work, and general participation in the Guild. Visiting Potters are expected to spend time producing their own work at the Guild. Visiting Potters do not attend general meetings. The Visiting Potter is welcome to participate in the winter and spring sales. A key will be issued when the Director feels that the visiting member is familiar with the Guild's procedures. Fifty percent of fired points are to be earned by doing kiln-related work. One storage shelf is provided, if available.

 

Adjunct Member (Up to 2 years)

INTERN POTTER (First year Adjunct Membership)

Adjunct members applications are taken once a year. The deadline is usually in late December. Please see Apply to be a Member.

The application process consists of the following steps:

  1. Present a show of 5 works (2022 deadline is February 6th), accompanied by a resume and brief artist¿s statement. A picture of the applicant is encouraged. This show is set up by the Membership Chair and will remain up for approximately 5 weeks, for the membership to consider.

  2. Applicants will be individually and privately considered, evaluated and rated by the full membership on an available evaluation form. The evaluations are tallied by the Membership Chair and then presented in voting order at the general meeting at the end of January.

  3. At the general January Membership Meeting, following the determination of available space, a two-thirds affirmative vote of members present is required for acceptance. The Membership Chair will call all applicants following that meeting, or within 24 hours, to report the results. Applicants should arrange with the Membership Chair to pick up their work at that time.

DUTIES & RIGHTS OF THE INTERN POTTER

  1. Fulfillment of Potters Guild obligations including weekend cleaning, clay making, seasonal cleaning and general participation in Guild work.

  2. Kiln related work should account for 50% of fired points. During the Intern year, the Adjunct member will learn to light warm-ups, become involved regularly in stacking, bricking, and firing of the bisque kilns. They would also be involved in some training on the stacking of the glaze kiln.

  3. The Intern will be given a key to the building, and is allotted one storage shelf. The Intern is expected to spend time at the Guild in production.

  4. An Intern is able to participate in the winter and spring Guild sales. The Intern is expected to take part in the work parties that go along with being in a sale, just like a member. The Art Fair is only open to permanent members in good standing.

  5. The intern will pay the same dues as full members (pro-rated).

  6. The Intern is expected to attend Potters Guild General Meetings, and have a vote except on matters of long range policy, finances and membership.7. All new interns will meet with the Director to receive their key, shelf assignment, By-Laws and membership guidelines.

  7. All new interns will meet with the Director to receive their key, shelf assignment, By-Laws and membership guidelines.

At the end of the first year there is an evaluation regarding artistic growth, competence and "fit" with the Guild. This includes input from the kiln chair, points chair and membership chair. At the Membership meeting there is discussion of the Adjunct members led by the Membership Chair. A two-thirds affirmative vote of members present is required for movement to a second year as an Adjunct member, now known as a Resident Potter.

RESIDENT POTTER (Second year Adjunct Membership)

DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE RESIDENT POTTER

  1. Continued fulfillment of the Potters Guild Obligations, as noted above for the Intern Potter.

  2. As to kiln related work, the Resident Potter will be independently and competently stacking, bricking, and firing the kilns.

  3. Participation in sales is the same as above for the Intern Potter.

  4. The Resident Potter will now be allotted up to two storage shelves based on work points accrued during the previous year. The Resident Potter is expected to spend time at the Guild in production.

  5. The Resident Potter will pay the same dues as full members.

  6. The Resident Potter is expected to attend all Potters Guild General Meetings, and have a vote, except on matters of long range policy, finances and membership.

CONSIDERATION FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP:
For the Adjunct member to become a Full Permanent member, a show of 5 works will be presented for consideration, evaluation and rating (privately and individually) by the Full members. This evaluation ballot will be used by the Membership Chair to rank the order of the applicants during the weeks in January preceding the January Membership Meeting. The show is put up right after Christmas and is up until just following the Membership Meeting. At the Membership Meeting, a three-quarters affirmative vote of members present is required for acceptance into Full Permanent membership. The Membership Chair will make every effort to notify applicants at the end of the meeting, or within 24 hours.

EMERITUS MEMBER

The Emeritus membership is a category of membership that is only open to full members, upon notification to the secretary. These are members who would still like to make pots but who don¿t wish to maintain a full member status.

  1. Emeritus members can fire up to 10,000 points

  2. Emeritus members pay only one-quarter of the full member¿s dues amount.

  3. Emeritus members receive minimal shelf space, if any, based on availability.

  4. Emeritus members are not required to do cleaning, clay making or kiln work unless their banked points are not sufficient to fire their pots.

  5. Emeritus members can participate in winter and spring sales.

  6. Emeritus members do receive a copy of the General Meeting minutes.

Emeritus members may move to Associate Membership, but may not resume active, permanent membership.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

The Associate membership is a category of membership that is open to Full and Emeritus members. Current members may become an Associate member by notifying the Board. Associate members pay the prescribed dues, may attend Guild meetings without vote, may serve on Guild committees and may attend other Guild functions by invitation. Associate members do not have use of Guild facilities, nor can they participate in Guild sales. Associate members may resume active, permanent membership upon written application and acceptance of said application by vote of the membership.

INACTIVE MEMBER

The Inactive membership category may be assumed by a permanent member in good standing upon notification in writing to the secretary. Leaves are granted for medical, emergency, or educational purposes. Inactive membership may be assumed for a maximum of one year, renewable once. A member who wishes to assume inactive status should give written notification to the secretary stating the intended time frame of the proposed leave and this must be approved by the Board. Dues and work obligations will be prorated based on the length of the leave. Dues for a full year absence will be the same as those for associate members. Inactive members may participate in Guild meetings and functions other than sales.

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP

This category of membership is granted by the Guild, with the individual case determining the conditions of membership.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

The Honorary membership is granted by the Guild as a token of appreciation or esteem. It confers neither privileges nor responsibility.