Dear Members and Friends,
Just over a month ago many of us were enjoying the shared excitement of joining together on the beautiful UCLA campus, and participating in the 14th biennial Symposium. With over 400 participants, the atmosphere of creative energy, collegiality, and enthusiasm was truly inspiring. The excellent program, Plenary Day, and the tours and workshops provided attendees with exceptional opportunities to share expertise and creative experience. I would like to thank all those who contributed their efforts to make this such a successful event.
While in LA, it was wonderful to meet new members and to see old friends once again. I am excited and honoured to take on my new role as TSA President for the next two years, and I feel very fortunate to be working with such an enthusiastic and committed Board of Directors, and dedicated staff members Executive Director Tali Weinberg and Membership Associate Lauren Hartman. Past President Elena Phipps has left the organization in a strong position, and I hope to build on the new initiatives that took shape during her Presidency, while strengthening the core operations of the Board.
One of these initiatives is our very successful Textiles Close Up series, and I am looking forward to participating in the first two-day TCU program, Treasures of Islamic Textiles & Art which will take place in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum, Textile Museum of Canada, and Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre on November 10 and 11, 2014. Registration is open and I encourage you to sign up for this unique opportunity. The expansion of this series and growth of our programs will help to cultivate local constituencies of textile enthusiasts, in particular students, and to grow and diversify our membership base.
TSA’s strength is its membership, every one of you. I have seen the organization grow in relevance through new directions, and it continues to represent through its members the scope and breadth of the field. I want to continue to find ways to connect our community across disciplines, looking for opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, and to expand our international reach around the world.
I look forward to opportunities to engage with TSA members and the textile community over the coming months, and I hope you will let me know your goals and hopes as well as suggestions for the organization.
I hope that wherever you may be, you are enjoying a beautiful fall!
Roxane Shaughnessy
President
Textile Society of America, 2014-16
