Effective Management Association Newsletter - May 2026
- leisa30
- May 29
- 6 min read
"Ideas and not battles mark the forward progress of Mankind.
Individuals and not masses form the culture of the race. On a lesser scale, actors and other artists work continually to give tomorrow a new form."
- L. Ron Hubbard
Message from the Director
As we move through May—a season of growth, renewal, and momentum—I’ve been reflecting on the incredible resilience and creativity of artists across the country.
Every day, artists bring beauty, perspective, and meaning into the world. But while creative excellence is essential, we also know that talent alone is not enough to sustain a long and healthy career in the arts. Artists deserve the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive not only creatively, but financially as well. Our mission has always been rooted in this belief: artists should never have to choose between creating meaningful work and building a sustainable future. The business side of art is not separate from the creative journey. It is part of empowering artists to continue creating on their own terms.
Whether you are emerging, mid-career, or established, I encourage you to invest time to find out more about the Hubbard Management System, so you too can develop the skills and strategies that support long-term success.
– Leisa Collins
Featured Artist of the Month: Roger Harrison
As a pianist and music director, Roger Harrison’s lifelong dedication to music has shaped a distinctive career in jazz performance and event entertainment. Beginning his musical journey at age nine with classical and religious studies, Roger found his true passion in jazz. In 2008, he founded the Harrison Jazz Ensemble. With a team of seasoned professional musicians and a commitment to excellence, Roger and the Harrison Jazz Ensemble provide the polished, elegant atmosphere that turns special events into unforgettable celebrations.
Please tell us a little bit about your art business.
I have a jazz band that performs primarily for weddings, corporate events and private parties. I'm also a solo artist who occasionally performs concerts or similar events as the jazz band. I also operate the Harrison Jazz Ensemble in some cities where I have contacts of other jazz musicians.
In general, how has the use of Mr. Hubbard's administrative technology impacted your business?
It's given me a framework to operate from which is VERY important. When one is attempting to build a business, there must be sequences and structure to hold things together and create predictability. The tech gives me certainty of what to do in any particular circumstance that may arise and lays out the steps to take to become successful.
It's also taught me that expansion is limitless.
What piece of Mr. Hubbard's administrative wisdom have you found particularly helpful in making your business successful?
The Financial Planning information has been invaluable in establishing solvency and destroying financial anxiety.
As a successful art business owner, is there one really valuable tip that you would like our readers to take away with them?
THINK BIG! THINK IN FUTURES!
Start with the postulate of what you want to achieve and continually put that there. While doing that, create the structure of statistics, sales sequences, follow up, Financial Planning and actually all of the functions of the Organizing Board.
Set "unreal" targets regularly. You'll find that they soon become real!
Be very aware of how these mesh together and use them to spot where corrections or reinforcements need to be made.
Also, research successful people in your sector and find out what they did to become successful, as well as what they are doing to continue being so.
Artist Members in Action
Barbara Anne Dunn, Chinese Brush Painting Artist
Barbara Anne Dunn’s latest Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting beautifully blends two traditional techniques: the delicate precision of Gongbi (fine line painting) and the expressive spontaneity of Xieyi style. Created with iridescent watercolor on black rice paper, known as Black Shuen, the piece glows with a rich, jeweled quality inspired by the elegance of Chinese black lacquer, cloisonné, and brocade. Barbara learned this specialized approach from her Master Teacher, whose original concept served as the inspiration for the work.
You can find out more about Barbara at her website: BarbaraAnneDunn.Art.
Doug Crowder, Writer of SCIENCE FICTION COURTROOM DRAMA
Doug Crowder may very well be the only lawyer/writer of science fiction courtroom drama on the scene today! When we caught up with him recently, here's what he had to tell us about his latest work.
INTERVIEWER: Doug, what have you been up to lately?
DOUG: Thanks for asking. I’ve been staying busy at the law practice as usual, and also doing some fiction writing and some new illustrations.
INTERVIEWER: How does your fiction writing and your law practice work together?
DOUG: Two ways. First, I use the fiction as one of the means of promoting my legal business. I claim to be the only law firm in the country whose newsletter includes a serialized "novelita." Second, I call my genre SCIENCE FICTION COURTROOM DRAMA, because many (but not all) of my stories are about lawyers on far distant planets or time streams. Being a lawyer helps me add realism to the stories.
INTERVIEWER: What is one thing you have done recently?
DOUG: I’ve been using AI to help create illustrations. It’s sort of like having a photographer on staff, except this photographer can also take pictures of things never happened. (Like the above image of a volcano, for example.)
INTERVIEWER: Interesting. A computer screen with a map of Atlantis, a bust of Plato seeming alarmed, and a volcano. What does this symbolize?
DOUG: This is a scene from my novel, The Amazing Origin of Atlantis. The first written reference to Atlantis was by Plato, the Greek philosopher, in about 360 BC. In this novel, the lead character travels back in time to ask Plato whether Atlantis really existed or was just a story he wrote. And, trust me, you’re not going to like Plato’s answer!
INTERVIEWER: well, thank you, Doug. That’s all we have time for today.
DOUG: No, wait! The novel is available on my website, WestAtllantis.com. That’s WESTATLANTIS.COM, for The Amazing Origin of Atlantis.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you, Doug.
April Spiller, Author and Photographer
Growing up in the Piney Woods of East Texas, April Spiller filled her childhood with dreams of pirate treasure, hidden mummies, and faraway adventures inspired by her father, a merchant mariner who brought stories and souvenirs home from around the world. Though she later earned engineering degrees from Texas A&M and Rice University and worked as an offshore structural engineer, her interests always stretched beyond the ordinary, leading her to study subjects like underwater archaeology and science fiction literature before eventually becoming a high school math teacher.
While teaching, April finally found the time to return to a lifelong passion: storytelling. She wrote her first novel, Away Away, in 2017 and has since authored several additional books, including Harvest Moon Hurricane, Slack Tide, The Abuelita Ring, and The Other Salems, while also branching into screenwriting. Alongside her writing, April is also an accomplished photographer, continuing to channel her love of adventure, imagination, and discovery into her creative work.
You can find April's books on Amazon.
Momentum Monday
EMA Artists USA recently launched a new out-reach action, to give tips and help artists who are not yet familiar with the Hubbard Management System.
Based on the success of the existing weekly zoom meeting of EMA Artists, the new group is called Momentum Monday Meet-up. It's goal is to unite, support and inspire by bringing together artists of various disciplines and backgrounds in a virtual space to support creative growth, accountability and forward motion – every Monday.
Here is what two of the members have to say:
"I love attending the Momentum Monday Meet-ups as they help me think about where I want to focus on and put my energy." MM – Nashville TN
"Momentum Monday has been a great group to be a part of. It pushes motivation and action and has also helped me to grow my artistic passion. It is helpful not only for networking and ideas, but also to push you towards success." SS - Lansing MI
On the Lighter Side
This cartoon was created by EMA Artists USA member, Steve Gill, who spent 40 years traveling to shows all over the United States, selling his humorous artwork and making people laugh. Steve is the Resident Cartoonist for EMA Artists and his light-hearted works are included in each of our newsletters.
Poets Corner
Market flower’s song To Sirens’ allure I lose Undone, swipe my card |
Copyright 2026 poem and painting by Rachel Rausch Photography All Rights Reserved
Rachel Rausch Photography
818-606-6417
IG: @westcoastrachel
Interested in learning more about us or becoming a member?
Email us at: emaartistsusa@gmail.com
This month's quote is from page 113 of the book Science of Survival by L. Ron Hubbard
©2026 Effective Management Association Artists. All Rights Reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. HUBBARD and LRH are trademarks and are used pursuant to a license agreement. WISE is a trademark owned by WISE International EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION is a registered trademark. IA #052726EUS
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