1) The meeting was called to order by Jo Williams, President.

2) The Treasurer's report given by Treasurer Nancy Donley showed a Certificate of Deposit of $4000; Money Market Account of $6000; and current balance in the Checking Account of $5,201.13. The overall amount in the three accounts totals $15,201.13.

3) In the absence of Mary Emerson, Chair of the Gail Webb Workshop, Williams announced that the Gail Webb Workshop is now full, with one applicant on the waiting list. She also announced that the balance of payment for the workshop is now due, and that the $130 should be sent to Mary Emerson.

4) Williams introduced Robin Butt as the new VAST Historian.

5) Williams announced that the "Materials Hard and Soft" exhibit is now hanging in the CVA West Gallery, and encouraged members to see this impressive show.

6) First Vice-President Diane Dorn announced that to attend the Joye Moon Workshop, to be held July 19-22, a $50 deposit is required, and the total cost of the four-day workshop is $180.

7) Calendar Chair Kathy Mendes reported that she is now working on the 2006 VAST Calendar, and that entry forms are now available to VAST members. Entries must be submitted as slides, and include a $10 fee for two entries. The juror for the Calendar competition will be Georgia Gough. The deadline for entries is April 29, 2005.

Williams added that people can still buy advertising space for the 2006 Calendar, and that there are still some 2005 calendars for sale.

8) Williams reported that the entry slides for the Spring Exhibition have been returned to VAST, and that both the slides and letters of acceptance or rejection will be mailed out next week.

9) Williams announced that a new slate of officers is being formed for next year, and urged members to contact Nominating Chair Jo Nash to volunteer for jobs.

10) Williams recognized all high schools and their art teachers who were present at the General Meeting. She announced that ballot sheets were available for VAST members to vote in the High School Art Exhibit competition during the break. Members were to vote to determine the top four winners for the show, and also to pick the winning piece from the two participants from each of the competing high schools.

Williams announced that there would be a reception at the Texas Bank for the winning students on Thursday, February 10, from 5-6 p.m. All VAST members were invited to attend.

11) First Vice-President Diane Dorn introduced Jane Jones as the guest presenter. She described Jones as a vibrant watercolorist who has won numerous awards, and who currently has work in many gallery and private collections throughout the United States. Dorn quoted some of Jones' philosophy and thoughts about her work, which include using specific colors to inspire feelings and create the mood for her paintings. Jones' paintings include both abstract and non-objective work, and strive for harmony of color and movement. She has held numerous workshops throughout the United States demonstrating and teaching her methods and techniques.

Jones presented a demonstration of how she works and explained her thoughts as well as her method of watercolor painting. She showed how she works on wet paper, beginning with a design and carefully working from light to dark overlays. She brought several examples of her finished work, which showed the movement and intensive use of color which define her impressive work and for which she is well known.

12) Cathy Mitchell, VAST member and art teacher from DISD, announced the details of the VAST-DISD Silent Auction sale to benefit the tsunami victims. The sale will take place at the Center for the Visual Arts on March 24, 2005, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mitchell stated that high school students are not allowed to sell their work that has been done with school materials, and asked VAST members to donate work. Members can bring their donated pieces to the CVA at 5:00 on the day of the sale.

13) Williams announced that the Voertman's $50 gift certificate door prize was won by Mary Emerson.

14) Second Vice-President Beth Haywood announced the results of the voting by VAST members during the Break which determined the winners of the Annual High School Art Competition. The results showed the winners as follows:

Best in Show: Simini Blocker from Flower Mound H.S., $100

First Place: Christen Bowman from Flower Mound H.S., $75

Second Place: Adelle York from Ryan H.S., $50

Third Place: Sally Meyers from Marcus H.S., $25

For the voting for the student winner of the Best of School exhibit, the results were:

Lily Owens Aubrey H.S.

Sloane Curry Denton H.S.

Simini Blocker Flower Mound H.S.

Nicole Martin Lake Dallas H.S.

Jon Adair Lewisville North H.S.

Charles Admire Liberty Christian H.S.

Mitchell Bartz Little Elm H.S.

Sally Meyers Marcus H.S.

Rose Baca Northwest H.S.

Tyler Barmore Our Lady of Grace H.S.

Adelle York Ryan H.S.

Tiffany Ferguson Sanger H.S.

Lisa Rogers Selwyn H.S.

Tiffany Jensen The Colony H.S.

Maggie Borders Argyle H.S.

Haywood announced that all winners in the Annual High School Art Competition would have their work displayed at The Cupboard for the month of March, and that all students who participated in the exhibit would receive gift certificates.

15) Williams announced that there are still scholarships available for the Joye Moon Watercolor Workshop to be held this summer.

16) Executive Director Ingrid Scobie announced that Lucinda Breeding from the Denton Record-Chronicle wanted to interview the winners of the High School Art Competition and that there would be a featured article on the exhibit in the paper a week from next Sunday. She also announced the reception for the winners to be held at Texas Bank on February 10, 2005, from 5-6 p.m.

17) The meeting was adjourned by President Williams, 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Millie Johnson, Secretary