Lisa McAuliffe, President & Bead Bazaar Co-Chair My mother used to tell me you get out of something what you put into it. If I simply attended PBS meetings, I'd consider it time well spent: national artists with great presentations and delightful displays of their art. And there's the thrill of admitting I am powerless over my bead addiction as our A&E show and the Bazaar approach. But I have gotten so much more out of PBS by volunteering, and by spending time with those of you who also volunteer, you whose talents and artistry far surpass my own. Because of this, I count many of you as more than fellow beaders; you are my friends. I encourage you all to do the same: Volunteer! and you may learn the secret of 'wrong-angle' weave, see how to tie a bookbinders knot, or get the perfect suggestion for an accent color to make that necklace "pop."
	Karen Bettin, President-Elect My interest in beading started in Michigan in the early ‘90s where I belonged to the Great Lakes Bead Society for many years driving a couple of hours to get to the meetings. In 2003, I moved from Michigan to Portland and joined the Portland Bead Society soon after I arrived. I continue to be impressed by the variety and quality of PBS programs and activities. Thanks to all members – isn’t it great to share the joy of beading and beads with others? Special thanks to everyone who contributes their time and talent to PBS – you really make it work. I am honored to be the President-Elect and I plan to keep the Portland Bead Society thriving and moving forward.
	Dusti Dickman, Immediate Past-President & MCC Representative I feel that the real strength of the PBS is its membership, and the examples and inspiration that each of you provide. Here women, and men, share their insights into the amazingly personal process of creativity. Couple that with an environment rich in resources, and there is no telling when and where the muse will strike! When I travel the country and visit bead stores in out of the way places, I find that the Portland Bead Society name precedes me. When folks find out that I am from Portland, they invariably ask if I am a member. It gives me great pleasure to declare that I am. Thank you, members and volunteers, for giving our society such a good name.
	Carol Perrenoud, Program/Grants Coordinator I joined the Bead Society mostly for the lectures and slide shows to learn more about beads. I became the librarian a few years later since I had an interest in books (and I was the librarian for our small high school for four years). Now I am vice president which includes programs and speakers. I believe you get out of a society proportional to what effort you put into it.
	Sylvia Loftus, Bead Bazaar Co-Chair Sylvia has been PBS Secretary since 1991. As a youngster she would press against the cases containing mummy beads at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. As a younger woman, she strung hippie beads in Santa Cruz and Tokyo Japan. Today she designs and creates jewelry from unique stones, glass and metals for her own pleasure and for selling to others. She also enjoys beading with her grandchildren.
	Kris Dinkel, Secretary
	Karen Carr, Treasurer
	Delta Waldt, Advertising Coordinator Being on the board for over 11 years and watching our society grow has been exciting. I find beading is relaxing for me. My cares fall away! Delta was one of the winners of our "It's Not Your Grandmother's Beadwork Anymore" Contest, Click here to learn more.
	Sandy Riegel, Art & Elegance Co-Chair
	Merle Sherman, Audit Co-Chair & Historian To bead or not to bead – what a silly question. I’ve been playing with beads for years. A few years ago, I joined the Bead Society to find a beading friend, I’m lucky, I found many bead friends. I’ve taken several classes from great teachers. I love to read bead instructions and explore new ways to work bead techniques. PBS has opened up a world of bead ideas, information exchange, education, inspiration, slide shows, lectures and more. I give many thanks to other bead enthusiast around me and to my mentor, Mary Cave. I want to encourage others to join PBS and reap the benefits and inspiration that come with participation.
	Vicki Vranna, Audit Co-Chair I've always been a crafter. I started beading a bit in Camp Fire. Then found I could do some minor jewelry repairs. I joined PBS to volunteer for the Bead Bazaar. After being a member for several years, I discovered that I didn't need to be an off-loom weaver to be a more active member. I started going to the meetings and discovered that there are many ways to volunteer. I also discovered that one doesn't even need to be a beader to belong - just have a passion for beads! Portland Bead Society is full of caring, creative people who are very willing to share their knowledge. I am so glad to be a member!
	Jennifer Gallagher, Bead Retreat Co-Chair & MGP Chair I have had a needle of one sort or another in my hands since 5 years of age. I came to beading from the fiber arts arena where canvas embroidery, using silk and metals, and Japanese embroidery were the areas of most concentration. However, I was always striving for more dimensionality to my work. When introduced to beadwork by Virginia Blakelock and Carol Perrenoud, I realized the potential for dimension that beadwork held. I was a recipient of the Museum Gift Program with The Sweet Glass Basket.
	Diane Werner, Educational Grants Chairman I became interested in beads in 1996, and I joined the Bead Society in the same year. Since then, I have attended many classes to improve my skills and have met many wonderful beaders and friends. I served for two years as the Volunteer Coordinator for such events as our annual Bead Bazaar and the Bead and Button Show (when it was in Portland). My position now as Educational Grants Chairman gives me a lot of satisfaction as the Bead Society is able to award members with educational grants to take more classes.
	Carrie Sakai, Librarian I think my first bead recollection was in the 3rd grade taking apart the belt I got from Disneyland with "California" written on the back in seed beads. My bead fascination lay dormant for decades til I wandered into a PBS Bead Bazaar and heard about the Portland Bead Society. Tory Hughes as guest speaker was my first PBS meeting - wow! I've been hooked ever since, working on the Bazaar committee, co-chair for Art & Elegance. and the PBS library. By getting involved with PBS, I'm so very fortunate to have met some wonderful bead compadres.
	Jeannine O-Hagan, Membership Coordinator & IT As a young girl I would buy my beads at the local hobby store. When I look in the bead stores today, I shake my head and am amazed at how things have changed. It is a wonderful artistic world that is available to us as bead artists today, and organizations such as the Portland Bead Society have played a big roll in that progression. When I was approached to be the volunteer coordinator I took it as an opportunity to give back to the PBS and its members. I am enjoying working with a great group of people.
	Kathleen Smail, Newsletter Editor When I first walked into a Portland Bead Society meeting, I felt that I'd opened the door into a world of enchantment. So much talent, so much creativity, so many beads, and so many people who appreciated the art of beads and adornment. Starting as a board member-at-large (willing to do whatever was needed), progressing to volunteer coordinator, and then serving as president, I was and am committed to keeping the door to that world of magic and enchantment open for others. We have a truly wonderful organization with incredible members!
	Karmen Schmidt, Newsletter Publisher & Retreat Co-Chair I began beading nearly 10 years ago by taking classes from bead artists including Robin Atkins, Maya Jones, Wynter Raine and Lynn Merchant. My biggest challenge is that I am driven to work with every beading techique possible and all the inherent materials entailed by such an approach. This passion is compelling and stimulating, but makes for a "ton" of beads and associated stuff that fills the nooks and crannies of my home and threatens to cast my husband, our dogs and me to the garage!	Cover Story: Karmen's 10-strand twist necklace is featured in the April 2004 Bead & Button magazine
	Tara Fergerson, Volunteer Coordinator/Hospitality
	Candy Walter, Webmaster I have been a member of The Bead Society for several years attending meetings and benefiting from the wonderful presentaions. When the post of webmaster opened up I realized I could use some of my other world (not bead realted) skills to give back to the group.
	Bobbye Brown, Community Representative The Bead Lady Recently, the Portland Trailblazers celebrated Black History Month by recognizing six people for their contribution to the community, and Bobbye Brown was one of the six honorees. Bobbye's $500 award was donated to a scholarship fund, and the 25 Blazer tickets she received were donated to a youth group. Bobbye began her path by working as a 'flunky' (her words)in one of Carol Perrenoud's classes in 1993. Since then, she has worked with shelters, high schools, children's groups and more to demonstrate the origins and uses of beads, as well as to instruct these groups in creating their own beadwork.