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Meet Your New President, Stephen Lanford.

Steven Lanford | Published on 7/5/2023


Dear Mid-Southern Watercolorists,  


My name is Stephen Lanford and I am your new President of Mid-Southern Watercolorists. I want to thank you for entrusting me with your confidence. I will do my best to live up to the high standards set by our previous presidents. I want to thank the MSW board as a whole and last year’s president, Gary Alexander, for their dedication and service. We would not have the organization we have today without the hard work of these few members. I would also like to thank each of last year’s “paint-ins” facilitators who so generously gave their time to  demonstrate their art during our semi-regular “paint-ins.”  


We are preparing for our yearly planning meeting. Please let Lindsay Ainsworth, our MSW Executive Director in charge of membership and website, at LindsayAAinsworth@gmail.com or myself, Stephen Lanford President MSW, at LanfordArt@gmail.com know any thoughts, concerns, or questions you have, related to MSW by August 1st. We believe our members should influence how we fulfill our mission “to elevate the stature of watercolor and educate the public to the significance of watercolor”.  


As part of our planning meetings, we try to allocate our resources responsibly. Each year we set forth an ambitious plan that includes sponsoring nationally and internationally recognized artist workshops twice a year, facilitating at least six “paint-ins” or mini-workshops,


and working to improve the value of MSW membership. The Ways and Means Chair spend considerable time raising money for the significant awards given at our Annual Juried Exhibition, without which there would be no awards. 

Our available worker bees are spread thin facilitating and maintaining these wonderful programs. The committee chairs need your support. Recognizing the adage, “Many hands make light work,” the board and I ask each of you for your help. We believe, with your help, that we can grow our organization, and make its benefits and programs stronger, which, in turn, enriches the membership experience for everyone. You are vital to MSW’s success. 


To get involved please contact Lindsay Ainsworth, our MSW Executive Director in charge of membership and website, at LindsayAAinsworth@gmail.comor myself, Stephen Lanford President MSW, at LanfordArt@gmail.com. If you are able to volunteer, you can also sign up atMidSouthernWatercolorists.com.  

As volunteers, you would work with the committee chairs helping to organize things like MSW’s: Annual Juried Exhibition, Open Member Exhibition, Social Media accounts, “Paint Ins,” Public Relations, MSW Website, and Ways and Means. (See attached list.) 


Your involvement can be as much or as little as your time and energy allows. Let us know that you are willing and we are excited to work with you to find your place in MSW! Thank you for your support! 

Warmly,  


Stephen Lanford

President

Mid-Southern Watercolorists


 

Here are some of our service opportunities:

  • Annual Juried Exhibition - receiving/hanging paintings, working on ideas and venues for future exhibitions, helping with receptions

  • Social Media - working with Committee Chair on ideas and implementation for our social media outlets and ways to connect with  members and non-members

  • Hospitality - helping greet participants at our paint-ins & gatherings, helping with refreshments

  • Public Relations - help the PR Committee Chair to establish and coordinate a comprehensive PR plan that targets all types of media on MSW activities & opportunities in order to raise our public profile, highlight our efforts, and advance the art of watercolor

  • Workshops - helping Workshop Coordinator with room set up,  refreshments, meeting/greeting participants, meeting/greeting workshop leaders 

  • Financial - help Treasurer with budget and financials 

  • Ways & Means - assist with fundraising for the annual exhibition— including stuffing and mailing letters, and generally helping to expand our fundraising efforts




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