We're thrilled to share some positive news amid our current challenges. We are honored to have been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Veterans Affairs for the current fiscal year, dedicated to supporting our local veterans. The grant, effective from July 1, 2023, to June 14, 2024, encompasses various critical needs, including food and gas cards, vehicle repair, utility bill assistance, specialty art supplies, and emergency needs unmet by other agencies.

However, we find ourselves in a difficult position. While we've only utilized 8% of the total grant to date, the grant operates on a reimbursable basis. This means we must make the payment or purchase first and then request reimbursement. Unfortunately, delays in reimbursements since October have left us with no available funds or credit to fulfill current requests from qualified veterans.

In previous years, our general and base funds have supplemented the grant account, ensuring continuity in our support services. This year, a substantial decrease in donations and income has left us struggling to cover both our studio's operating expenses and grant-related needs. The ongoing shortage is creating hardship for local veterans who rely on our assistance.

Traditionally, the DMVA allowed for an advance of grant funds for organizations facing financial difficulties. Unfortunately, this option has been eliminated for the current fiscal year. To continue providing essential services and fulfill urgent requests from veterans, we urgently need funds in both our general operating account and grant account.

For the month of December, we've deferred our mortgage payment, but other essential expenses, such as insurance, utilities, and loan payments, still total around $2500. Your generous donations can help us cover these costs, providing breathing room for the grant while we await reimbursements.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate: Your tax-deductible donations will support our general operating costs and allow us to continue assisting veterans while waiting for grant reimbursements.

2. Shop at our Gift Shop: Consider the Veterans Art Center Gift Shop for your holiday shopping, including gift cards. Your purchases directly contribute to our cause.

3. Monthly Donations: Setting up a monthly donation, no matter the amount, significantly aids in our financial planning and management, ensuring consistent support for veterans in need.

4. Become a Member: Annual membership payments contribute to our general fund, helping sustain the center, even in challenging times.

Your generosity keeps these State grant funds on the Western Slope, making a tangible impact on the lives of our local veterans. We appreciate your ongoing support and dedication to helping those who have served our country.

Donate big, donate small, pay your membership, or shop in the gift shop - every contribution matters.

Thank you for helping us help veterans!

Best regards,
Wendy Hoffman, President/CEO, on behalf of Operation Revamp and the Veterans Art Center

Visit our donation page for options

The new registration form is available.  Use the form below or go directly to https://forms.gle/LqWhZLJ4j7j1ttKw7

If you are interested in helping us out at the veterans art center, full time, part time, every now and then ... choices are varied but we could really use some help.  Please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/syvMNe3nDv9dzcLU9

We have way too much stuff!  We had way too much stuff a few years ago and it has doubled in the past couple years.  In an effort to narrow it down, aside from sorting and throwing out a lot of trash over the past few months, we will be selling and/or giving away a whole lot of art supplies and equipment that is either surplus, seldom used, or not used at the Veterans Art Center.

This effort actually started last summer and tables of give-a-way items have been picked through in the gallery periodically.  We have also listed items on eBay and in the online store on our website.  Most of the items listed in the online store will show up as $0.00 if you are logged in.  That is correct, members get them free!

Things are not disappearing fast enough though, and we really need to purge.  We will increase trash tossing, eBay sales, Facebook sales, and items in our online store and probably a yard sale or two.  We will also have many items available for free, but donations are always welcome.  For this I need a few volunteers.  Let me know what you can help with.

Wendy

Our healing arts sessions in both BodyTalk and Tai Chi are held regularily and if you are interested please check the event calendar for more information and/or to register.

Leather class is held weekly and extremely well attended.  

Upcoming classes not yet scheduled but starting in the new year are seed beading with Semantha and acrylic poured painting. Check the calendar for updates.  Email announcements will be sent to members. Another round of soap making and liquid laundry detergent making will also be offered in the new year.  Other tentative workshops are alcohol ink,  resin casting and epoxy art, encaustics, frit painting, and vinyl graphics.

We would love to have other classes to offer and are anxious for other instructors to come forward and schedule classes or workshops.  If you would like to offer an ongoing class or a one class workshop, please contact us and we'll work with you to get it scheduled and make sure we have all needed supplies. Contact Wendy, email works best.

Please remember that the studio is open for whatever you want to work on whenever there is no class scheduled.  The woodshop and glass studio are available at all times.

I have a veteran mom very much in need of some help with cold weather clothing for her 4 children and I am reaching out to ask for some help.

Girl age 10 - size little girls XXL (14-16), boot/shoe size women's 8

Boy age 6 - size 8, boot/shoe size 3

Boy age 2 - size 18-24 months, boot/shoe size Toddler 3

Girl (baby) - size 12 month

Also needed are diapers for the 2 youngest. Sizes 3 and 4.

If you can help at all,  you can drop items off at the veterans art center or contact us to arrange pickup, or help with a cash donation and we'll see they get the help needed.

Merry Christmas,

Wendy

While the iPhone app has been in existence since we initially launched our new website through Wild Apricot, the Android version was not fully functional.  At some point this was completed and both versions are now fully functional.

If you download and install on your iPhone or Android, and you are a paid member, here's what you will be able to do with the app.

What can your members do with the member app?

• Renew their membership
• View a member directory
• View another member's profile
• Email their fellow members
• View a calendar of upcoming events
• View details of upcoming events
• Add event to their device calendar
• Register for an event and pay the registration fee
• Specify the number of guests (if the registration type was set up to collect the total number of guests only)
• View their existing event registrations
• Cancel an existing event registration (if your site administrator has enabled this option for your registration type)
• Pay an outstanding event registration fee
• View and update their own member profile
• View their membership card

What can't your members do with the member app?

• Join a waitlist for an event

For Android users: You can download and install the app from Google Play or click here.

For iPhone users: You can download and install the app from your Apple or iTunes store or click here.

The name of the members app is Wild Apricot Members App.

Please note: when you open the app for the first time you will be prompted to login, using your member email and password. If you have an account with another organization on Wild Apricot using the same email/password combination you will be asked to select which one you are logging in to.  You will also be asked if you would like to receive notifications and these will be event reminders, renewal reminders and other site specific items. 

As noted above you will have access to a members list and can click on individual members to view their profile.  If you do not want your profile information visible, you can edit your profile and choose any information you want kept private or make your entire profile private.

This is what will appear on a member profile that has no settings marked private.

 You will also get a handy event list of upcoming classes and events

and can click on any for more information or to register and/or add it to your calendar.

Only current paid members will have access through the app and will need to login with their email address and password.