2012 Member Friendly Membership Rules will be announced in mid February.
2011 LJAA Membership Requirements and Accruing Volunteer Hours
As of January 1, 2011 (1/1/11)
Background: A number of years ago, in an effort to foster more member participation in our non-profit, member-operated organization, the board initiated a volunteer hour accrual system called the Village Gold program. Many members found this to be a confusing volunteer hour accrual system and did not understand that volunteer time was required to make it work. Many members only worked the few hours a year it required to be in a show and did nothing more. So a couple of years ago, a new board of directors tried to simplify the volunteer hour program to make it easier to understand. However, there seemed to be one huge problem with the program. It was based on acquiring volunteer hours to be able to exhibit in the gallery, and some members have accrued so many hours, that they would never need to do any more work to support their organization in the future. Since we exist as an art gallery and member organization, the board has instituted an entirely new volunteer hour system, which rewards members for participating physically in gallery events and operations, rather than taking away hours to do so. It also puts every member at a level playing field on January 1 of each year, when all members’ volunteer hours reset to zero (0). The “LJAA Membership Requirements” section gives details of our new improved system, which we feel will generate more ongoing interest and participation in the LJAA and Gallery events throughout the entire year.
Exhibiting Members and Life Members (this level of membership is no longer offered) must participate. Associate Members can participate. Achieving certain hours a year would also earn a free membership the following year.
LJAA Membership Requirements (as of 1/1/11)
All Exhibiting Members must:
- Gallery sit 30 hours a year minimum. This is the equivalent of staffing the gallery for only 5 days a year. Members can schedule all their time for the year, when they mail in their membership renewal fees. (Pick 5 days and 5 alternate days prior to September 30. Gallery hours are 11am-5pm.) Hours can include staffing a member’s own scheduled show. Members will be responsible for their assigned dates. However, members are also able to exchange their dates with other members if conflicts occurred. Dates assignments are on a first-come first-served base.
- Exhibit in the LJAA Gallery at least twice a year. There will be 3 “All Member” shows scheduled throughout the year (1st: January, 2nd: late spring or early summer, 3rd: fall). A member can do more shows if they wish. Participation in small group shows is still an option, as are solo shows, two person or more shows, or “rent a wall for a month” opportunities. See our Exhibition Calendar for dates of upcoming gallery events.
Accruing Volunteer Hours (All members’ hours reset to zero (0) on January 1):
If an Exhibiting Member accrues 150 or more volunteer hours in a year, and has met all other volunteer requirements, they will be eligible for a free membership for the following year.
A member can accrue hours by doing some of the following activities:
- Pay annual membership fees: Worth 6 volunteer hours. (Associate members will receive 3 volunteer hours).
- Exhibition activities: Exhibiting, helping with receptions, assisting in hanging a show, or leading an exhibit.
- Community activities: Representing LJAA in the La Jolla Christmas parade, participating in outside-gallery LJAA sponsored shows, judging children’s art at the fair, painting in the summer “Art in the Heart of La Jolla”, participating in other non-profit groups as a representative of LJAA such as LJ Town Council, the LJ Shores Business Association, or any other non-profit organization that initiate or support activities with LJAA.
- Education: Share Your Art, training new members, training gallery staffers, or teaching fee-based classes.
- Board activities: attending meetings, contacting people or doing things to further the association.
- Communication activities: web management, constant contact, newsletters, mass email comms to members, data entry, making marketing materials, or phone calls.
- Gallery maintenance: painting and any other repairs not listed in the daily gallery maintenance activities log.
- Annual or Ad Hoc events: Help with ad hoc events, annual fundraising, annual meetings, or annual exhibits.
- Present artwork and artist information electronically on the “LJAA Online Gallery.”
Extra Bonus:
All Exhibiting Members accruing at least 100 volunteer hours will be eligible to show in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts or another outside show the following year, which will be “fee free”.
Life Members:
If for any reason, a Life Member were unable to fulfill these Exhibiting Membership requirements with LJAA, then the Life Membership would be changed to Life Inactive status. This type of membership will not allow a participation in exhibitions or other membership benefits. A Life Inactive status member will need a board decision to be reinstated from Inactive to Active status.
Associate Members:
Associate Members are more than welcome to participate in LJAA activities and earn volunteer hours. They are also eligible for a free membership for the following year if a member accrues 100 or more hours in a year.
Other Regulations:
- The required hours may be waived by a personal presentation to the board or purchased by $10 per 1 VH credit (maximum of 30 credits per year.)
- Failure to fulfill the 30-hour gallery sitting requirement and participate in 2 shows, will lead to ineligibility to renew the Exhibiting Member membership the following year. However, inactive members can always select an Associate Membership.
- Volunteer Service Credits cannot be gifted and transferred to other members.
For further questions, please contact the Membership Director (membership@lajollaart.org.)
(LJAA primary correspondence is done by e-mail.)
Last updated 01/06/2011
