Dear Florida Society of Goldsmiths Members,

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It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as your president. FSG has accomplished a lot in the past two years. Our membership has continued to grow steadily with more than 50% being out of state. Through social media we developed a strong professional branding. We continued our Metals on the Mountain 5-day retreat through a pandemic and hurricane. We are very proud of what our board and volunteers have accomplished. We are especially thankful to our dedicated volunteers who have taken on more than what was expected of them for many years.

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Through these successes, FSG evolved into an organization which needs more management and administrative support with very specific technical skill sets than we have available and we’ve come to the difficult realization that there are simply not enough volunteers for the management and administration of FSG for 2026 and into the future.

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We believe in our members and this membership program and we don’t want anyone to lose this incredible community. We convened a committee to evaluate all our options to identify the best path. Options we considered include dissolution and liquidation, partnerships with other non-profits similar to FSG, and other transition opportunities.  Our goal was to find a solution that will continue to offer our members the benefits they have come to enjoy over the many years.

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Through discussion and many meetings, we unanimously identified Metalwerx, a non-profit metalsmithing and jewelry school and studio in Waltham, MA known for onsite and virtual classes as well as events, professional development, and membership. The fit and timing is right for both our organizations.  Metalwerx was founded in 1998 and incorporated in 2006. They have a core paid staff, strong branding, solid social media presence and a national reputation in the metal arts community. An agreement was developed and approved unanimously by both Boards. The transition will begin on Dec 10, 2025 and will continue into 2026.

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EXCITING NEWS FOR MEMBERS:

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• Your membership is paid to FSG through Dec 31, 2025

• You will receive FREE Bronze Membership to Metalwerx for the calendar year 2026.

• Metalwerx will continue to offer free online demos 

• Metals on the Mountain will return in 2026 at Wildacres in North Carolina! 

• Members will receive discounts to ticketed events.

• Members will receive vendor discounts (see list in FAQ's)

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We encourage you to regularly continue to check the FSG website for updates and stay tuned for updates from Metalwerx on your membership. 

 

If you have questions, please check the FAQ section below.

Please feel free to send us an email with any questions you might have. Email at: FSGdesk@gmail.com

Or send us a message on our Contact page

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It is sad to see our beloved FSG come to the end of its life cycle, but we believe that our members and the metalsmithing community will be much better served by integrating with Metalwerx. We look forward to a very successful relationship with Metalwerx which should bring enhanced programming and other benefits to our members. 

 

With respect and appreciation,

FSG Board of Directors

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Marti Wakshlag – President

Lesley Aine McKeown – Vice President

Sandra Lluis – Secretary

Cynthia Abood - Treasurer

Gail Thayer 

Starr Payne

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