The Needle Arts Guild of Toledo met at First Unitarian Church in Fellowship Hall at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. President Caren Scarbrough presided and welcomed two guests and 33 members. Annette Hill reported that she had been asked to take minutes for tonight’s meeting in the absence of our Secretary, Cassie Jamet. Annette provided copies of last month’s board meeting and monthly meeting minutes and advised that prior minutes have been posted to our blog. Treasurer Nancy Wright reported that our account balances are as follows: Checking account, $1887.65; Fifth Third Certificate of Deposit, $2126.25; Fifth Third Savings, $1505.85; and Charter One Savings, $1074.41.
Caren welcomed our guest speaker, , who is in charge of the needlework exhibits at the Lucas County Fair. He told members that he is open to all suggestions and wants to know what we are working on and wants to tailor the fair show to fit current practices. He announced that this year’s fair booklet would be published soon. A $15.00 fee will allow you to enter into any categories of exhibits, and will also entitle you to admission to the fair for the whole week. If we are in need of meeting space, they have the 4-H Club room, which is larger than our current meeting space here at First Unitarian. The Fair Board is eager to have groups demonstrate for the public during fair week. Members asked about the security of the exhibit area. The close cases are backed up to the walls so that they are quite difficult to get into, and some can even be locked. There are also security officers patrolling the premises. They have never had anything stolen from a fair exhibit.
Members asked about their judges. The get at least two judges and sometimes three. They are not necessarily certified by any organization.
He will provide entry forms and information about the exhibit for our next meeting. They intend to have the entry forms available online this year as well.
Our membership will discuss this opportunity and email any feedback to Caren, and our first guest speaker then departed.
Caren then had members share their Get It Finished Program projects with each other.
Our second guest speaker, Gretchen Schultz, was introduced by our Program Chairman, Kim Hammer. Gretchen is associated with the local quilt shop, The Quilt Foundry, and has also been collecting antique needlework tools for 20 years. She presented a slide show, lecture and exhibit of her collection.
There was a drawing for tonight’s gift bag. A Silent Auction was conducted for the five remaining books from our now defunct library.
Caren announced that our 2008 account books have been audited and all is in order.
Program Chairman, Kim Hammer announced that our April program will be an EGA Petite Project entitled "Blackwork Dolls." This is a repeat program from several years ago and members are encouraged to bring in their previous projects in whatever stage of completion to share with the group. Sue Hojnacki circulated samples of Biscornu and provided patterns that would be appropriate for these projects in the latest edition of the newsletter. Karlyn displayed her work on the armchair caddy that will be our program in August. Kim reminded members to set aside needlework items that we would like to sell in our July Garage Sale. Proceeds from the sale will be put towards bringing in a teacher.
Donna Cairns is still sending stitching kits to Brooks Army Medical Facility and welcomes donations.
Show Chairman Sue Wiemer announced that she has a signed contract from the judge for our show this fall. Su Pellitieri asked that members who are attending regional seminar please take entry forms and flyers for our fall show to distribute there. Christine Hampshire has already arranged to promote our show in the regional seminar’s daily newsletter.
Membership Chairman Diane Myers distributed new membership rosters to everyone.
Members were encouraged to bring donations for our contribution to the opportunity drawing at the regional seminar to the next meeting.
Christine Hampshire announced that she is collecting more contact addresses for publications in which to promote our annual show.
Caren thanked Anna Kerlin for tracking our volunteer hours diligently during the past year at Toledo Botanical Garden. TBG sent us a bill for $200.00 and Caren responded with documentation of our volunteer hours which therefore waived the fee. They did not reply and we consider the matter settled.
Our guest speaker, Gretchen Schultz, displayed a vintage embroidered piece that someone brought to their shop in search of someone who could repair a hole. She asked members is anyone was interested in assisting.
Irene Leonard reported to members that there is more interest in stitching the Heart of Shenandoah project as a group than any of the Group Correspondence Courses which were suggested. If anyone is interested in participating, they should sign up tonight and pay $15.00 in advance for the book. We will assemble kits as a group to save money. A Group Correspondence Course will be considered in the future after this project is completed.
The guild membership discussed bringing in a teacher for a workshop. It has been suggested that we use the 2009 and 2010 education allotment in combination to hire a teacher for the spring of 2010. We would need at least 10 members participating to qualify to use the education fund money for this purpose. Members are asked to submit suggestions for teachers and classes for consideration. Members attending regional seminar in April are asked to check out Teacher’s Showcase for possibilities. Members are asked to have suggestions submitted by the May meeting so that we can proceed with planning. Christine Hampshire asked if we could consider doing a pilot class for a teacher. Teachers sometimes offer that opportunity at a discount price in exchange for the feedback required from the participants. A pilot class is also a new project which has not yet become available at seminars.
Refreshments for this evening’s meeting were provided by Marilyn Freeman and Katherine Thompson. The meeting was adjourned. Our next monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Respectfully submitted, Annette Meyer Hill
Monday, April 13, 2009
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