I find myself in a somber, yet proud mood as I write this, my last letter "from the president." On January 1 I'll be turning over the Guild's oval office keys to Lois Erhartic, who will shepherd this fine organization through its next period of growth and development.

As president for the past five years (and vice president during the Guild's first year back in 2003-04), I've seen the Guild grow from a small cadre of some 30 artists to more than 150 individual and family members today. Early on, with no permanent home, we mounted about three shows a year, usually for three or four days at a time such places as the Portsmouth Abbey, the town library, the Roger Williams Conference Center, and others. We had no place to offer classes or performing arts, and we had little involvement with area schools.

It was four years ago that we fashioned the mutually beneficial arrangement we now enjoy with St. Paul's for the use of their parish house as the Arts Guild gallery, and the result has been 10 exhibitions a year running from 3 to 6 weeks each, three semesters of art classes, an annual exhibition of high school student artwork from all of Newport County, a small art scholarship program for a Portsmouth high school senior going on to study art in college, and a fledgling performing arts program. We have also initiated collaborations with other area art organizations-e.g., Art League of RI, Westerly Cooperative Artists, RI Watercolor Society-to bring work from outside our immediate area to our membership and the Portsmouth community. Further, four of our board members serve on the Town's Arts and Culture Committee, which has been quietly exploring for the past two years the possible establishment of an expanded community arts center on Town property for Portsmouth and surrounding areas.

The Portsmouth Arts Guild from Day One has been a continuing work in progress that has followed just a few basic principles-we are open to all artists and supporters of the arts at any and all levels of interest and expertise, no juried entry for membership; we value and endeavor to foster the spirit of community among our membership through monthly member meetings and events; we believe in encouraging our members' growth and development as artists through juried shows, art classes, and member mentoring; and we seek to give back to the community that supports us by building affiliations with area schools through student shows and mentoring relationships.

I am intensely proud of what we've become as an arts organization, and I'm excited and greatly optimistic about its future development under Lois's leadership. I know I will miss the close collaboration I have had working with so many members on so many projects and committees over the years. It's been a huge honor and privilege for me to have worked together with you in support of the arts in our community and region. Yes, it's been a lot of work leading an organization with as many independent, varied, outspoken artists as we have, which some have likened to herding cats. But I happen to like cats and appreciate their independence, grace and unique abilities.

Our by-laws permit me one more year (total of six) on our board, so I am not completely absenting myself from Guild leadership. I thoroughly concur with the board's wisdom of six-year term limits in order to encourage new leadership and fresh ideas. You will find this and more in Lois, our new shepherd (cat herder?) who will bring her business experience, energy and ideas to the next phase of the Guild's growth. Thank you so much for giving me your support, your ideas and criticisms, and your enthusiasm and inspiration during the past five years, without which I simply could not have done my job for you and the Guild.

While I will no longer be president after December 31, I certainly hope to continue to ...