Monthly Meeting Minutes

March 14, 2007
President Marianne Mussett opened the meeting and announced that the Board has decided to reinstate refreshments on a trial basis. A sign-up sheet is available for members who are willing to provide refreshments.

Treasurer Karlyn Thompson presented detailed expenses for the past two months. Our bank account balances are as follows:
Savings
Checking
CD matured, to be reinvested.

Membership Chairman Donna Mohn reported that she did not receive a list from national for dues payable this month as expected. The National office is in transition with new staff. Some members got letters saying they were overdue for renewal, although we sent renewal payment in for them. EGA National cashed our check but neglected to update members’ records. If there are still problems, please check with Donna after the meeting. We have new brochures from national. Please take some to distribute to friends.
There were no reports from Education, Outreach or Library Chairmen.

Newsletter Chairman Su Pellitieri announced that the latest copy of our membership roster is available. Extra newsletters are available for guests. One new member advised Su that she did not get the recent newsletter.

Anna Kerlin reported that the Residents Organization Council met on March 16 in the Stables to discuss Arts in the Garden. Regular meetings will be on the third Friday of each month at noon in the Stables to get this year’s event together. Art in the Gardens will be combined with the first Sunday event for August. Normally we run the raffle. Anna said that we received some mail about the Crosby award dinner, a Blair lithopane museum flyer, and a note about volunteer hours opportunities in May June July and August.

There was no report about Great Lakes Region activity.

Program Committee Chairman, Kay Griffith presented a motion to change our policy so that participants pay kit fee and split all costs of workshops. Su P. seconded the motion, and it passed by a significant margin. Kay introduced another motion proposing that costs for regular meeting program kits be paid by individual participants. The motion was seconded by Marilyn Freeman. The teacher will be reimbursed by the Treasurer and the members will pay the Treasurer for the kits. The motion carried by a majority vote.
Additional programs have been arranged. A Huckweaving program will be presented in September by Catherine Thompson. In August Barbara Hoyer will discuss finishing nametags and ornaments with us.

In Unfinished business, we discussed arrangements for our annual show. Marianne presented these options:
Sanger Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library – The library branch manager is thrilled with the possibility that we might have our show there. We would use the 4 free meeting room usages that are available to any organization within a year all consecutive days. Sylvania Branch meeting rooms are smaller. Sanger is nearer to our TBG meeting location and people are more familiar with it.
Fenwick Gallery – has been offered to us. It has very little parking, and the location is far out on Central Avenue.
Way Public Library in Perrysburg would cost $150.00 for the weekend. The lighting isn’t as good as at Sanger because it’s in their basement. However, the space is about the same.
One Seagate – It will be the home of 5/3 Bank, and we could have the exhibit there for several weeks. They have security in the lobby around the clock. They have display furnishings. The drawbacks of this venue are that parking is pay parking in garage or Street parking which is free on the weekends, and that some members are not comfortable in downtown Toledo.
TBG still has us on their calendar. We would not use the Stables and would not have the book sale, the proceeds of which would bring our cost down to about $500. Without the book sale, the cost would be about $700.
Marianne asked for Show Chairman, Diane Myers’, recommendation. She believes that our best option is Sanger. A vote was then taken, with the vast majority voting for Sanger. Members then voted for which weekend we could prefer to hold the show. The majority voted to hold the show Sept. 27 to 30. The hours will be: Thurs. 9/27- drop off 4pm -8pm; Friday 9/28, the library is open from 9am to 5:30 pm, so our judging will have to be done during that amount of time.

The Get It Finished program was conducted during the refreshment break.

TBG is circulating a survey among resident organizations. Copies were made available for NAGT members to complete.

Marianne asked for members to sign up to bring refreshments to meetings.

She also asked for input about possible nominations for the Golden Thread Award.

The TBG Volunteer coordinator will be at a future meeting, perhaps in June.

Catherine Thompson reminded members about weekly stitch-ins on Thursdays at 11:00 am, and also evening stitch-ins on the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 pm. The 3rd Tuesday is generally considered Canvaswork night, and the 4th is for Crewel, although it is not mandatory to use these techniques to come and enjoy stitching camaraderie. The next canvas stitch-in is at Catherine's home. The next crewel stitch-in is at Marilyn’s home.

Caren Scarbrough will be presenting a program later in the year on making silk fabric, or silk felt. You can stitch on it, quilt it, and can cut it and it won’t fray. She needs to order materials and took a count for the number of participants to expect. There will be approximately 30 kits needed.
The meeting was then adjourned and Annette Hill presented a program, teaching beginning smocking techniques with a Smocked Easter Egg project.

Respectfully submitted,
Annette Meyer Hill