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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about Membership
"Standing Rules - Membership"
NOTE: As a non-profit organization, the guild has by-law's that set the way our organization operates. Clarifying and supplementing those by-laws are standing rules.
1) What do my membership dues pay for?
The guild is a non-profit business league. Membership dues from business members, general members, and sustaining members (aka corporate sponsors) are the funds that allow the guild to operate. Membership dues fund every and all activities the guild becomes involved in, including the web site, bb, contests, advertising, promotion of wire jewelry, and other activities.
2) Do I have to have a web site to join?
NO! Computer access is very helpful though, as we are a completely virtual organization and without computer access it is very hard to keep abreast of guild activities.
3) I've joined - how do I get pictures posted?
Your membership fee makes you a member in the guild. There is no criteria for that - just pay the fee and you are a member.
In addition to just being a member, you may apply to become juried and/or you may apply to be included in Jewelry Artist Direct. As a juried member, one picture will be selected from your jury application to post in the juried galleries. As a JAD member, you will be asked to supply 3 images for the gallery tour.
Other pictures on the site are normally selected from jury applications and/or members that have given us permission to "raid their sites" for images. These images will come and go on the site, as required. We will be looking at periodically rotating some of them, to keep the pages fresh.
4) What is the difference between a general membership and a business membership?
At the moment, the major difference is that some of the guild's programs require business membership before you can participate. Long-term, as member benefits are added, some will be available to both general and business members and others will only be available to business members. Currently, reasons to become a business member include -
- You believe in the guild's goals and are willing to pay the $15 extra per year to help the guild achieve those goals
- Juried Membership -
You are a juried member or you wish to apply to become a juried member. Paying for a business membership does not make you juried, but gives you the option to submit a jury application. Juried members must maintain a business membership to retain their juried status.
- Jewelry Artist Direct -
You may apply to JewelryArtistDirect.com as a general member, but if accepted, you must upgrade to a business member prior to inclusion. 5) How do I upgrade to a business membership?
Members may upgrade from the general level to the business level at any time, simply by paying the difference in membership fees. The difference will not be prorated. Members may only downgrade from the business level to the general level at their renewal date.
To upgrade at the time your membership renewal is due, log-in to the guild's website, click "view profile" in the upper right hand corner, click the "upgrade your membership" button, and select "business member". Make the appropriate payment and you are set.
Do not use this method to upgrade prior to your next membership being due, as it is only capable of charging an annual membership fee. Instead, use PayPal's "send money" to make a $15 USD payment to payments@WireJewelry Artists.org. Make sure to add a comment so that we know what the payment is for. Once processed, you will receive an email confirming the upgrade.
6) How do members become juried?
Guild business members may submit .jpgs of their work for jurying. Judging is done by the current juried members of the guild. Before submitting an application, please read -
Guild members can find current and past jury applications posted in the members areas of the website. If you are reviewing the applications to help you with submitting your application, please focus on the applications from round 2, as they are the most pertinent to the current guidelines and judging standards.
PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES PRIOR TO SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY!!
From reviewing jury applications to date, the two major things that seem to stand out are -
1) Pay attention to the pictures you submit! The camera is like a microscope, enlarging any flaws in the work. And if they picture is not good enough to see if there are flaws or not, then you stand a good chance of getting a "can't tell" instead of a score.
2) Workmanship can not be sacrificed to creativity. The judges want to see creativity and versatility, but it can not be at the expense of neat, well placed wraps, tight coils, etc.
7) How do I get my web site included in Jewelry Artist Direct?
Any jewelry artist with a shopper-friendly website focused on hand-crafted jewelry personally crafted by the web site owner may apply to Jewelry Artist Direct. JAD is not limited to wire jewelry. PLEASE MAKE SURE to read Information for Artists - JewelryArtistDirect.com, Mall Feature Requirements - Website Tour, Gallery Tour, Search, and the other topics in the JAD section of the bb prior to submitting your application!
Applications are reviewed by the JAD selection committee. If you are approved, you will receive instructions on where to send your images, etc. Approvals expire 60 days after being granted, so please make sure you are ready to do this promptly.
If approved, there is no extra cost for business members. General members will need to upgrade to a business membership. Non-guild members may choose to join the guild (same cost/easiest on admin) or they can just pay a fee equal to a business membership each year.
The key here - the selection committee is not judging your jewelry as much as they are judging your shopping experience. We are looking for sites that give customers a great on-line shopping experience, so they will continue shopping Jewelry Artist Direct web sites and tell other people about them.
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