Dear Friends,
This is only the third year I have been in the PAA. It seems much longer. I remember the first meeting my friend Shirley Conley took me to. I was so impressed with you and how friendly you all were. Later I was to find out how very talented you all were. I am even more impressed with your creativity and giving ways today. I am always amazed how willing you all are to help and share
your knowledge with everyone, and how encouraging you are with newcomers and budding artists. I still don't know a lot of you yet but with time I hope to meet all of you and with help from upstairs I will even remember your names. Perhaps it will help you to know something about me.

Here is a short bio.

Born in Brawley, Ca. the day after Pearl Harbor was bombedyou figure it out. My older sister Pat, whom some of you have met, told me all of my life that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor because they knew I was coming. I grew up in the little town of Hemet, which is not little any more. My husband, I and our 4 children moved here in 1971. Two of my kids, Robert and Sandi still live here. Just remember if you run into any Byker's, they belong to me. And yes, we Byker's were bikers. The 2nd best vacation I ever had was 6 weeks on a motorcycle traveling over the western part of America and Canada. The 1st. was myretirement gift to myself -A grand tour of Italy and Sicily.

The year after we moved here I went to work for the Porterville School District and I retired from Porterville High after working for the District for 33 years. Retirement suits me fine as I now have time for lots of fun things. I took an oil class and painted many years ago when my children were small then gave is up because the rearing of four children takes a lot of time and energy. Now I have time to be an artsy person. And that brings me to you and the Porterville Art Association.

I will try to fill the office of President with my best abilities, a bit of wisdom andprobably great amounts of laughter. With your help and support, which I know I will need, we will move forward and have a great year.

Carol Byker

Porterville Art Association
152 N. Main Street
Porterville, Calif. 93257

Remember to go out and vote in the Ca. Election. It's your right and duty.

The reception for our "Featured Artist", Manuel Abod and all the artists who entered the juried show will be held on Sunday, June 11th. from 3 to 5 PM. Nancy Pengilly will be doing the refreshments. We hope you all will attend. This will be our only get together until Sept. Our judge for the show was Glen Hill. He had some very nice things to say about our gallery and about the level of artistic talent in our association. I have and will read you all his enlightening comments on your work.

Please, when you are in the gallery, vote for your favorite piece in the show. We will be presenting "The People's Choice Award" at the reception to the artist who gets the most votes from you and the public who come into the gallery. Who is your favorite??

Congratulations to Ellen Sprague for winning "The Best of Show" with herpainting called "Sunflowers." Glen Hill was very impressed with this work.

Also congratulations go out to all the winners of the show. We had a wonderful turn out and might have to change our rules about how many pieces can be entered for lack of wall space.

Well, a lot of you missed the potluck at the Springville Park but those of us who did make it shared some pretty wonderful food. That was the last meeting until Sept. The next Board meeting will be Sept. 6th at 10:00 AM at the gallery. The business meeting will be held at the Santa Fe Depot on Sept. 22nd. at 7:00 PM.