What is GBUK and What can it do for you

Started by ScarletLeonard, June 20, 2012, 03:49:21 PM

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ScarletLeonard

Glass Beadmakers UK is a society for anyone with an interest in glass beads, membership is open to anyone regardless of skill level. You don't even have to make beads to be a member.

Membership costs just £15/year (£16 if paying by paypal) and you can find the application and renewal form on our website
http://www.gbuk.org/pages/join/  

Our primary directives:
   * The sharing and dissemination of information of making glass beads through networking
   * The furtherance of educational opportunities in the field of glass bead making.

Two of the biggest things we do are the GBUK journal that is published every year. Any member can submit their beads to the journal and there will be a call for entries when the time comes, members also get a free copy of the journal.
Our other main activity is the bead and jewellery competition, the bead competition is only open to members of GBUK however the jewellery competition that was started in 2011 is open to anyone.
We also have our yearly AGM which is in September, more information will be posted about that when the details are finalised.

GBUK is run by a committee, which was changed slightly in May 2012 the current committee are;
Chairman – Scarlet Leonard
Deputy Chairman – Jo Turner
Secretary – Colette Ladley
Treasurer – Pauline Holt
Membership Secretary – June Scott
Webmaster – Heather Kelly
Newsletter/Journal Editor – Janine Starr
Marketing/Events Coordinator – Debbie Dew

Regional meet ups have been organised in the past, there are a few that still do them and this is something that we would love to continue organising. Many new beadmakers have found their feet with the glass by attending a meet up and they are an excellent opportunity to learn as well as an opportunity to eat cake. meet others that share the same interest as you and get to know each other.

GBUK also attends various shows throughout the year most notably Flame Off and the Stourbridge bead fair (which in 2012 is in the middle of the international festival of glass) at these shows we have the current collection (comprising of the bead and jewellery competition entries) as well as extra copies of the journal for sale for those that are not members. At these events we also have business cards from members so that people interested in using or collecting glass beads can find our members websites.

We also have our website, members can each have a page on the site with a small bio and photographic examples of their work, if you are a member and do not currently have a page please contact Heather webmaster@gbuk.org with the information you would like added.
In addition to the website we have also branched out into social media.
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/glassbeadmakers
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/133998486623172/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/GlassBeadUK
Flickr Group - http://www.flickr.com/groups/glassbeadmakers_uk/
LinkedIn Group - http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=4428588  

We are also planning other new things and things to run along side our current activities.
Mostly though please remember that GBUK is YOUR society, if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions please get in touch with me through chairman@gbuk.org