WCG Workshops have been temporarily suspended until at least January 2022.

With vacancies for both Workshops Chair and Workshops Registrar needing to be researched, addressed, and filled, the Guild feels that we should also look towards the positive and take this additional time to revisit and restructure what workshops should be offered, what they will be like, how to manage them better, and develop a consistent repeatable process, for us and for instructors.

Free public programs, lectures, online demonstrations, topical presentations, calligraphic conversations, outreach activities, and so on have not. Our goals for continued member education haven’t ceased. In fact, we’re trying to circle back and do more for our members, including providing online resources and promoting the art and services of our members.

We do feel at this time with Covid continuing, especially with its Delta variant, in-person workshops will not be feasible until late next year. I’m just as disappointed as you. We have had good experiences and feedback in offering online classes via Zoom, but when Covid restrictions are lifted, we’d like to make them an addition-to rather than instead-of. There is no substitution for classes wherein an instructor can observe a student and offer direct correction and guidance.

We thank you in advance for your understanding while we work this out. It is important for us to find the right replacements and to train them in how to set up workshops behind-the-scenes. If you’d like to help, we welcome the extra hands — no experience is necessary, we’ll help train you in what’s needed in requirements for the Guild’s functioning.

Again. Workshops are not going away. We are restructuring them. Education is not going away. Programs, lectures, etc. will continue.

Tamara Stoneburner, WCG president
[excerpted from the September 2021 Bulletin's President's Message]