Waiting lists long for Clay groups.
 

Helene and I tried to join a clay/pottery group a couple of weeks ago and there were waiting lists at the regional rec centers where we inquired.

Do they keep snowbirds names on the lists year round? Can anyone explain better to me, why we need to wait when the rooms aren't filled at all?

Uptown Girl, I know you are a talented sculture with Clay, Do you know?

Did they not know at the rec center?

NO. Laurel Manor desk person said they were open but they are filled.

I am a potter and belong to one of the groups. Our group is a mix of snowbirds and year round residents. The club is filled according to when you got on the waiting list. They start at the top and work down the list. People move, quit pottery, etc so openings in the clubs occur but it is very unpredictable.

The kilns have a certain capacity and the storage space is limited. You are sharing space with multiple other clubs, all of whom need space too.

You would have to inquire at the group you were interested in as to how long the waiting list is, do they keep snowbirds on the list etc. I cannot imagine they would not. They pay amenity fees year round. of course the rec center people know little about the functioning of each group. There are multiple activities at each center every day. Plus all the stuff that goes on outside each day. Plus processing guest passes. And so on.

The clay groups are like every other thing here. You might decide you want to golf on a certain time at a certain course, but you may have to change your plans as the courses accommodate many people. Water aerobics classes fill up. The Ohio club may have to limit membership as fire codes limit the number of people in the room. Glass fusion or a certain quilting group might fill up so you go on the waiting list The groups that need specialized equipment like kilns or storage space have limits because they have to. I see lines of people waiting to get into yoga and bunco.

I would like to Thank ALL the Pottery Groups for the
HUGE Donation to "Deliver The Difference". DTD is dedicated to helping
homeless and VERY low income Children have food for the Weekends + etc.
( some only get real nourishment when fed at school)

The Pottery Groups IN the Villages were kind enough to DONATE
their works of Art.
:bigbow:
On Aug 16th a SALE of the Finished Pottery was held at Laurel Manor.
Their Donations of ALL the $$$$$$ raised at this Sale will provide
Several Thousand meals to those less fortunate.

This was not the first time the Pottery Groups IN The Villages have made
these generous donations.

THANK YOU to ALL the Pottery Groups. :ho:

May God Bless You All, Abundantly.

Yes, crafters and artists of all mediums are very generous people. Operation shoebox, giving dolls, angel snugs, potters, quilt groups are among the many here that give time and a lot of their own money to help others. What a wonderful place to live, full of generous kind people, isn't it?

I was pretty sure that was it. Thank you for explaining.

I had hoped to attend a class to learn how to do slab pots, but at that time (about two years ago)I was told that even the waiting list was full.

Instead, I took a course in clay sculpture through the Life-Long Learning College.
(Lynn Thomas- instructor)
Although our class was held at Laurel Manor,
Lynn transported and fired our student pieces in her own kiln at home.

Lynn is an outstanding, classically trained sculptor…. and shares her knowledge with gentle grace.
A lovely woman - a very patient, encouraging teacher. I was a raw beginner, as were many of us there.

I enjoyed her class immensely and found working in clay, especially at portraiture, was a sensual and profound experience.

Gracie, Google Lynn's website- she's done a portrait bust of Mother Theresa (that she sanctioned) that you will appreciate!

Seabreeze Potters
 

I was put on a list a couple of years ago. They said I would probably get in the followinf January. It is now almost October and nothing. I think something is wrong.

What's happening is that TV is getting too big and unable to accommodate all of the people wanting to participate. It shows in the restaurants during winter. It shows with the traffic and the amount of accidents. I'm worried that this winter is gonna REALLY be crazy busy out there.

The pottery clubs are a little different from other craft groups in that there are only 3 or 4 rec centers with rooms set up for pottery (kilns, clay throwing wheels, etc.) I was on a waiting list for quite some time at two of them and finally got in one. Big demand especially during snowbird season.