Vince Pitelka on wed 2 jun 99
For all of you who helped mount such a heroic and successful effort in our
behalf last year to help save the Appalachian Center for Crafts, I wanted to
give you an update on how things are going before I leave for the summer.
We are in good shape. From year to year, Tennessee seems constantly on the
fringe of financial trouble, but they have made a strong commitment to the
Craft Center and seem determined to continue the support.
As most of you know, we received a generous new funding package last year.
Most of that money was committed to filling positions which had been vacated
in the financial crunch of the previous two years, and to completing a
variety of physical plant projects. The positions filled include a full
time Business Manager, a full time Workshops and Events Coordinator, a full
time secretary in the main office, a full-time security person, and a new
full-time tenure-track assistant professor of fibers. We found great people
for all these positions.
The physical plant projects have included paving most of the peripheral
gravel areas (which have been waiting for paving since the place was built
in 1979), new roofing on the housing units, all new carpeting in the
administration building (including offices, dining hall, lobby, all four
gallery spaces, conference room, library, AV room, etc.), new office
equipment, including new computers for all faculty and staff, at least one
major piece of studio equipment in each area (we got a Soldner mixer), new
phone system throughout the facility, new ethernet lines throughout the
facility, new computer workstation for students, including both MAC and PC
high-end equipment, and new track-lighting in all the gallery spaces. Plus
TTU replaced our old minivan with a beautiful brand new one, and replaced
our old 1/2 ton Dodge pickup with a brand dnew 3/4 ton 4WD Dodge with
snowplow (yes, we need the road plowed at least three or four times every
winter!!). The place looks pretty spiffy. I expect you all fully realize
what this means to us. We are smiling.
We owe all of you a large debt of gratitude for your help in our "Save the
Craft Center" effort last year. Just wanted you to know that the new money
is going to good use. Next year we expect to spend more on publicity and
promotion, which we badly need. We really do not want to be the best-kept
secret in the fine craft world, as people often say about us.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
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