NEWS

In the absence of Julie Bartholomew (President), who is in China, Karen Weiss, Vice-President, gave the following report (here an abbreviated version) at the AGM on 19 September 2007.

It’s been a year of small but steady advances for our association. Our membership numbers are increasing. The members’ insurance scheme has worked out well, attracting new members to The Australian Ceramics Association and providing a real and affordable benefit to participating members. Our new online shop is a success, and ordering online is a breeze. Changing online service providers was a bit tricky in places but now most has been settled and we are going smoothly on our way. Read more in the Association report....

We welcome these new members

Meera Agar, Helen Leete, Katherine Mahoney, Christina MacQuarrie, Lynda Kent, Suzanne Kaldor, Ruth Andell, Julia Franz, Ondine Richards, Robyn Porritt, Karen Bell, Sue James, Margaret Hall, Anne-Marie Hayes, Peter Battaglene, Margaret Brown, Ben Richardson, Ursula Dutkiewicz, Kay Dowman, Laura Lyubomirsky, Fran Geale, Dee Taylor-Graham, Sophie Legoe, Jane Barrow, John and Valerie Kidston and Anthony and Judy Trembath.

BUSINESS INSURANCE / MEMBERSHIP

Progress! Many thanks for responding to our request for feedback on whether the Association should provide public and product liability insurance as a membership benefit. Besides email and phone responses, the committee have rung many members to canvass their opinions. Based on a response from over half our membership, 75% are in favour of the Australian Ceramic Association offering insurance as a membership benefit. On the basis of this response, the committee voted to make the insurance operational from July 1, 2006. Many members are finding insurance a prerequisite of hiring spaces for exhibitions, selling their work at markets and craft shows or offering classes from their studios. We believe this insurance will offer affordable insurance that will enable our members to operate competitively in the current art/craft marketplace.

To cover the cost of the insurance, membership rates have increased to $170 p.a. This fee is fully tax deductible for craft practitioners and teachers. As it is the Association that signs the group liability policy, individual members do not need to fill in any insurance forms. Members can request a Certificate of Currency, if required, as proof of cover. This insurance is not available to other Groups or Associations who are members of the ACA. Read more about the Product and Public Liability Insurance here.

The Australian Ceramics Association is also currently in the process of implementing a category of membership which doesn’t include product and public liability insurance – watch this page for progress.

Download the full information document from QBE (PDF)