05/23/2017
Hello Everyone!
Well, it’s summer and my term of being Art Club President is over. It has been a wonderful year! I have had such a great experience serving the club, and learning from each of you along this journey. When Marissa (past Art Club president) bestowed upon me the duty of becoming the next president, there were a total of two active members: Marissa and myself. While there were other members or interested students who were unable to make it to meetings (Laura Meza being one), Marissa and I were really the only members regularly attending meetings and every event. During my term as Art Club President, the club has grown from two fully active members to about ten fully active members and about thirty members on our roster! We’ve had multiple art workshops and a full student art show! We also had our advisor, Tina Medina, win an award for Advisor of the Year for 2016-17! We’ve accomplished so much together, and I’m proud of the growth I’ve seen so many members demonstrate throughout this past year
Specifically, I would like to thank and congratulate:
Professor Tina Medina: For constantly being a great advisor and mentor. I would not have been able to serve the club without your support and guidance. Congratulations on being awarded Advisor of the Year for 2016-17! You really deserve it for all the work you do for the club. Your input and mentorship over these past 3 years has helped me prepare for the journey ahead. Thank you for all that you have done for me throughout my time at Mountain View! I look forward to my journey ahead with confidence directly because of your input on how to better achieve my dreams. From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for your mentorship!
Professor Stephanie Noell: For stepping in during Professor Medina’s sabbatical and helping us when we really needed it. You consistently supported us throughout this year! Thank you so much!
Professor James Behan: For making the Art Club feel at home within the Art Department and always seeking to lead by example with clear instruction on how to improve. Thank you for your support!
Professor Jessica Bates-Grabowski: For your help with the ceramics workshop, and your input on aesthetic excellence within the professional art field. Thank you!
Vice President Ashley Duenas: Thank you for keeping me accountable and being a supportive force within the club. When the rest of the club would focus on one of our many ‘fires’ throughout this year, you focused to ensure that we stayed together as a club throughout each struggle. I am deeply honored that you helped the club as our vice president, and I am proud and excited to see where your journey leads you next! I am certain that your future is bright and that you will achieve your goals!
Historian Tommy Miles: Thank you for constantly being a positive force within the club. You always seemed to make the club feel welcome and alive at every meeting! As Ashley kept us together, you kept us smiling. Thank you for everything that you did for the club, and I know that you will do great things in your future!
Public Relations Officer Laura Meza: Thank you for helping the club when we needed that extra push each time. I know that you had your hands full with work and other responsibilities, but you still did your best to help us when we needed it the most. Thank you for everything that you did for the club, and I have faith in your future as a multi-media artist!
Treasurer Gerardo Mendez: Thank you for helping the club with all of the “small details” that the rest of us over looked. I know that a few things came up in spring, but we were always happy to have you throughout fall and every time you could make it in spring. Thank you for your bright positivity and inclusive nature! I know that your kind demeanor and imagination will serve you well in whatever field that you chose. Thank you!
I would also like to thank Jasmine Ramirez, Luis Nunez, and Nathan Marquez for their continued support of the club throughout the year. These guys helped to make sure that all of our events were successful through their active participation. Thank you for all that you did guys! You came through even in the literal long nights!
Also, thank you to the entire OSL department for their help with all club activities! They helped us get through multiple emergencies and pull together resources so that our events were successful. A HUGE thank you to Deanna Guess for all her help as the club coordinator. You guys are awesome, and I am grateful for the help you gave the club!
The club has grown considerably and in only one year’s time the club can hold full elections again! This is huge for a club at a community college as growth can be difficult to sustain. That being said, the next Art Club executive team needs to focus on continuing this growth. I strongly suggest that the next team makes it a priority to further standardize club activities and engage in enthusiastic club advertisement. Finally, I encourage the next team to get all paperwork and groundwork done for the club before this fall semester. It might seem ridiculous, but completing everything in July would make their lives (and sleep schedules) all the better this coming fall. I strongly suggest getting everything done early: I speak from experience.
I now give my heartfelt farewell. It has been a joy working with everyone, and I’m going to miss every single one of you! I am going to Hampshire College (Massachusetts) this fall, but I am taking these experiences with me as I continue my journey. Thank you for your impact on my life and I look forward to our futures with confidence and joy!
Sincerely (for the last time),
Art Club President Daniel Birckbichler
