Revised: June 2024

Members are expected to support the good of the Club as a whole. 

The responsibilities of Members include:

• Respecting the objectives and the rules of the DRPG

• Being involved in fund-raising and other public activities

• Attending the Annual General Meeting

• Helping out where needed (joining teams or the board, cleaning the facilities, making repairs or contributing materials, etc.)

• Promoting the DRPG to potential new members

• Passing on ideas for improvement

• Contributing financially through honest payment of all fees and also making a donation if possible

• All members are expected to participate in the annual cleanup.

Membership and Lessons: 

The membership year runs from September 1st to August 31st.

Membership fees are $160.00 (single) and $200.00 (families).

All new-to-pottery members are required to take the Introduction to Pottery lesson series, at a cost of $120 per person, paid when you join.  We also will offer skills and techniques workshops (small fee) and clinics (free) to existing members throughout the year.

Each member is issued a code for 24/7 access to the guild. The code is for personal use of the member ONLY please; codes are not to be shared with non-members. 

Door Code:  The electronic door code is issued when your membership fees are fully paid.  The numeric code is entered and then you must push the lock button.  If you make a mistake when entering the code, wait a minute before re-entering the correct code.  When leaving the building please pull the door closed and push lock button to lock the door. The door code will be changed every September, and you must be a member in good standing to receive the new code.  

Note: owing to the nature of an older building, at certain times of the year you may need to pull the door handle towards yourself to get the lock to engage/disengage.  

Conduct:  The DRPG is a civil community in which there is mutual respect among members.  We will not tolerate any harassment, whether it’s bullying, physical, sexual, or psychological, nor any discrimination based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, religion, or handicap.  No member of the Guild shall threaten, commit or tolerate any act of abuse, bullying or violence, sexual or otherwise towards any other member of the Guild.  Any member, who harasses, threatens or otherwise abuses another member of the Guild will have his or her membership revoked.  The Executive reserves the right to refuse to admit new members or former members who have engaged in harassment, threats and/or abusive behavior towards members of the Guild.

Liability: Membership in the DRPG means that members accept the risks of using the facilities. There are hazards such as hot surfaces from the kilns, chemicals and clay dust. The Club cannot accept any liability arising out of members’ use of the facilities. Members are required to sign a liability waiver.

Payment of fees for clay, firing and misc.: The club runs on an honour system. You must enter your clay purchases, firing fees and other misc. purchases on your firing sheet.  Periodically the Treasurer will total the firing & clay bills and a summary list will be e-mailed to you and posted in the Guild. Please pay promptly. Electronic transfer payments are preferred. Send them to dr.potters.guild@gmail.com and only use the following as the answer to the security question:  pottery.  Alternatively, you may pay by putting cash (in an envelope with your name) or cheque into the payment box at the guild. 

Clay Purchases: We offer two types of clay – Cone 6 for electric firing and Cone 10 for gas firing. Clay is supplied in blocks that are stored in bins under the wedging and work tables. When purchasing clay, note the date, bag number, cost, clay type and your name in the clay binder and enter the date/bag#/cost on your firing fees sheet.  Put your name and type of clay on your bag.  Clay prices may change due to market costs.  If in doubt ask an experienced member.

Firing Fees:  Fees are according to weight. The cost includes the bisque firing, the cost of glazing and glaze firing and any re-firing that may be necessary. Weigh your greenware pot when it is dry and record the weight under your name in the firing fees binder, then place the pot on the greenware shelf. The firing fees binder is next to the scale. Periodically the treasurer will total the fees and they will be emailed and posted at the Guild. Please pay promptly. If you have questions on how to weigh or use the binder, please ask the Treasurer or an experienced member.

Sales Fees: The club is owed 5% of the artist’s portion of any pottery sales made by members, with the exception of Guild organized sales events.  The club is owed 10% of the artist’s sales at any Guild organized sales event. 

Website/Contact:  Our website, deepriverpottersguild.ca, has a members only section (password is the current door code), where you can register for workshops/clinics/activities, renew your membership, find great resources and get the latest news.  

We can also be reached by email at dr.potters.guild@gmail.com

While at the Guild be aware of HAZARDS:

Supervising minors: Due to various hazards such as hot kilns, electric wheels, glazes, etc. children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult member at all times.

Hot Surfaces: Clay is fired at very high temperatures. The kilns are very hot when in use. Please stay away from the kilns unless you are directly involved in operating them. Use the heat gun with care.

Chemicals: Some of the chemicals in glazes are hazardous and need to be handled with care. DRPG Training and a respirator are required to mix glazes. Never put glazes down the sink. Use a respirator in the spray booth. If in doubt ask a more experienced member.

Wheels: Use the wheels as instructed and do not play with them. Tie up any long hair when using the wheel. Take care with electric wheels as they can turn extremely fast. Do not move the kick wheels as they are leveled.  Children should not be allowed to play with the wheels.

Clay Dust: Clay dust contains silica and when airborne can be inhaled. Keep clay moist whenever possible and clean up after yourself.  Sanding should be done outside.  

Storage Space:  Each member may have a box for storage of tools, apron, clay etc. Label with your name and store it under the counter. You may want a small plastic bucket or large Ziploc bag for recycling your clay (all labeled with your name). Double-bag your clay so it will not dry out.

Clean Up: Each member is responsible for their own cleanup. Clay dust is hazardous to your health:

Do not put any clay down the sink:

• scoop out and recycle all solids in bucket #1. 

• Pour throwing water into settling bucket #2.  

• Wash all tools and bats in bucket #2.

• Final rinse everything in sink bucket #3

Clean up the tools, counters, bats, wheels, etc. after use with sponge and drop of soap.

Do not put any glazes down the sink, rinse in glaze reclamation basin in glaze sinks.

Wash the wedging table with a wet sponge - do not use metal scrapers – only plastic or wood.

Do not use metal on the drywall boards – just plastic or sponge.

Damp mop the area around your work area once you are finished. 

Members are responsible for bringing in and taking home their own towels and or aprons after each visit.  Textile storage is not permitted at the guild.

Periodically everyone should take a turn mopping the whole floor area.