Okay, I'm going to share a lot more then I ever have before with this question.
As a matter of fact I do belong to the Coconino Quilter's Guild. It's an amazing organization of quilters, seamstresses and fabric enthusiatists. To be honest, I shyed away from these things in the past because I pictured a group of busy-body people, gossiping about this and that, drinking coffee. This is part of my memories of the sewing circles my father was a part of. Yes, he was the quilter in our family. Good memories but not my cup of "tea".
I attended a meeting about 4 years ago on the insistance of a good crafting friend. That evening I found that this guild not only has hand stitching classes during the year but they also offered retreats, workshops, trunkshows, Saturday & evening classes, supported a local week long quilt camp retreat, and brought in international/national/local instructors for a very small yearly membership fee. Though they don't have a website they interact with the good size membership of about 100 via e-mail through newsletters, bulletins and important messages. The members come from neighboring states and numerous local communities, meet once a month in the evening at a local church where they share upcoming events, show n tell and a planned activity such as an ornament making evening, learning what judge's a looking for in competition, trunkshows, singing quilt teachers, and so many other things.
Along with all these activities we are also very much involved in our communities and the various needs. We are fortunate to have a Guild Stash which is donated fabrics from our members that didn't want the fabric any longer or a person that passed on that wanted us to put it to good use. And that we do by putting together in kits these fabrics for the guild members to work on. This year alone we had over 80 quilts, 90 pillowcases, 30 walker pouches and 15 back packs made from the kits that were in turn donated to local senior centers, a rescue center for homeless women & children and to our local emergency pediatric ward. Then with all the scraps our quilters collect from their projects we stuff old pillowcases, close them up and donate them to a rescue center for animals. We also received a donation of old sewing machines that needed some refurbishing that our local service center was kind enough to help us with. We then found a local women center that are working on establishing a "cottage industry" environment with these machines to help these ladies in learning a trade.
Next year we will have an auction to clear out many of the donated items that are not necessarily fabric to help finance many of our endeavors. We will also be displaying many of the quilts we work on at our local library for neighbors and visitors to enjoy. And this is really exciting, we are going to have a "Runway" show, where we get to strut our stuff. Many of us just love to sew and it's not always quilts. Fun time to laugh, admire and just be together to share with each other what makes our hearts sing.
Oh and by the way I'm the current President of the Guild but to be honest you may think I'm in charge but I beg to differ, I am a part of an amazing bunch of women that truly want to make a difference in our little community and have fun in the process. So if any of you are hesitating, step up and give your local guild a try. I was truly amazed and glad I did. And if any of you are in Flagstaff on the 4th Thursday of the Month, look for us, we advertise in the local fabric stores, newspaper and through other venues. Hope to see you.