Note Card Committee

What is the Purpose

The Note Card Committee raises funds to provide scholarships to American Indian students and grants to teachers whose students have participated in the annual Heard Museum Guild American Indian Student Art Show.  The activities of the Note Card Committee oversees the selection, printing, packaging, and selling of note cards featuring works of art from the Student Art Show.  Through these Note Cards, the public is able to appreciate the work of young American Indian artists.  The self esteem of the selected young artists is enhanced when they see their artwork in print.  Also, since the cards are now sold at the Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and many other venues, the Heard Museum and the Guild’s Student Art Show gain wider recognition. 

Who is Involved

The Chair and Co-Chair of the Note Card Committee are appointed by the Guild President with the assistance of the Community Programs Coordinator.  Three additional Guild members serve on the committee plus a Heard Museum Advisor and an Artistic Advisor.  Other Guild volunteers are also recruited to pack and sell the Note Cards.

What are the Tasks

Select images from those submitted to the annual American Indian Student Art Show & Sale to be photographed and reproduced as Note Cards.  In selecting the images:

• the Committee selects the six to eight images.
• during the Student Art Show & Sale the finalists are displayed and people attending the Show are asked to pick their four favorites.

Provide all necessary information about the selected student artists to the Museum Director’s Executive Assistant who will mail a transmittal letter and purchase agreement to the student artists and their parents for approval.

Submit the selected and approved images to the Design & Graphics Department to prepare them for printing.

Select a printer, consult to determine costs and to insure a delivery date in time for distribution at the Guild’s annual Spring Luncheon in May.

Recruit, train, and schedule volunteers to sell Note Cards at Guild meetings and at special Museum and Guild events.

Provide the Museum Library and Archives with two copies of each new card for copyright purposes.

Schedule a card packing day each month, or as necessary.  Individual cards are packaged into packs of eight to be sold at $10.00 per pack.  Some packs contain a single image.  Other packs contain a variety of images.

Expand wholesale selling opportunities by communicating regularly with current customers and by contacting regional museums and other appropriate sales venues.  Current wholesale customers include:  
              The Heard Museum Shops
              Smithsonian Business Ventures
              Del Star
              Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
              The Wheelwright Museum
              Tanner Trading Post
              Wild Horse Pass
              Several galleries

Keep accurate sales records and submit the money received to the Assistant Treasurer on a weekly basis.

Acknowledge, by thank you note or other means, appreciation for the work done by the volunteers.

What is the Time Line

March

Select the art pieces to be considered for Note Cards.

• the Note Card Co-Chairs, the Retail Sales Manager, the Packing Manager, and the Heard Museum Graphic Designer select six to eight works;
• the selected pieces are displayed at the Student Art Show on opening night; and
• the four winners are determined by the visitors to the Show who vote for their favorites.

April

Mail letters to the winning artists and their parents asking permission for the Heard Museum to use their copyright.  Each student is paid $100.00.
Submit winning pieces to photographer.
Submit selected photographs to the Heard Museum Graphics Designer to prepare them    for printing.
Consult with printer to establish cost and delivery date in time for Note Cards to be distributed at the Spring Luncheon.

May

Package Note Cards into 8-card packets to be given as favors to each Guild member who attends the Spring Luncheon.    
 
September through May

Pack Note Cards is done on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (6-8 volunteers).
Sell Note Cards at each monthly Guild meeting
Recruit, train, and schedule volunteers to sell Note Cards.  The Retail Sales Manager:

• trains the volunteers to handle cash sales, charge cards, and “end of day” paperwork; and
• schedules volunteers sell.  Shifts are from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at day long events.