Jodrell Decorative and Fine Arts Society - a New Society

Hello and welcome to Jodrell Decorative and Fine Arts Society Blog (JoDFAS). We are a branch of NADFAS, the national association, nadfas.org.uk

We are a new society covering a large area in south Cheshire and North Staffordshire. We are based in Holmes Chapel where we hold monthly lectures on all topics related to the art world. Our lectures start in September 2012 at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School. Click here for directions. My name is Chris and this blog is about how we are setting up the society.  

Why are we doing this?

Last year, by coincidence, I found myself sitting next to Helen Sugden, of the new societies support team.

I told her how much I enjoyed my NADFAS lectures in Wilmslow, but mentioned that it would be nice if we had a society nearer to home, in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.  

“Why not start one?”  she said. I thought about this for some weeks and having newly retired, contacted Helen

So began the exhilarating and fascinating journey towards setting up Jodrell DFAS. Our society takes its name from the area around Jodrell Bank, 3 miles from Holmes Chapel. I’m sure you will have heard of the Jodrell Bank Observatory with its iconic telescope. Take a look at it here http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/

Our programme of lectures will start in September 2012 in Holmes Chapel.  So far, 110 people in the local area, have expressed an interest in our venture!

We’re thrilled to be so far ahead with our planning but we still have a lot to do. This short blog might help others who are setting up and new societies might be able to offer each other a bit of moral support. However, we have had some fantastic support from the new societies support team, especially Andrew, who has come to all our meetings, looked at our venue, been busy arranging a couple of speakers for us as well as fielding lots of email queries as we go along. 

What support is available?

If you are thinking of setting up a society I would strongly recommend it -  but make sure you have enough time to devote to the venture. There is so much of interest to do. For example, training at NADFAS House , advertising, looking for suitable lecturers, themes and subjects. But, whatever the activity be assured that you will be supported personally and also administratively with lots of useful organisational pointers, checklists and ideas etc.

Marketing and advertising progress

Another busy week or so preparing for our launch.

Now have access to the website so am able to make my own alterations. This may be time consuming initially but should get easier as I get used to it. Have applied and been accepted on a ‘social media course’ at NADFAS house in June – you may be seeing great things on this website after that!

We have been distributing the postcard flyers and taking them with us to concerts, antique fairs, shops, meetings, reading groups, music groups etc. the number on the ‘ interested list’ is steadily increasing. The membership team sent out the latest newsletter to those registered. The newsletter is chatty and informative and aims to keep people interested and up to date with our progress. We are also warning them that we wil be asking for money within the next couple of months.

We have also had to construct a membership form to suit our own society , including a gist aid declaration. This took some sorting out as we were not clear what was required at first.

If you need to use ours as a template – please go ahead. I am going to put it on the website as soon as I work out how!

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Website

Our website has been launched. It looks great and we are very pleased with it. The site is a work in progress and we will need to keep it updated and fresh looking as we go along. so far our designer, Sophie Petter Design, has been doing all the updates and input for us. Now a few of us need to get together and learn how to do this ourselves. We also need more photographs for our 'slider' and it would be nice to use more local pictures. If you are reading this why not visit the site click here to visit the JoDFAS website


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