Monthly Meeting Minutes - February 13, 2008

Marianne Mussett, Past President, brought the meeting to order at 6:40 pm on February 12, 2008 in the absence of President Maria Nowicki. There were 17 members present. The meeting was held in the Stables at the Conference Center of the Toledo Botanical Garden, having been moved there when it was discovered that the Board of TBG took the Terrace Room for their meeting at 6:00. Marianne attended that meeting until 6:30, and Secretary Annette Hill remained in that meeting until it’s completion at 6:45. Marianne began the meeting of the NAGT with a report of the TBG Board meeting.
The Board of TBG has advised all resident organizations that new charters will be required from all groups. The administration of TBG will no longer recognize the Resident Organization Council. Either the president or an authorized representative of each Resident Organization must attend quarterly meetings with members of the TBG Board instead. All organizations must supply contact information for all of their members and all members will be solicited for membership in TBG, although that information will not be divulged to outside entities. Fees are not being increased. Resident organizations are expected to participate in the First Sundays events, Arts in the Garden and Heralding the Holidays. TBG is sponsoring a Resident Artist in May, a cartoonist, who will be here in Toledo for three weeks. Annette will advise Maria of the changes and provide the new charter for Maria to sign and return to the Garden. Members voted to sign the charter because TBG will not provide us our remaining 2007 meeting space usage until it is returned.
Membership Chairman Diane Myers reported that the Sanger Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Library will have a display case available for our use in July. We will use the cases to promote our annual show which is tentatively scheduled for September at the library. Outreach Chairman, Beth Thompson, will assist with the display.
Marianne reports that TBG has volunteer opportunities available for the Seed Swap. Members were asked to sign up and the list will be provided to the contact for the event, Toni Moore. Information was passed to members concerning the GLR R.O.S.E. State Day in Richmond, Indiana. The theme is “Tying Friends Together” and the event is scheduled for October 10-11, 2008. Contact Joyce Anne Baldwin at Joyceanneb@insightbb.com for more information.
Members were also advised that EGA’s Ohio State Day is on July 12, 2008 in Dublin, Ohio. The theme is “With My Needle” and Ellen Chester will teach “Friends in Stitches,” a needlecase project, from 9 am to 3 pm. Registration begins at 8 am. More information is available at embrodr@insight.rr.com.
Michigan State Day will be held in Plymouth on July 19, 2008. Four classes will be offered, vendors will be present, and a teacup auction will be held. It will be held at St. John’s Golf and Conference Center. Members may contact threadking@aol.com for more information.
A sign-up sheet was passed for volunteers to provide refreshments for our meetings.
We still need volunteers for September, October and November. There was no report from the Librarian.
Karlyn Thompson reported that we received a thank you note from EGA National Executive Director, Anita Streeter, for our donation of $110.00 for the endowment fund in memory of Marge Toth.
Newsletter Editor Su Pellitieri advised members that the deadline for the next newsletter is February 25 and it will be published approximately on March 1. She also reminded members that she is organizing a GCC for Hardanger embroidery. The sign-up list is open until March. Eleven members have signed up so far. The course will begin in April or May and meeting times will be arranged later.
Marianne led discussion about membership development. Members are encouraged to send in stitching tips for our newsletter. Members are investigating a sociable gathering, perhaps on a Saturday, and it might be held at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg, Ohio. A shopping excursion might also be planned and members are asked to submit suggestions for stitching shops to include on the trip.
Program Chairman Irene Leonard will keep information about each of our monthly Back to Basic stitch programs available to compile as a set to distribute to guests and new members.
Anna Kerlin reported that a design has been chosen for our children’s class this summer at TBG. It is a plastic canvas fish and worm that can be used as a bookmark or a piece of jewelry. Annette Hill will donate the necessary yarn. We can count the preparation hours for volunteer credit at TBG.
Irene Leonard showed her sample of the Hearts program which we will be working on this year and she encourages everyone to have their version done for entry in our September show. Members were asked to have the outlines of the hearts, or whatever motif we have chosen, completed by the next meeting. For our Back to Basics program, the January Chain Stitch instructions are available, and our stitch tonight is the Herringbone Stitch. In March we will review the Fly Stitch. April’s program will cover the Rhodes Stitch and variations. The eventual goal will be to construct a cloth book in November including all of our samples. Caren Scarbrough will teach us those construction techniques.
The meeting was adjourned and members enjoyed refreshments before engaging in the Back to Basics stitch program for the month.

Respectfully submitted,
Annette Meyer Hill