Monthly Meeting Minutes

SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

President Marianne Mussett brought the meeting to order at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 in the Conference Center of The Toledo Botanical Garden. She welcomed back all of our members who had attended the National Seminar in Chicago during the first week of the month, and also thanked Nancy Wright for providing refreshments for this evening’s meeting. There were 22 members present and no visitors.

Secretary Annette Hill reported that she is a bit behind in typing up the minutes for posting to the blog, but promises to catch up soon.

Treasurer Karlyn Thompson reports that our savings account balance is $2053.95 and our checking account balance is $1944.46. We had $78.40 in expense for printing and postage. We also refunded Marge Toth’s dues to her family subsequent to her death. Our checking account balance consists in part of deposits paid by members for participation in the October class. We have a bill outstanding for rent to TBG. A motion was put forward by Karlyn to pay the bill. Nancy Wright seconded the motion and a vote of the members passed the motion unanimously. Karlyn reminds members that those with renewal in this quarter must pay their dues by September 30.

Secretary Annette Hill has been asked to look for the certificate presented to our chapter in appreciation by the Brooks Army medical facility for our needlework kit donations so that we can accurately cite it in our outreach reports.

Su Pellitieri reported on information sent to us via our website regarding an estate sale with needlework supplies available to be held on Wednesday, September 19 through Friday, September 21 at 2419 Drummond from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.

Resident Organization Council representative Anna Kerlin was not present, but Marianne reported that we need a volunteer to organize our participation in Heralding the Holidays. The ROC organizing committee for this event will be meeting on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Toledo Rockhounds building. Diane Myers volunteered. Maria Nowicki will organize our participation in the raffle, but needs someone to arrive early on the Friday of the event to set up. When no one volunteered, Marianne advised that Anna has indicated that she may be able to help.

Marianne requested volunteers for the nominating committee, and suggested Sue Wiemer, Jennifer Miller and Caryn Scarbrough. The membership voted to accept this committee and they acknowledged their willingness to serve. We need nominees for President-Elect, Program Chair, and Treasurer.

Caryn Scarbrough, our representative at Great Lakes Region meetings, attended several meetings on our behalf while at seminar in Chicago. Thanks to our chapter’s suggestion, the national board considered and passed an initiative to change our membership renewal to a once a year process. The first year of implementation will required a proration of dues to adjust to the new calendar. National dues will rise again by $3.00 per year, after $10.00 increase already. They are also asking for contributions by the regions, and by each member. In past years, shortfalls were covered by generous donations by a few long-time members, who have now passed away. Caryn passed along an explanation about letters which some members have been receiving from the Internal Revenue Service. They remind us that we do not have to file anything with the IRS, because we fall under the national organization.

Regional Seminar will be held in Madison, Wisconsin in 2008. In 2009, it will be in Dearborn, Michigan. Members were advised that the hotel rooms in Dearborn will only be $119 a night, but the fee for the seminar will increase by more than $400 due to an increase in teacher’s fees and expenses. This year’s touring teacher for the GLR has been cancelled, due to many cancellations by chapters. The GLR board is requesting a volunteer chapter to host the fall meeting in 2008. Because we just hosted the meeting recently, we will not be volunteering.

Profuse congratulations were again extended to Kay Griffith, who was honored at the regional seminar with The Golden Needle Award!Caryn also reported that EGA is hosting an international embroidery conference in Louisville, as well as the 19th annual national exhibit. Caryn has a few brochures available for the next National Seminar. Early registrations will still be accepted through September 15, 2007.

Caryn also advised that our member, Christine Hampshire, was asked to include several of her Beading Master Craftsman projects in the exhibit at the National Seminar in Chicago. Christine has also recently been published in the national magazine for the American Needlepoint Guild, and her husband, David, also recently had an article published in the same magazine regarding photography of needlework.

Newsletter Editor, Su Pellitieri, attended the national newsletter editor meeting while at Seminar.

Program Chairman, Kay Griffith, reports that Donna Mohn will present a program on Hungarian embroidery in November. In October, Su Pellitieri will present a program in reversible cross-stitch. Kay advises that she has the Program Chairman materials with her this evening, so that prospective new chairmen may investigate before they volunteer.
Kay advises that if you want to cancel your kit for The Village Green, you must tell her now, or else be responsible for paying for the kit. It may a little more than $68.00 for the kits, and they will be available sometime in October. Members discussed getting the kits without the canvas being marked.

Marianne reminded members that the address for the blog is http://www.nagt1.blogspot.com.

Show Chairman, Diane Myers, reported that Cathy Studer will bring the completed voting boxes for the show. Diane asked for additional volunteers for judging and set up on Friday, and we are now adequately staffed. Su reported that press releases were recently sent out and we are starting to get responses for more information.

Diane also reported that the Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild is sponsoring a program with Eileen Bennett on October 14. Members can contact her for additional information.

Donna Cairns reports that to date, we have sent 547 kits to Brooks Medical Base, and more are coming in. The regular meeting was adjourned and the Get It Finished projects were shared by participating members.

Respectfully submitted,
Annette Meyer Hill