RESPONSE TO POST

Every once in a while I get a posting on the Graphic Bulletin Board (www.graphicchemical.com) that I don't know how to react to. The following is one of those:

Feedback about the forum! I'd like to give some feedback about the Forum, I am surprised how few people use it, here are some of the issues I have observed and heard from members:

1. From the homepage there is no apparent direct link to member forum. I find it each time by going to the blog and going to the disclaimer where it gives you the link to Member forum. Could you maybe make it more visible, and more people will use it.

2. Quite a few people have mentioned that they submitted non-offensive posts and that their posts got pulled (happened to me the other day) this will surely discourage people.

3. Some people have mentioned that they submitted a post and no reply from w/s staff was ever received..that will surely discourage people. thanks for listening and have a great day! Marita

This post was placed on my particular favorite subject on the Discussion Forum - SPAM. It clearly states that all posts will be removed without being read. Obviously that's not always the case - a catchy subject line may cause me to look first and delete later - the case here obviously.

On the off-chance that this is a legitimate posting, I want to respond to the concerns:

1. There are about 4-5 large buttons atthe bottom of the Home Page that have a large microphone picture and the words "Discussion Forum". While I appreciate someone going to the blog, it isn't necessary to go there to get to the Forum.

2. If someone has submitted a non-offensive post and it's been removed, it has either been non-printmaking related or it's been accidental. The Forum is for printmaking not insurance, cars, aluminum siding, drugs or sex. I have deleted over 1700 signatures in the guestbook, and I'm sure a handful of them could have been legitimate "lurkers", but that's a small number. I go through a rather extensive method of determining who stays and who goes. It's not fool proof, but it's pretty fair.

3. I answer almost every post myself, unless others have jumped in and offered solutions, input or whatever. Some posts don't require an answer, but all get read and most get a response almost immediately.

If you don't feel like you've gotten a fair shake on the Bulletin Board, e-mail me at sales@graphicchemical.com and I'll make sure that you're included.

IMPACT 5 - REPRISE

I last wrote about the IMPACT show in October, and a lot has happened since then. We have been in fairly constant contact with the show organizers since then, and have additional information regarding the show.

At the 2005 conference the Estonian delegation (Loit Jõekalda, Eve Kask, Karin Laansoo, Vappu Thurlow) proposed to organize the 2007 IMPACT 5 show in Tallinn, at the same time as the 14th International Tallinn Print Triennial takes place. This is a great opportunity for printmakers from around the world to exchange ideas with their fellow printmakers.

The product fair is scheduled for Thursday October 18th, while seminars and otrher activities run from October 17th - 20th.

For additional information on the Impact 5 show, you should go to the show website at www.estograph.ee/impact/impact5. or contact us at sales@graphicchemical.com .

As a brief heads up, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) is planning an Art Materials Expo and Lecture series in Savannah, GA on October 5-7th. SCAD is a private institution with over 7000 students from all 50 U.S. states and 80 foreign countries. Look for more information on this show as it becomes available.

Finally, the picture above.....it has absolutely nothing to do with IMPACT. I don't have any Estonian pictures (yet), so I chose this one, not because he looks Estonian, not because he was a great artist, but mostly because this guy woke up the morning of the picture, looked at himself in the mirror and thought that his hair was perfect! He is, a distant relative of mine whose likeness ended up in a family album, Little did he know that 150 years later some relative would be making fun of his hair. Hope to see you in Savannah or Tallinn in the Fall