Edith Kort
I am interested in continuing to serve on the Board of OrigamiUSA because I am passionate about origami and its importance in education and in the broader community. While on the Board I have participated in the program to offer scholarships to young folders and worked on creating the code of conduct, served on a variety of subcommittees, and worked with the development of an online convention.
In order to bring origami more into the community I have given presentations at local libraries and schools as well as at education conferences; I worked with elementary students at a local school to fold star ornaments to decorate a holiday tree for a fundraiser. I enjoy teaching and demonstrating origami at a variety of venues.
Origami engages multiple senses and offers positive experiences to students who may have learning styles not addressed in traditional approaches to education. Connections can be made and materials developed not only for classroom use of origami, but also for community groups like Scouts, 4-H, libraries, as well as recreational activities for a variety of special needs and community groups. I have been folding (intermittently) since I was 9. James Sakoda (Modern Origami , Origami Flowers) was a colleague of my father. When the Sakoda family came over for dinner, Jim would always bring my mother a beautifully folded model as a gift. This inspired me to learn more about origami.
I would like your support for continuing on the board. I would like to continue to participate in the work of the Board and to increase and facilitate opportunities for people to connect to, enjoy and learn origami
Jason Ku
I have served as an OrigamiUSA Board Member for the past 12 years. During this time I have tried to expand the reach of many OrigamiUSA programs. In addition to founding OrigamiUSA's online magazine, The Fold, I have been involved in many other initiatives including: the online submissions process, the online downloads exchange, introduction of an online membership, removing the distinction between the local and remote board members, reorganizing our interaction with Community Origami Groups, and exploring future expansion of online content, including taking the lead to organize the FoldFest online event for the past three years. Each of these initiatives seek to broaden the interaction between OrigamiUSA, the origami community, and beyond.
I have served as Board Treasurer from 2015-2019, and Board Chair since 2019. As Treasurer, I worked to restructure our booking and budgeting processes, producing tools to generate automated visual financial reports to facilitate monthly analysis. As Chair, I have worked to restructure Board Meetings to be more action/decision-focused.
While the pace of change in our organization is slow, recent years have seen substantial growth of our board and programs. I would like to continue helping guide OrigamiUSA in new and exciting directions. I promise to keep an open ear to the desires of the entire membership, and work to support initiatives that expand the ability of folders to interact, and expand the role of origami in people's lives. I would appreciate your support.
Alex Matthews
My foray into origami began when I was 8 years old, through an exposure during a board game event. From the very first model, I was hooked, and it immediately became my favorite hobby. Just before my 12th birthday, I decided to host a local convention in Crossville, Tennessee, that became the annual Origami Tsunami, a vibrant festival where the Plateau Origami People welcomed many visitors until the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, I wrote and self-published a book containing my own early designs in 2017. For those and other origami activities, I was unknowingly nominated for the inaugural OrigamiUSA scholarship. Later that fall, I was selected as one of the two scholarship winners at PCOC Los Angeles. That trip was literally a childhood dream come true and left many memories I cherish still today.
Since then, I graduated high school that following spring at age 16 and am currently in graduate school pursuing a DMD/MPH dual degree. In addition to still teaching origami classes and attending local COG meetings, I have been serving on the Social Media Committee for OrigamiUSA for three years and my primary responsibility is to co-manage the Facebook group with Mary Drews. The community has become a space for almost 2,000 members to share content and connect with paperfolders worldwide. At the annual convention, I enjoy volunteering in registration, teaching, and doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Additionally, since the relocation of The Source to Tennessee, I have assisted in preparing and packing items for transport to the annual convention and worked in the sales area during the convention.
I want to become a board member of OrigamiUSA because I believe our best days are ahead of us. We have a rich history of successes and traditions that we can advance to ensure our relevance and advance our innovation. The three areas that I am most interested in are the scholarship program, membership expansion, and funding strategies. The prioritization of these three areas is critical to our organization’s continued vibrance and expansion. If I am elected, I intend to bring enthusiasm, an open mind, and new ideas to the board. I believe that by joining the OrigamiUSA board, I can help our organization to fulfill its mission to inspire and support people to spread the joy of paperfolding around the world. I would appreciate your support in this year’s election.
Rowan Pierick
I first joined OrigamiUSA 12 years ago, and joined the Board for my first term in 2021. OrigamiUSA has given me many opportunities to explore the art-form and connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds over the years. I would like to continue as a Board member for another term to provide a voice of our younger generation of artists and support those who dedicate their lives to their creations and artwork.
Historically, I've spent my years as a member of OrigamiUSA supporting teachers, helping with exhibits and participating in online classes for other folders. Moving forward, I hope to continue assisting my fellow Board members in decision making and behind-the-scenes planning to ensure that our events are as enjoyable and accessible as they've been in my previous years in the organization.
Jason Schneider
I am interested in serving on the Board of OrigamiUSA. Origami has been a lifelong passion for me. I have been folding for over 20 years, and a book of my own designs, "Origami Memories," was published just last May as part of the Origami Shop's Standalone collection.
I am a Senior Accountant for a large membership-based non-profit organization in Michigan, USA. I obtained my CPA license seven years ago with a firm providing audit and tax services to local non-profits and construction companies. For four years I have also been on the Finance Committee for a non-profit local to me that focuses on youth and family outreach. I hope that my experience in financial operations, audits, and taxes in the non-profit world can be put to good use with this wonderful organization.
Art and community go hand in hand, and I would love to be a part of an organization that exemplifies that relationship. Thank you for your consideration!
Kathleen Sheridan
I would like to be considered for a fifth term on the Board of Directors for OUSA. It’s crazy to think I’ve already served 4 terms. Time flies when you are having fun, right? Or more accurately, time flies when you are folding! Since my time on the board, OUSA has navigated ways to connect online throughout the pandemic. Many online events like: the COG meeting room, WOD, conventions and Origami Connect have been developed. There has been collaboration with JOAS, creation and launch of the Video Vault and more exciting programs are in the works. It’s been a pleasure to be a part of many of these events. Last year, OUSA also held the first convention in the midwest; COcon. When I reflect on the past years, I am even more committed to being a part of OUSA’s growth moving forward. I hope to be a part of OUSA’s leadership in the years to come.