I've been curious for some time as to what other quilt guilds do throughout the country and figured I'd ask here.

If you belong to a quilt guild what are some of the things YOUR guild does throughout the year.

Some of the things I've read over the last several months and heard from our area and online by doing a search of what guilds offer many of them are very active and others not so much and some in between.

So since I asked the question I guess I'll start with ours the Wayne County Quilt Guild in Jesup, GA.

1- Officers and committees run for a period of two years;
2- Annual business meeting is held every January;
3- Monthly meetings are held twice a month with one being in the morning and the other in the evening;
4- Each month we have at least one teaching us something new about quilting, tools used, sewing, etc.;
5- Do charity quilts year round for displaced children taken from there homes; we also make quilts for other necessary needs such as the Austrialia couple months ago; for Japan last month and now we are getting ready to make quilts for those hit by tornadoes in Southern States recently; and we also made a quilt for a family who was burned out in a neighboring town last month when fires burned out several acres in that town.
6- Each March we participate in the dogwood festival promoting the guild and also raffling off a quilt made by the guild and money made is donated to a worth cause. This year we sold over $850 worth of tickets and after expenses taken out to make the quild the balance was donated this year to the county library to use for children's programs they run throughout the year;
7- We have a retreat each year usually in the fall and this year it is at the end of August;
8- After the morning monthly guild meeting we go to lunch at some resturant and than go to a local church for a "sew after" and we help each other out with projects we work on for each other as well as for the guild projects;
9- Throughout the month various ones meet in each others home in mini-groups to socialize, sew and quilt. I go with a group every Wednesday at a ladies place where she has a mobile home on her property that is used exclusively for use for such purposes. Boy do we have a good time. We eat, drink, sew, and work on each others projects and these ladies are wonderful in helping new folks like me to learn to sew and quilt.
10- The guild also has a "Big Sister, Little Sister" program which is a seasoned and active quilter of the guild is matched with a new member for a full year to help answer questions, teach them how to quilt, and such. I was fortunate to be paired with the lady whose home I go to each Wednesday and a couple other ladies in that same group got each one as well who are part of the guild but now also of this Wednesday meet if they wish to attend.

I'm probably missing some things we do since I'm still learning and new in this guild, only 4 months, going into my 5th now.

ANYWAY who is next to share what y'all do and what type of guild are you! I know some guilds are laid back and just friends getting together and some are much larger with few hundred members. Our guild only has 40 something members so we are small compared to others.

I'm not sure I'm the best to answer this question since I just joined a guild Stringtown Guild in Burlington, Ky, I have only been to 2 meetings, but it looks like a speaker is schedule for each month, we just picked our Charity project for the year, making doll quilts. They will go the the Salvation Army (I think) to go along with the dolls that are given out at xmas. So far I really like it, I'm hoping as I get to know people there is more socializing and sewing get to gathers.

Nothing to do with your question, just confused. I always thought Jessup was in the mountains, not on the coast.

Wow, you’re in a very active group!

I'm in three quilting groups. For one of them, we meet at a Senior Center and we make items to donate to their bazaar. In another one, we're making pillowcases for teenagers with cancer and in the third group, we're making the heart shaped pillows with matching bags to be given to ladies who have just had mastectomies.

Each of the three groups puts on a yearly retreat, which are always wonderful.

Two of the groups meet monthly and there is a business meeting before the event. The event could be a trunk show, a guest speaker, "4 corners", which is where someone is in each corner of the room to show someone something new. There are Saturday open-sew days for $5 each, which covers the rental of the place we have it at.

The other group meets twice a month. One is a business meeting and the other is a learning session. This group sometimes has full day Saturday classes, usually taught by a member. These are usually for something that need more time than our two hour time slot for a regular meeting.

The only local one I ran across don't seem to take to new members lol

Our guild also has a get this our of my site month, where the members bring things they no longer want and we have a silent auction and the proceeds go to the guild.

My Guild has 10 regular meetings a year, a bi-annual quilt show, raffles off a quilt each year, Community Outreach Program that distributes quilts and pillowcases to people in need, hosptials, food banks, churchs, etc.. Our monthly meetings begin with current business, then Show and Tell, a break for refreshments, then program of the month. Programs are mostly trunk shows by guest speakers or guild members, this month (May) we held our annual tea. We also have many workshop programs by guest teachers or guild members. We try to get newcomers to feel welcome but holding one or two Getting To Know You meetings a year where everyone is seated at tables and we share quilting and personal talk with each other. Our monthly newsletter features articles by our president and members, calendar of meetings, workshops, Sew In days, quilt shows by local guilds, etc. as well as ads by local quilt shops. Guild hosts the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Guilds. We have a large stash room where we can help ourselves to anything we need, stash is always growing with donations from members who downsize their stashes. All in all it's a good group that has been in together for 25 years.

We meetl in the buildings of a local park and use the park, it's grounds and buildings for our quilt shows. In return we donate the proceeds of our annual raffle quilt to the park as our "rent" for the year, an arrangment that suits both the park and our guild. Guild members need to join the Park, fee for me this year was $25, which besides making me a guild member entitles me to park activities. May in Jersey

I don't belong to one So... I get the Idea of What a Guild is But other than the companionship/help/learning are there any other things you get when you are a member of a Guild? Is there a Cost for joining one? 8-)

Our guild, THE NITE OWLS, are doing much doing all of the above, the only thing they don't do is the Big sister, Little sister program, that sounds really interesting.
I only joined our guild in January, but I love it and have already made several new friends. I LOVE IT!! :D
Our charities are Ronald Mc Donald house, Quilts of Valor and the babies at the local Neo-natal ward of the hospital. We are also doing quilts for Japan. We have a free sew the third Saturday of the month when we work on these projects.
I have really enjoyed every single moment of my time spent with the guild!
Our dues are $35 a year. This sounds kinda silly, but it makes it easy to remember. The month you were born, you bring snacks, and a "gift" to raffle off. They sell raffle tickets, 5 for a dollar, and the money goes to the guild fund. They do block of the month, I am not real sure how that one works. They pull names at the beginning of the meeting for attendance, and you get all kinds of things for being there. We also make blocks for those sick or in the hospital. They are a kind caring bunch of women.

I'm the VP for my guild... here is what we do

*Officers and committees run for a period of two years (All but VP. it is a 3 year commitment first year you are VP second year you are president, then the 3rd year you are an advisor)

* Monthly meetings are the first Monday of the month, we have one in the afternoon and one in the evening

*Each month we have something from the program committee. Some times is a new technique, sometimes it's a trunk show. We always try to have 1 big speaker every year.

*Charity Quilts - we do them all year round but we have 1 day that is dedicated to putting them together. From Sept 1- Dec 31 we had handed out over 100 quilts to various charities in the area.

* Every other year we have a quilt show.

* We have a retreat each year. This year it is the end of May.

* Once a month we have a "stashbusters" where we rent a location and anyone can come and work on a project. there are normally a few people there so if you need help there are peopl there to help.

* We have a yahoo group so we can email and arrange outings as a group for anyt quilt shows or Shop hops that we want to go to

* we have different classes and round Robins and such through out the year so everyone has the ability to participate.
* At every meeting members are encouraged to bring finished items as a show and tell for everyone to see.

Our guild has 230 members so we have a large group.

Your guilds sound like great fun! The only group I've found doesn't seem to want any new members. I keep hoping to stumble onto a good group one of these days.

Can't speak for a Jessup but our Jesup is about 20 minutes drive from Hinesville/Ft Stewart (miliarty base) GA. We are coastal for sure.

What a good charity to do. I haven't met any little girls or boys who do not like getting a blanket/quilt for there doll. Need to put that down as a project for me to do. One can get alot of doll quilts out in a year for such a project. Thanks for sharing.

Did you ask?

Some groups are small with just a few friends and like to keep it that way.

Now that is a neat idea. Will have to bring that up with our group and see if it's something they'd like to do.

This is one reason I love to read about other guilds..... the sharing of ideas and what each does.

Cost in our area averages from $15 to $25 depending on guild. Most I've seen so far close to me is $15.00 a year.

I think for that small amount each year it is nothing compared to what we learn from each other, and activities we get involved in doing charitible things in the community. Meeting new people and developing friendships as "sisters" is definitely a plus.

Our guild is the Cotton Patch Quilters of Kern County, and has been in existence for about 25 years. Here's what we do:
1. Officers are for 1 year.
2. Bi-Annual Quilt Show - I am chair for the 2012 show. We do an opportunity quilt that is awarded at the show.
3. We do charity quilts & other items for:
Loving Hands - small quilts for incubators at neonatal units at local hospitals
Turtle Camp - one of Paul Newman's camps for kids with cancer about 90 miles from us
Quilts of Valor - local chapter includes Women's Club
Pillowcases - for kids at the local homeless shelter
4. We have a monthly meeting, 3rd Thurs of the month, both day and night meetings on same day.
5. Teachers at nearly every meeting, most of them nationally known. We're lucky to get lots of good teachers out here!
6. Raffle table at every meeting, plus a drawing for everyone who remembered their handmade name tags.
7. Show & Tell
8. Bus trips to quilt shows on the coast and in the L.A. area.
9. Friendship groups

I guess that's about it. We're very busy!! :-)

*Our elected President fills the position normally for one year but we have been able to talk a few into doing 2 years. All the other officers and committee members are also normally for 1 year but many stay on longer.

* Monthly meetings are the fourth Thursday of the month, evening only. Our Guild Board meet earlier in the month to make sure things are lined up for upcoming activities.

* we hold 2/3 open sewing and kit making days. Most of the kits we put together for our charties are from donated fabrics we receive.

*Each month we have something that has been organized by our Guild Board committee. Some times is a new technique, sometimes it's a trunk show. We always try to have 1 or 2 big speakers (either published or well known artist) every year.

*Charity Quilts - we do them all year round but we have 1 day that is dedicated to putting them together. From Sept 1- Dec 31 we had handed out over 100 quilts to various charities in the area.

* Every other year we have a quilt show.

* We have 2 retreats one in Winter & one in late summer. We all bring whatever we want to work on. It's a 4 day retreat south of us in a community that offers 4 quilt stores and other options. They do most of the cooking for us and we have some very cabins to set up in

* we have different classes, workshops, mystery quilts, Out of the Bag challenges, and such through out the year so everyone has the ability to participate. we have also had a new addition to our program where we had a fashion show - Called Strut Your Stuff - where all hobbies/crafts we might like to do in addition to quilting was shared.

* We also seek out a favorite singing quilter to attend our meetings. She sings while teaching us. Fun!

* A number of our members also have their own interest groups outside of our meetings where they make special items for special groups - Quilts of Valor, quilts for Toys for Tots, Knitted items, etc...

* we bring in teachers from all over our state to share their talents, do trunk shows and share their techniques.

* we do a summer pot luck and christmas pot luck to take time to have fun and catch up with each.

* At every meeting members are encouraged to bring finished items as a show and tell for everyone to see.

* we hold an auction of donated items every other year to raise funds for supllies.

* and on the other year we hold a Quilt Show in our local library - free to the public.

* We sponsor and support our local county fair with prizes, and we help with the displaying of entries and offer our time to house sit while they are on display.

* We make quilt/totes/walker pouches/pillowcases year round for donations to our local pediatric ward, senior care facilities, crisis centers and organizations seeking our help.

Our guild has close to 100 members varing ages from 12 on up - male & female - just need to love or want to learn to sew.

I know I probably forgot something but you get the idea. And our doors are welcome to all levels and everyone.

We have a guild here in my Sr. Complex. We make quilt tops, sandwich them and usually tack them. If some soul wants to machine quilt that is great, but most have eye problems or can't use machine. We just donated 15 small quilts to St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. They either donate to people who need them or sell them in their store.

We do have lots of fun bringing back memories of the Good Old Days and doing our mending, etc while we talk.

"IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE"

My guild has a fat quarter lottery each month with a featured color or type of fabric (batik, 30s, etc.). You put your name in for each fat quarter you take. You may win four or five fat quarters. There is also a block of the month (Buck a Block) in which your name is in the drawing to win all of the blocks if you take the finished block back to the next meeting.

I'm sorry you've experienced that! One of my guilds has been known for being 'clique-y' and our wonderful new president has vowed to stamp that attitude out!
I've heard of another guild from someone on this board that 'assigns' new members with a current guild member.

Both of my guilds make quilts for charity, of course. But one is so philanthropically determined that we make over 650 a year and donate them to at least 15 organizations, hospitals and non-profits. We meet every week for 5 hours. A small group of us meet twice a month and longarm quilt an average of 25 quilts each time. Others take some home to quilt on their own machines.
During guild meetings one guild offers healthy snacks (and otherwise) during break, brought by members.
Seven guilds in the area participate in a grand quilt show each year (7 Sisters), which was just held this past weekend. Some guilds vote to participate yearly, others every other year. We all work hard and have a great time!

Both of my guilds have a Small Quilt Auction every year. Even while participating in the 7 Sisters show, some guilds choose to have their own quilt show during the year.

Our guild is a small - around 20 members and meets twice a month. We love to include new members.

We elect officers once a year and our dues are $20.00 -- $15.00 of which goes to our area guild and $5.00 for our local chapter. Each week if you wear your name tag your names goes in a drawing for a door prize. The door prizes are items donated and placed in the door prize box.

Our projects are many. We give nap time guilts to the special needs class at our local elementary school. We also have a stash of quilts to be given to families and children in need. We have done two quilts for our local volunteer fire department to raffle as fund raisers for new equipment. We have also just finished stars for quilts of valor.

Our little group is no where near this organized. We meet once a month for lunch, show and tell, sometimes a project and lots of talking. It is a blast. We did do the "Just One Star" and sent them in as a group. We are making a quilt now to auction off. Our group is a bunch of ladies in the area and we met on this board.

Our Guild has an annual picnic ... great fun

The guild that I belong to is about 25 yrs old and has many of the same functions that the others have mentioned. Our annual "stash buster" is called the "Ugly Auction". Members can sell anything quilt related (patterns, tools, unwanted fabric, UFOs, blocks not wanted, scrap bags, etc). The member decides if they want all of the proceeds or to share 10% with the guild. We, too, have a 4-day retreat with national and local teachers. We have monthly meeting programs, monthly workshops, and special education programs a couple of times a year with national teachers that are funded by educational grants from the annual QuiltFest show. We make quilts for charity and Quilts of Valor. WE also have an annual birthday covered dish party. We have many out-of-town members because they can attend the annual retreat at a reduced fee. We also earn points toward reduced fees at workshops by monthly attendance, show-and-tell, providing refreshments, being a committee chair, and workshop attendance. We have about 80 members.
(QuiltFest is put on by the 7 guilds in our city.)

Our guild does a lot of the same things, but we also have three separate monthly bees at various members homes where anyone can come and chat and work on handwork. Two are regular bees and one is devoted to applique. We also have a bi-ennial quilt show and sponsor trips to large shows like Houston.

I belong to a guild in SW Ohio and they accept new members all the time. We do many things in the guild including a fun retreat! pm me and I'll tell you more.

ruck9085, you are probably thinking of Jasper, Ga. located in Pickens Cty. It is at the southern edge of the Blue Ridge mountains. The first real city in the mountains.

our guild has 2 meetings amonth,one at night and one the next morning,we hold a quilt show once a year in january.In august we have a quilt-a- thon and make quilts for the chosen charity that year.In December we have a holiday tea,this is where everyone brings a dish decided by the last name,and if you wish to participate there have a gift exchange.One month I think its july we have a round robin where there are ususally 5 shops or peopled who give presenatations about a new gadget or way of quilting that they think everyone will enjoy doing,each little session is 20min, them you r group moves to the next presenter in a circular fashion,lots of fun.NOw within the guild itself there are several quilting bees that meet once a month all over town,seperate from the guild meeting.And then we have speakers everymonth that also teach one or two classes.we are a very active guild and always something going on,forgot at the end of everymeeting there is show and tell,where you stand up infront of the hall and show your latest creation and explain it

I belong to a quilt guild in Southwest Washington. Check out our web site www.rdqg.org

:) :) :) :D

A guild is not allowed to restrict members or have a member limit. I group of friends or a club can limit the size and or who joins. That is my understanding.

The guilds sound like a great place to meet and have fun doing what we love to do. The only guild I know of is in Lakeland Fl. It's almost a 2 hr run one way. Just to far for me, are there any closer to Bradenton/ Myakka City Fl?

Our local Guilde has 8 meetings a year, always has "show and tell" at the end of the meeting. Have guest speakers each meeting, but next day has a workshop with guest speaker, so speaker at guild meeting basicly just shows and tells and sells patterns and books ect you really don't learn a thing. We do have an exchange for old patterns, magazines ect. We have a quilt show every 2 yrs. To be honest, I find it is pretty much a waste of time for me. I get more out of this board and it is free. Also attend quilting classes once in a while and enjoy them much more than the quild. I won't be joining guild next year

Thank you for being honest. I too have learned a lot ot things from the board and I find the quilters on this board are ready willing and able to help everyone out no matter how long they've been quilting. So maybe a guild isn't for me either.

I am a member of Sunshine Quilters of San Diego which meets once a month Sept - June. Like others groups we have various ways to raise funds to support the guild. Annual dues are $30.

Monthly meeting, has announcements, sharing (show and tell), snacks, BOM sign ups and drawings, door prizes, seasonal raffle quilts, speaker or program of some sort. Instead of speakers, September is ice cream social and December is Christmas pot luck and auction.

We also have a library, secret pal exchange, and country store of items donated by members available for purchase.

We do cuddle quilts for the local women's shelter, a opportunity quilt to raffle each year (members sell tickets). Some speakers have workshops and there is an annual retreat.

Business meetings of officers are held periodically. Kind of depends on the officers currently holding office.

I wish all guilds could be friendly and open. I have learned alot from mine. Have connected with a smaller group of ladies that try to get together once a month to sew.

I got the same feeling where I live. Maybe it is just me. Should I have worn slacks and heels and not faded jeans and a flannel shirt? At this point, I enjoy the companions I have here, and they can all go eat there tea and crumpets. What is a crumpet? I think I'm out of my league when it comes to a guild membership.

Our guild has done most of the above items and we also have a "secret stitcher" program where we draw names and you make or purchase small gifts for that person for six months. You only need to supply three or so gifts so it doesn't have to be every month. We also have several work nights a year where we make quilts for the neonatal nursery or make cancer hats for the cancer center which are then given away. We have made quilts for many different causes and our programs consist of trunk shows, quilt shops that are willing to bring and demonstrate for us and we can purchase items that they bring to sell. Once or twice a year we pay for a well known teacher to come and spend an evening with us and teach us new ways to do quilts. We have an extensive library where you can check out books for use in your home. There are usually free items brought by the members that they don't want any more, which can be patterns, books, magazines, scraps, notions, etc. This helps our newer members or those on fixed incomes (or amy member) to take whatever they want. There are often demos on new notions, better ways of making specific blocks, etc. There are a few members who meet separately and quilt on their own for themselves or each other or just for charity. It has been a wonderful resouce for 25 years now.