“Following on the heels of the meeting SOL had in Colorado, I put my hand up to host the next workshop in New Zealand in 2002.  It is with trepidation I’m sure that everyone makes this commitment to host since it not only entails the organisation of exhibition, catalogue, workshops, interviews, lectures, but also choosing key places and people to introduce this wonderful group of women to.  Working with The Lane Gallery in Auckland, we set up our two-week exhibition which was sponsored by the US Embassy and the Goethe Institute and was opened by a representative of the New Zealand government and the US Embassy. There followed a public slide talk, interviews on an arts programme for National Radio and TVNZ and a noon-time gallery talk. Members were billeted at my friends’ houses near me so we met for briefings every morning at a local café. A ferry trip to see sculptures, enjoying the Pacifica Festival, visiting galleries/museums/artists’ studios, an invitation to a well-known architect’s home, a BBQ with hosts, viewing stained glass, walks on a rainy, wild beach were all part of the Auckland experience.  Then we traveled south to Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and Wanganui to experience countryside, Maori traditions, historic Napier, gannets, volcanoes and to give another workshop. It was over too quickly.  Hosting this event was much more involved than I had ever imagined.  I had been to several meetings and knew that each host had her own emphasis, her own style.  Like each of them, my motivation was to show these “sisters” my world, to stimulate them creatively. Volunteering two years of your life in such preparation you only do for people you trust and care about. Not only do I trust the women in this group, but I have deep friendships. For months later I kept thinking I saw members of the group in my local haunts and missed their presence terribly” - Holly Sanford