Hello from your fellow SMI member, co-coordinator of marketing (with Yvette Lucas) and new Web site designer!

I wanted to introduce myself and personally welcome you to the new site. Like many of the exciting changes going on with Studio Montclair, this Web site represents the planning and work of many. Our hope is that you’ll find it a source of information, a place you can connect with friends and colleagues, and a spot where you feel welcome to participate.

Here are some of the new features:

• You can add your two cents! Our new site has a “comments” feature. We’d love to hear from you.

• It’s searchable. Looking for a specific show? Trying to find out the address of our new galleries? It’s all there within a click!

• It’s archive-able. Want to know about a show we did in the past? All the content will remain on the site, so exploring our past will be a breeze.

• The blog format will make it easy to stay up-to-date with all our goings-on.

• Show off your writing and Web skills! Is there a show you’d like review pertinent information you’d like to share? Do you dream of Web editorial work? Drop me a line!

Along with all that, here’s what we’re working on to make it even better:

• A members’ gallery and forum. We’ll provide a place for you to show off some of your work and connect with others in our group. Share your upcoming shows, tell others about a fantastic show you just attended or bend the ear of other sympathetic artists.

• Credit-card capabilities. You’ll soon be able to renew your membership online, apply for our annual juried show without a trip to the post office and purchase SMI goodies for all your loved ones all with a click of a button!

We hope you’re excited as we are as we take this leap.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the volunteers who have contributed insights. Special credit is due the other half of the Marketing Board position (Yvette Lucas, whose tireless work has made my transition on the board much easier) and Christina Saj who has generously shared her vast knowledge of the Web world and the Montclair art scene.

Warmest wishes,

Nancy Tobin