January 2011 Guild Meeting ~ Inspire. Educate. Give.

10 members were present for the January 5, 2011 meeting held in Maitland at the Sewing Studio from 10 am until Noon.

Agenda

I. Welcome

-Rene welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year.

-The Minutes of the December 2010 Meeting were approved.

-Michele provided the Treasurer's Report. Our current balance of funds is $496.25

In March, paid members will be given OMQG logo tote bags and membership cards.

-Birthday Fat Quarters were given to Judy.

II. Quilt Challenge

Robert Kaufman is sponsoring a solids challenge for interested chapters of the Modern Quilt Guild. OMQG members who are interested in participating are being given Charm packs of 44 solids. Kauffman asks that we take photos of the challenge results and blog about our participation. Our plan is to reveal the completed quilts (or quilt tops) at our evening Social Event on March 21st. We want to have as few rules as possible so we have come up with the following: By accepting the charm packet you are agreeing to use the packet (some or all) to create an example of what modern quilting looks like to you and to bring it to the March 21st evening social event. You are welcome to add another 1/2 yard or so of fabric to the charms if you wish. This is not a competition but simply a challenge to enjoy and share with your fellow quilters.

Here are some of the Kaufman Charm packets.

III. Kathryn shared the member survey results. Thanks to each of you for your participation. It is so important that we have member feedback so that we can plan for the future. An overview of what we discussed about the survey includes why people joined (networking, learning opportunities, and project participation), what members have enjoyed the most in the first year of the guild (networking, learning opportunities and sew days), and what everyone would like to participate in during the year ahead (meetings, sew days, charity projects, demos, workshops and show and tells). Members also expressed opinions on what types of learning opportunities we should provide in the future (long arm machines, fabric printing, stamping, painting and dying as well as applique and specific quilt block projects). Members were also asked about how to use membership dues (supplement the cost of workshops, charity projects and a small gift to members with the OMQG logo).

Sample of the group logo on a t-shirt.

IV. Quilt Books and Tools
Members shared stories, samples and photos of quilt related Christmas gifts including various books, software and tools.

V. Other Guild Business
-The March 19th Sew Day happens to be National Quilting Day
-A social event, pot luck will be held on March 21st. We have the library meeting room that evening from 6 til 9. We are interested in inviting members of the public who would be prospective members to come and meet us and to see what we have been working on in the last year. Michele will work on fliers for this event.
-The Florida Cabin Fever Quilters Guild Show is to be held on January 21 and 22 at the Central Florida Fair grounds. We decided that we would attend as a group on the second day of the show, Saturday, the 22nd. We will meet at 10 am (show hours that day are 9-5) just inside the entrance after paying your entrance fee ($7.00). We will wait until 10:15 for members before starting our journey through the show and the vendors area.
-Job Descriptions were discussed and all members are encouraged to seek a leadership role. It is a great way to help make the group what you would like it to be and it is a wonderful opportunity to better know your fellow members. Please send your interest in any of the positions and/or your questions to Rene by email no later than Jan. 31. We will be seeking to fill those slots during the Feb. 2, 2011 meeting.
-Reminder-our 8.5 inch Patriotic Blocks done strip paper piecing are to be brought to the Feb. 2nd meeting.
-For planning purposes we need to know both specific teachers members would like to have for workshops and specific topics for workshops. Rene will put out a call to members with this question through email. The recommendations will be considered based on survey results, members interests, cost and availability.
-Members share various useful (fee based) online tutorials including the Quilt University at http://www.quiltuniversity.com/ and Lynda at http://www.lynda.com/

VI. Show and Tell