Poll: Your Quilt Guild?
 

My local guild is in flux right now and I'm hoping we can right the ship. I'm hoping you will all allow me to pick your collective hive brain.

How often do your guild officers meet?
How often does your whole guild meet?
At each guild meeting is there a program or is it more relaxed?
How many active members does your guild have?
What are the best things about your guild and what are the things you'd want to change?

Let's see. Guild officers meet 1-2 times per month. Our guild meets once a month. At our meetings we always have a program and a very large show and tell after the business and program is over. We currently have about 60 active members at each meeting. I think the best thing about our guild is the ladies. They are willing to share tips and help where needed. If I could change anything it would be the meeting place. It takes me about 1 1/2 hours to get to the meeting. Oh well, that too is my choice.

Guild officers meet 1x per month. Guild meets 1x per month. We have a program with good speakers and large show and tell after business and program. We have over 450 members in the guild, with about 150 -200 at each meeting.

Best thing about the guild is the small groups which are great for getting and giving help. What would I change? Nothing really, because it seems like the best of both worlds - large enough to get good speakers, yet small enough in the small groups to make friends and get to know others of various skill levels.

My guild meets one day a month for the guild meeting. One day a month for community projects and one day month for open sewing. We meet in the morning and have all day. Our officers meet once a year to set the budget. If there are other issues it's usually at the meetings the officers discuss it. We have nearby quilt shops come vend every so often. It's very informal but the President follows Robert's Rule of sorts. We are registered as non profit so the guild can receive grants for our charity projects. When I joined this guild it was mostly elderly members that would not change anything. Spending a dollar from the treasure would put most of them in swoon. They actually thought paying $25 for a guest speaker was generous. The guild made several thousand dollars a year by raffling a quilt. And all that money was just sitting there not being used. Their reasoning was save for a rainy day.?
We had a program every meeting. Usually a workshop how to make a handsewn project, very boring. I was President for two years (no one else wanted the job) and brought in many new younger members that have voted in change. We have about 30 members and gave the new program person a big budget. We are looking forward to having better programs to draw in more new members. Guilds that want to thrive, have to stay interesting and current and accept the modern along with the traditional ways of quilting and not be dried up in a rut of it's always been this way.

officers ? no idea guild once a month short program good show and share. about 30 active members. like most things except seems a bit focused on money and wish there were some younger quilters im the youngest and most are my moms age or older.

Both our officers and the guild as a whole meet once a month. We have a program at every meeting except for our annual meeting. Every program I've attended has been with a guest speaker. We have both morning and evening meetings - 350+ members, and probably 200+ are active (I've never really counted to see how many are at the meetings).

I like that we do a lot of service projects and that the programs cover a wide variety of interests. Even if one month's program isn't something that is of particular interest to you, a future one probably will be - there's not a focus on any one specific area (i.e., all art quilts or all traditional quilts).

If I could change anything it would be that - as with many large groups - it would be more welcoming to new members. I think they try their best, but they don't really provide newbies with much information or a way to get involved. They're kind of on their own.

I belong to four guilds, two small, two large. Both of the small guilds only meet once a month and don't have separate board member meetings. One of the large guilds only meets every 3 months and I don't know if they have separate board meetings. The 2nd large guild has a board meeting the week before the membership meeting and meets once a month. The 2nd large guild had some kind of program every month but they only have a "national" teacher once a year. The rest of the year they have local teachers. One of the small guilds has some kind of small demo or class every month.

our guild officers meet once a month ( or more if there is a need) usually in the morning of the evening regular meeting- we have a program- many community projects & guest speakers- workshops
there are over 100 active members.
we have/enjoy a large show & tell at every meeting
the only thing i would change is the distance involved.

our guild officers meet once a month ( or more if there is a need) usually in the morning of the evening regular meeting- we have a program- many community projects & guest speakers- workshops
there are over 100 active members.
we have/enjoy a large show & tell at every meeting
the only thing i would change is the distance involved.

My guild meets once per month and we have a board meeting for officers and chairs one per month (anyone can attend the board meeting if they wish).

Our monthly program meeting consists of announcements (info on trips, shows, activites, workshops, etc.), the "program" which is the presentation by our guest speaker. Two months out of the year instead of a guest speaker we have either mini-demos (guild members demonstrate tips, techniques or patterns) or have the locL shops come in to talk about classes, sales, etc. After the guest speaker we have show and tell and then drawings for name tag, block of the month and oppurtunity.

We have a little over 200 member in the guild, usually around 125-150 show up to the meeting and around 25-30 do of the majority of the organization, planning and work to keep the guild running.

We have workshops put on by our guest speaker either the day before or the day after our program meeting. These workshops are getting expensive, partly do to the travel and lodging expense to bring and speakers and partly because the speakers are charging more. Many of our members are having trouble affording the workshops so we also offer member led workshops that are either free or $5.

We also have weekly charity workshops, these are really just a sit and sew with the projets that are being done for charity, they are done in a members home so the space is very limited. We also host large charity workshops twice a
year.

One to two times a month for officers, and we have a monthly meeting for almost 180 members. Our group breaks up into Sewing Bees that meet 1-2 times a month, some weekly. We usually have a speaker from the group or some one that needs be to heard, usually a charity that need help. So far I like our group and would not change it.

Officers meet at least once a month, commities meet as needed, Guild meets once a month, Always have something educational, A Show and tell, We pass a blessings basket, put in a dollar and anounce your blessing- new grand baby-your health has improved (a dear member told us it's officel! her cancer is in remision!!) things that mean something special to you. We have a bolck party going, if you want to pay $1 you get the instructions and focal fabric for a block you can do more than one if you want. for each block returned at the next meeting you get a ticket, during break we have a drawing, winner gets all the blocks that were returned. All funds raised go to help pay for batting and backing for the quilts we donate to places like our local Hospic, Pallidyn care (SP?), quilts of Valor and several other organizations. At the last meeting it was anounced that we now have over 200 members, our guild is only 28 years old so we are still growing, our youngest member is 15 and our oldest admits to 88. LOL we all seam to get along well. The one thing I'd change is if it was a shorter trip to get there for me. we meet at 6:00PM and its over 2 hr drive to get home. But that is my choice and I do enjoy the meetings.

Love my Guild! About 75 members, about a 2 hour business meeting once a month with Show and Tell. Dues $25, of which $10 goes to the VFW for letting use use the space. Twice a month Sit and Sew days, one evening a month for a work night helping each other pin quilts, make kits for donation quilts, etc. Donation quilts- over 140/year, occasional guest speaker, 2 -3 bus trips, 3 - 4 Quilt Til You Wilt long weekends with Pot Luck dinner. Officers meet once a month officially, but also see each other frequently at group events. The Guild makes a large raffle quilt to benefit the VFW, and donates quilts for other community organizations and schools to raffle. Like any organization there are about 20 core members who do so much of the essential work- organizing events, setting up the hall, coordinating with the VFW, community outreach and quilt delivery, etc. No Quilt Police Allowed. We can participate in Block of the Month raffles- $1 buys a baggie with directions for a block and a piece of fabric for it. We add the rest of the fabrics and bring it back the finished block to have a chance to win all. July's meeting is a picnic, December's is a dinner- restaurant or pot luck. There are also Retreat Weekends- 1 - 2 times a year at a hotel or resort. We teach classes for each other, and have a lending library. Open House annually during the town wide Garage Sale, and we even sell some items to build the treasury. It's a busy and fun group.

Our Quilt Guild has only 15 members. We meet twice a month. First is our business meeting and the second we work on charity quilts. We do Mystery Quilts, block of the month, we do demo's, we have a fat qtr exchange, we have show & tell, we go out to eat twice a year and have "grab bags" plus we go on shop hops and attend any quilt show that is in our area. Love our guild and the members, so glad I joined the group.

Our guild has about 80 members with about 50 attending each month. The executive committee meets once/month or as needed. The program is mapped out for the year with flexibility as things may change. I like how the programs offer much variety. The planners are very creative and listen to suggestions. People are friendly, and there is a commitment to charity quilting. The meeting place is just the right size for the group, but the one thing I would change would be to have the capability for Power Point or at at least an overhead projector. A larger restroom would be great too - with 50 ladies there is usually a line at break time!

Dayle

I would love to join a guild, but sadly the two closest (one 45 minutes away, and the other, a little over an hour away) meet during the week, in the mornings, which eliminates any option of participating.

1. My guild officers meet once a month, separate from the guild meeting, but sometimes will skip a month if there's no pressing business. On rare occasions there may be a brief called meeting before or after the general meeting to take care of some special issue.
2. The guild itself also meets once a month. We have an established day and place, so everyone knows when the meetings are for the entire year.
3. For the first thirty minutes or so of each general meeting, we take care of "business". We make announcements, have committee reports, etc. Then once that part is taken care of, we have Show-N-Tell and then our program. Sometimes the program is a speaker, sometimes a demonstration, sometimes a trunk show. We've had nationally-known quilters as well as local quilters, and sometimes a company representative will come to show new products. At other times we may just utilize local talent to demonstrate new techniques. One month each year is a mini quilt show featuring the results of our yearly challenge, and in December we always have a Christmas party with games, exchanges, and food.
4. My guild annually has about 125 members.
5. The best things about my guild are the sharing, the inspiration, the education, and the fun. I've made some great friends and have learned tremendous amounts of things related to quilting.
I guess the main thing I would change is to do away with "cliques". Some members form small groups and keep to those groups, with little guild interaction. It would be so nice if everyone freely moved about the entire group. I'm sure there are many who could offer much wisdom to others if they would just venture out of their small groups.
I'd probably also change people's ideas about guild leadership. As a past guild president, I've seen how difficult it is to get members to step into officer positions. Sometimes we practically have to beg for someone to take a position. I feel quite disappointed when members complain about guild activities, but refuse to become involved in planning or managing those activities.

I hope this helps you in some way. And I hope your guild can solve its problems to the benefit of everyone.

Our guild has about 150+ members. The officers meet on the Tuesday evening before the monthly (first Thursday of the month) meeting. We have quite a good turn-out. At the meetings we discuss upcoming speakers or special events, have a fat-quarter drawing (you bring as many fats in a certain color and you get a ticket for each). Winner gets all the fat quarters. We have a name tag drawing (you wear your name tag and get a ticket). Winner gets a little gift (pattern, fat quarter, book, etc.). Raffle drawing for door prizes (tickets are $1 each). Each year we have a "Challenge Quilt". Someone volunteers to run it and makes up the rules. Some time in August or September we have voting on the quilts and prizes are given. Each month we have a block party. You are given directions for the block and are allowed to make three blocks. You turn them in and whoever wins gets all of the blocks to keep. We also have a show and tell time each month. We do wounded warriors quilts to give to the military hospitals. Plus women's shelter quilts. And Christmas stockings to send to the troops. We have a stitch-in at least once a month. You can bring anything you are working on and get help or help someone else with their project. Every other year we have a Quilt Show at the local fair grounds. We have vendors, auctions, raffles. The Guild arranges a bus trip to Road to California each January. Also have at least one retreat in the mountains. We send out a monthly newsletter. When we have a speaker at the Thursday meeting, they usually have one or two classes the following day/days. Our city is basically a Navy Base town and most people work flex schedules (every other Friday off). Wow, we are busier than I thought.

I finally left the guild I was an active member in. There were about 130+ active members. A very big guild and very active in the community. Most of them were people who were retired or in a position where they didn't work and so could spend a lot of time working for the guild. I couldn't volunteer for a lot of stuff and felt really out of place and felt I was not contributing enough for the benifits I received. Over time it got very uncomfortable even being there. I am now a happy independent quilter.
peace

I belong to two guilds. The first one I was a member when it was only half a dozen or so of us and we met on a lady's sunporch. It is now at least 120 members and we rent the social hall at the largest church in the county. We have one big meeting the first wednesday of every month and a second smaller one the third wednesday. They are both in the evening. They do a lot of community projects, Block of the Month and donate to a lot of local chairities. They have a show every other year and a Bingo Fund Raiser every year. In the last couple of years we haven't had as many speakers or presentors as in the past. They have two huge retreats every year with almost every minute planned and accounted for. That is not my idea of a retreat. That guild is a good 20 minute drive for me and by this point I don't know at least 80% if the membership except by face if that. I don't know if the officers meet seperately or not.
The second guild is a morning group, almost an hour drive for me. It is not quite as large and was founded by Mimi Dietrich. She is a sweetheart and the members of the guild have seen her through two boughts with Breast Cancer. That group is much more laid back. They still do a lot of chairity sewing but there is not as much pressure. They also have a covered dish luncheon at each meeting. They also have a show every two years and a Bingo every year. I have gone on retreat with them for the last five years at least. It is usually only about 20-25 people and there is no pressure to do certain projects. They don't meet in July and August. They to have cut back on speakers as they are getting more expensive every year.
I am at a point in my life where I am not particulary intersted in learning a lot of new quilting skills. I enjoy trunk shows etc. and I have a lot of friends in both guilds. If the weather is iffy or I am tired I usually stay home. I do belong to a very small Bee from the closer guild that meets twice a month at a local Bernina dealer's. We usually bring some handwork, chat and then go out to lunch. It is much more enjoyable to me at this point than either of the guild meetings.

I belong to two guilds. The first one I was a member when it was only half a dozen or so of us and we met on a lady's sunporch. It is now at least 120 members and we rent the social hall at the largest church in the county. We have one big meeting the first wednesday of every month and a second smaller one the third wednesday. They are both in the evening. They do a lot of community projects, Block of the Month and donate to a lot of local chairities. They have a show every other year and a Bingo Fund Raiser every year. In the last couple of years we haven't had as many speakers or presentors as in the past. They have two huge retreats every year with almost every minute planned and accounted for. That is not my idea of a retreat. That guild is a good 20 minute drive for me and by this point I don't know at least 80% if the membership except by face if that. I don't know if the officers meet seperately or not.
The second guild is a morning group, almost an hour drive for me. It is not quite as large and was founded by Mimi Dietrich. She is a sweetheart and the members of the guild have seen her through two boughts with Breast Cancer. That group is much more laid back. They still do a lot of chairity sewing but there is not as much pressure. They also have a covered dish luncheon at each meeting. They also have a show every two years and a Bingo every year. I have gone on retreat with them for the last five years at least. It is usually only about 20-25 people and there is no pressure to do certain projects. They don't meet in July and August. They to have cut back on speakers as they are getting more expensive every year.
I am at a point in my life where I am not particulary intersted in learning a lot of new quilting skills. I enjoy trunk shows etc. and I have a lot of friends in both guilds. If the weather is iffy or I am tired I usually stay home. I do belong to a very small Bee from the closer guild that meets twice a month at a local Bernina dealer's. We usually bring some handwork, chat and then go out to lunch. It is much more enjoyable to me at this point than either of the guild meetings.

Our guild is very small and close knit. We have 22 members and meet twice a month from 10 AM to 3PM at the local library. We have two officers - president and treasurer, but various guild members have jobs that they are responsible for before each meeting - like getting the key to the library room where we meet and providing the cakes for birthdays. When a new member comes, they are assigned a mentor and we have some handouts for them from some of our classes that members have done. Right now we are doing mystery quilts led by one of our members. In alternate weeks, we have an applique group that meets. All members of the guild are welcome, but only about a dozen attend. Those meetings are in member homes.

We do a couple of outreach projects each year and have done quilts for raffle for organizations in the community. 2 years ago, we did a beautiful Dorchester County quilt for the library to thank them for the use of our room.

I love this group of wonderful women. It has turned out to be a very supportive and friendly bunch.

I think the small size is what makes it work so well.