Monthly Meeting Minutes - May 14, 2008

President Maria Nowicki brought the meeting to order at 6:30 pm on May 14, 2008 in the Terrace Room of the Toledo Botanical Garden Conference Center. Secretary Annette Hill reported that copies of the April board meeting and April monthly meeting minutes are available for review and have been posted to the blog. There were 26 members and 2 guests present. In the absence of the Treasurer, Nancy Wright, Secretary Annette Hill read the account balances to members from the May board meeting minute notes. The checking account has a balance of $1735.34; the savings account balance is $1000.03; and the CD balance is $1074.35.
Maria invited all members to introduce themselves and then share with each other what their favorite needlework technique is.
TBG Resident Organization Council Representative Anna Kerlin reported that Maria attended the Arts in the Garden organizational meeting. Anna reports that some groups do not want to combine this event with the first Sunday events. TBG won’t be charging the $25 participation fee per group as in the past for Arts in the Garden participation because they have better sponsorship. We can do whatever we want while we participate: demonstrate, sell items or whatever. We don’t have to run a raffle for the event in lieu of the fee. It was discussed that we could make a wreath and raffle it for our own benefit. We will proceed with our wreath for Heralding the Holidays and be flexible. If they don’t want it, we’ll raffle it for our own benefit. Maria asked for a volunteer to assemble the wreath. Cathy Studer will assemble it and Annette Hill will help produce a booklet to list who stitched and donated the ornaments embellishing the wreath.
At the May First Sunday event, we did not have a sign, and the map did not say who was in our building. We have been told that if we want a sign we cannot do our own, we must buy through their provider to keep them standardized. Our May 4 participation in first Sunday resulted in 2 children who participated in the plastic canvas project Anna Kerlin provided.
Anna reported that TBG has a volunteer opportunity to set up tables for the volunteer awards event and that anyone interested should contact Toni Moore, Volunteer Coordinator. Toni just supplied forms that we can complete to let her know what kind of things we would like to be available to volunteer for. The application form asks for two personal references. Quarterly meetings for presidents or other representatives of all organizations with the administration of TBG will continue.
Program Chairman Irene Leonard announced that the Back to Basics program this month will deal with the Satin stitch along with some really different variations. The Hearts program is wrapping up so that all members can have them complete by the time of our annual show in September. Irene asked for input about our next group project, suggesting Elegance from the Past, which teaches insertions and pulled thread techniques, or a pulled thread sampler. Such a program will begin later this year. Members can look at both projects on the national website. Materials needed for both projects are minimal. Irene reported that in July Caren Scarbrough will teach our Back to Basics Stitch of the Month, Chottie’s Plaid.
Su Pellitieri has been preparing updated forms for our annual show. She summarized an article which she recently wrote for our newsletter regarding our guidelines for the Adaptation category. The new forms will reflect a new requirement that nothing will be accepted as an adaptation without documentation about the adaptations. Su asked if anyone had any problems accessing the newsletter, now that it is being published predominantly on the internet, and announced that extra printed copies are available tonight for guests and members who need a copy. She also asked that members supply her with web links to interesting embroidery-related sites.
GLR Representative Caren Scarbrough announced that she has two copies of the seminar catalog for the next Regional Seminar sponsored by the Monguagon Chapter. She attended the spring Regional meeting at the recent Regional Seminar in Madison, Wisconsin, and reported that a vote was taken on a proposal from the GLR Board to establish a fund for an annual scholarship for a first time seminar participant. Chapter Representatives defeated the proposal because they want more information, the establishment of guidelines for choosing the winners, and more input from the chapter members. Caren also reported that another issue discussed was the surplus of money in the Regional treasury. Revenues reported reflected income from the Regional Seminar in 2007 in Chicago totaled $29,000.00. Many chapter members feel that it is not appropriate for the GLR to be maintaining such high asset balances, and that the money should be used to provide services to members. Caren asked for suggestions to pass to Regional for how to spend it. One idea presented was for the GLR to pay GCC teacher’s fees for chapters to encourage participation.
Librarian Katherine Thompson reported that our library is still stored in the cupboard in the hallway, and she will advise members if the location is changed.
Anna Kerlin reported that there is only one participant signed up so far for the children’s class that we will be teaching at TBG this summer on June 24, and none yet for the July 15 program. The Fish and Worm design is available for review by members. TBG has had only limited promotion for the events so far, and will advertise more later. Please let Maria or Anna know if you would like to help.
Maria reported that our nomination of Donna Mohn for the Golden Thread Award has been completed and submitted.
Diane Myers reported about arrangements for a Stitch-In Day at the Stranahan House at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg. We have reserved the facility for Saturday, November 1, when Caren Scarbrough will teach participants construction techniques for a cloth book. Caren has samples tonight for members to examine. This can be used to display members’ Back to Basics Stitch of the Month swatches. She plans on having muslin kits available and the morning of the Stitch-In would be used to make a muslin sample book. The afternoon would be used to start our stitch of the month books, which could use whatever materials participants wish.
As Membership Chairman, Diane Myers reminded members who are due to renew their EGA membership. She also reported that at our June Potluck meeting, we would like to make a special effort to invite former members back. Members are encouraged to provide names of prior members to her with contact information, if it is available.
Diane also presented another idea for an event which members decided to begin presenting. Members will volunteer to take turns to bring gift baskets and we will sell chances for a drawing for $1.00 each, with the proceeds to go into our general fund. Karlyn Thompson will provide the gift for the June meeting drawing.
After Nancy Wright’s appearance on the What D’ya Know program with Michael Feldman on NPR, Diane emailed our National EGA office to let them know that Nancy was promoting EGA on a national program. We received a thank you note from Carol Dann.
Diane Myers is also organizing the display which will be installed at the Sanger Branch of the library for July. There are two display cases available for items to sit on shelves, not to be hung. Members are encouraged to bring items to the June meeting for the display, marked with the members name.
Karlyn Thompson reported on a Michigan State Day program sponsored by the Sampler Guild in Michigan. There are four class choices available which are detailed on the brochures which Karlynn provided. The workshop will be held in Plymouth, Michigan at the St John’s Golf and Conference Center.
Su Pellitieri announced to participants of the Hardanger Group Correspondence Course that the books have arrived and she will be distributing them.
The meeting was then adjourned. Refreshments were shared and Irene presented the educational programs.


Respectfully submitted,


Annette Meyer Hill