Charli Brown Receives the 2009 Cleo Curtis Award

The 2009 recipient of the prestigious Cleo Curtis Award was Charli Brown.

As most of you know Charli personally, and for those who do not, she could be described as a very gracious lady with an easy going manner and very thoughtful ways. She has always proved to be a follow through person, a part of her pleasing personality.

Like many of us in the ceramic industry, her love for ceramics started over 35 years ago. As a professional paralegal, living in Arroyo Grande, California, she wanted a hobby and ceramics looked inviting. Her hobby days progressed into wanting more knowledge and with that she became a Certified Duncan Teacher. In 1981, she joined NACDT (now IADCCT) and the recently formed Las Padres Chapter. In this Chapter she served in may capacities taking on more and more responsibilities, including the position of President in 1991-1992. From her first attendance to convention, she became involved in International by serving as Membership Chairman, International Parlimentarian and Secretary. In 2001, she was elected Vice President and served two terms in this capacity until being elected President for the 2005-2006 term.

Charli and her husband Homer moved back to their home state of Oklahoma and she immediately started promoting a chapter there, becoming a charter member in the Oklahoma Dreamcatchers and later the Oklahoma Rose Rocks. In 1992 for the 30th Anniversary convention, she, with all the chapters supplying her a quilt square representing their chapter, put together and quilted a beautiful hand made quilt that was raffled at convention. to benefit both convention and regionals by purchasing microphones.

In 2006, she was indoctrinated into the Quarter Century Club and that was a very proud day for her. Because of her service and devotion to IADCCT, Charli Brown is truly deserving of the Cleo Curtis Award for 2009.

Text provided by Cathy Housley