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The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts is a not-for-profit educational organization that provides valuable resources and support for individuals, schools and organizations with an abiding interest in the ceramic arts. NCECA was founded and developed by forward-thinking ceramic artists who saw the benefits of a professional organization in its ability to create identity, definition and support for the ceramics teacher and artist, and to promote advancement of the ceramic arts. In 1966, NCECA President William Perry wrote in the inaugural issue of the NCECA Newsletter:"There is no question about our opportunity to amplify the effect of what we do separately by the association that this organization represents. However we might spell out our objectives and possible activities, they are but extensions of our most basic gratification in getting together to swap pots and ideas, to show slides, to look and listen to others with similar interests,away from and out of the context of our individual situations. NCECA is therefore primarily an agency using the resources in time and money surrendered by its membership to guarantee this annual event and the communications and preparations incidental to it". There were 22 ceramic art educators from 17 colleges at the initial ASC Ceramic Education Council meeting in 1961. During its first decade, NCECA was a small gathering of a few hundred artists. In the 1980's it grew to over 1,000 members and is now comprised of more than 4,000 members. The annual NCECA conference is the world's largest event held in the field of ceramic arts. NCECA has been a unique artists-run organization since its inception. Dedicated individuals have made NCECA what it is today , a vital, significant, fiscally solvent organization that is a model of success to other arts organizations. In 2001, with financial assistance from the Bixler Foundation, the NCECA office was established in Erie, Colorado. The NCECA staff , Conference Manager, Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant, and Bookkeeper , operates from this home base. The staff assists the volunteer Board of Directors in conducting the activities and administering the programs of the Council. The Board of Directors convenes to conduct business at three meetings each the year: at the spring conference, in late May in the host city for the coming conference, and in October in the host city for the following year's conference. Officers of the Board have primarily come from the ranks of university ceramics programs. The Council's current President, Robert Harrison and Past President, Susan Filley are instead full-time studio artists. Their nominations mark the evolution of the Council to an organization that serves the full spectrum of potters, sculptors, educators and students engaged in the ceramic arts.