Wondering what the benefits are of being part of a guild. There are several quilting guilds here. I have thought about attending a meeting and checking them out. What should I look for and what questions should I ask? Is this something that will take a lot of time?

Ruby the Quilter

The biggest advantage to belonging to a good size guild is the classes and presentations you can take and see for a really reasonable price.

I am a member of my Local Guild. It is great to get in good speakers (we have over 300 members and can get some big name speakers)
I work so I have not been able to attend any of the workshops.
I love the connection of meeting other quilters in my area as well as we have a very giving Guild. Last year we gave away over 600 quilts to various local charities.

Decide what you want out of it and than start checking them out and find one that suits your needs.

I made the mistake last summer of attending one after a friend invited me to do so and than about 3 months into it I realized they did not offer what I needed.

I did not take the time to ask them to read their constitution and by-laws, what they offered, etc. and wish I had. I ended up leaving them.

I got smart and started visiting other guilds in neighboring areas and found one that suited me.

At the first visit they gave me a welcome letter and info as a guest and also a copy of their constitution and by-laws. Someone immediately took me under there wing so to speak and invited me to join there sew group on Wednesdays which is outside of the monthly quilt guild. The next month I went back and joined that guild and I've never regretted it.

They are very professional in how they manage the guild of about 36 members and growing and have alot to offer there members. After our monthly meeting at the library we go to lunch and than meet at a church for a "sew after" if we chose to be a part of it. During the month as I mentioned above many break up into small groups and meet at each others house and sew, quilt, embroider, applique, fabric paint, whatever they want to do.

This group is also very good about teaching new folks that may have neve sewed or quilted the ropes and pair you up with someone who has similar interest as you do.

It's hard to tell you what to look for. Best thing is for you to decide what it is you want out of it and ask them if they offer what you are looking for.

Our monthly meetings are the second Tuesday of each month and they meet in the morning at the library and again that night for those who are unable to attend during the morning session.

They also have members who teach us something each month at the meeting. After the business part of it is done the person who has volunteered to teach does so and than we also have a show and tell of what we have done the previous month.

clurz is right. I'd only add that often the first introduction to almost any group is great. Often you can't tell whether the group is right for you or not until you been with them for a few months, so being a guest for a few months might be better than jumping right in with a commitment.

I have been invited to join, still not sure. I do belong to a sewing guild. Either way I can enjoy a 10% discount at most LQS. I think you can meet interesting people and learn alot.

I would go and just sit and relax that first year and get to know how things run. It takes time to develop 'friendships'.

Besides, where else can you go where there are SO MANY people that love the same hobby you love? NO WAIT there are other places people go for those times of things - garden clubs (gardening) libraries (love to read) sports bars (love sports) ... you get the idea.

I'd say TRY IT AND GIVE IT TIME...find one or two people who seem genuinely interested in helping you and enjoy!

I really like our guild. Guess it's not really a guild because we don't have dues. We are just some ladies who have common interest and get together once a month to talk and work on UFO's mostly. If someone has recently taken a class, they will share a new technique, we have had a few speakers over the years and we always bring in finished projects. It's great to be able to bring in something we are stuck on and get everyone else's opinions. We had a man show up one evening and say to us - teach me to quilt. He has made many quilts now and we are so proud of him.

I belong to 2...they do keep you busy but only if you want to...we do block lottos, mystery quilts, secret sister etc. great groups of gals, both of them

Personally, I love show & tell, and they often have speakers and classes. Try a visit.