I met Marci when she came to Green River, WY for Quilting on the Green as the guest speaker and teacher. I took a couple of classes from her and think she is wonderful. Very approachable, willling to help, and full of insight. One of my highlights in attending quilting seminars or weekends.

I have 2guilds by here,, 1 very clliquie, cold, Igo only when there is something special offered..

The other guild is very warm & welcoming....




My advice is look around ,, maybe there is a friendier. Guild I your area. But go again & give it another chance, maybe because. There ws a program they were toooo busy.

Please give the guild another try. It may be that with the guest speaker and everything else - that they were overwhelmed. Try it again when there is less going on, and be sure to let them know that you are new to the guild. I have been a member of our local guild for many years now and don't know what I'd do without it.
This year I will be president for the second time. My biggest problem is the lack of members who will volunteer for committees. I have put them on notice that if I don't get volunteers - I will start appointing members to committees. (grin) It worked at the last meeting. I needed volunteers for the nominating committee and got 4. Last year there was a committee of 1.
I will keep on this path to letting them know if no one volunteers - that I will appoint them. LOL

When I joined my Guild, I also attended my first meeting on my own and unfortunately had pretty much the same experience as you. There was, however, one person who made a point of talking with me. I did continue to go but dragged my friends with me so we now have a core group but the membership is starting to warm up. Getting involved and volunteering also will help you meet people and be included. I guess it just takes time but it is certainly an area all clubs should address. I think there are many people we lose because they are not comfortable when they first attend.

I felt that way at first at mine also, but kept going. It's been 4 yrs. I think now & have meet a lot of new friends.

I, too, am a little reticent when it comes to meeting new people, particularly when I know absolutely no one in the crowd. This is exactly the position I was in when I attended my first guild meeting last July. Officially, they welcomed guests, but few introduced themselves or made conversation with me that first meeting.

I joined right away, because I wanted to take advantage of the monthly classes they offered. Jumping right in to take the classes has made it a little easier to become acquainted with the other members. Each one becomes more comfortable.

Hang in there, it does get easier.

I have never been to a guild meeting - will have to see if there is one in the area.

We had this same problem with our quilting guild...new members or guests feeling very alone. So my friend started a Big Sister program...it matches new members with a guild member who then guides her thru all that goes on there. The new members are called NewBees and Dee and I have our Bee outfits to welcome all. Quite humorous to say the least. All in fun and is a big help!!

I hope you will try again, as a guild can be a wonderful source of friends. Being shy can sometimes come across as standoffish, and people don't want to intrude, but that is no excuse for the members. I hear that about our guild, however, when I first went, I joined some ladies and offered to help. After that I was welcomed with open arms and have been active for many years. Getting involved is one of the best ways to make new friends. Our guild has many friendship groups because the guild is too large to have time to visit with all the members. Groups sometimes become a bit cliquish, and that is not good. We have one lady who works very hard to welcome newcomers and takes them into her group and they all have tons of fun. I used to be very shy, but found that speaking up and saying, "I am new here, so please show me around" will do wonders. Enjoy the meetings, and let them know who you are!!

I live in N. E. Ohio and have not even heard of a guild around here. There are 5 quilt shops within 20 min of my front door so there has to be a guild somewhere. I am going to check out the LQS's and try to find out where else a guild might be advertised. I can't afford LQS prices but it would be nice to have a quilting buddy or two.

it's hard to "zero" in on folks who may have regional information for others when they keep their location "in hiding". I understand that for whatever reason, that is a personal choice tho. just saying

I'm sorry that you didn't feel welcome. My guild has a person that specifically greets new members, gives them a little gift of a piece of fabric and then introduces them to some members. I would attend another guild meeting and see how it goes. Quilters are very friendly by nature and I'm sure if you introduce yourself to someone they will take you under their wing. Good luck.

I am not really in hiding, I evidently didn't do something I should have when I signed up... I live in Bakersfield, CA.... Need coaching on using the QB message board..

After you've been a few times both you and the others attending will start to become friendlier and more open. Keep going, you'll enjoy it in time.

Don't give up! In our guild, at the beginning of the evening the president always asks if there are any guests. That gives visitors a chance to stand up so that members know who to welcome. I know when I first started going to guild, I didn't know anyone.
Next time if you see someone else sitting by themselves ask if you can sit by them. Another hint, ask questions, like how long have you been quilting or what's their favorite tool? Too many times we get hung up on not wanting to bother someone else.
We all know how kind and generous quilters are so don't give up!

Be a little careful of joining a group that doesn't welcome new members. I found it difficult at my local ones and then felt very welcome ( and continue to attend) one which is an hour's drive away. I receive good companionship and exchange of ideas, whilst the other ones were in a clique, gossiped and were nasty - be a guest until you feel comfortable as it may save you time, money and emotional stress.

You said: "I'm a bit shy, so I find it hard to introduce myself"

I finally got over my shyness by approaching the one person at a meeting who was in worse shape than I was! I had put myself at the end of the row of chairs near the EXIT so I could leave if I felt too 'out of it,' but the other woman had her back to the group and was looking at the paintings on the wall! I went up to her and just said "hi - my name is Sally," and I was rewarded with the biggest smile of relief! She and I became very good friends - we at least had that group that organized the meeting in common!
Sally

oh I used to go thrugh Romona almost every week. I grew up in La Mesa, and we had to go thrugh Romona to go up to our cabin up on Palamar Mt, lovely little town!
do not give up on the guild, maybe on a night that not so much is happing they will notice the new gal. you can learn so much and really have a great time once you get to know some of the gals. keep on going for at least another 6 months or so.

Vanuatu Jill - I had the exact thing happen to me here at the local guild. I know most of the members and tried to join in various conversations, etc. but they had their own little "groups" talking about whatever, and no one encouraged me to join in their conversations - and I do mean, I tried!! After that, I did not go back, but part of that was because I was full time caregiver to my husband who was ill with Alzheimers, heart and kidney failure, and I decided if I had to get a "sitter", I would go somewhere where I would enjoy myself. That said, we've started a small group here in my home and I enjoy that so much more!!! Their loss - we all had the same experience!

I looked at your town & see you are close to Poplar Bluff so I went on to Google & found a guild you might want to ck out. It is called The Missouri Star Quilt Guild and they meet on the 2nd Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. at the 1st United Methodist Church on Main St. They didn't have a phone # you can call for more info, but you can drop them a line at PO Box 4114, Poplar Bluff MO 63901 or even better yet, take a friend along and just go to one of their meetings. The dues is only $15 per yr which is very reasonable. Good luck.

I have never been in a guild nor been to any meetings as a guest but I also am not shy. However, whenever I do talk to someone that appears to be stuffie and cold I just say to myself "move on; it will be better elsewhere" as my positive thought to myself and usually that is the case.

I would go one more time and see if things are different. If not than move on to another guild or either just go on to classes and participate and see who comes to you. They can't be cold forever.

Been there done that. That is why I do not go to guild meetings. I went once and had the same experince.

I did go with a friend-seemed no one really paid attention to her, either. And she used to belong to that quild a few years ago, and still knew a few ladies. The two of us just hung out together. I think if it weren't for the guest speaker, I might have left early. I'm not going to dwell on this, now that a day or two has passed. I did enjoy the speaker, though!

You paid to attend as a GUEST???? I really am sorry you were treated so shabbily.

I didn't mind paying since there was a good guest speaker-it was only $5.oo. I wasn't treated shabbily, just not acknowledged or talked to. I might give it another go in the future. I know quilters are a great bunch-that's why I love this board so much!! I finally have a outlet to chat about what I love and learn so much. I guess that's maybe I thought someone there would have made a point of at least acknowledging newcomers and making an effort to chat even for a short while. I know I would have.

My guild is small - 55 members - and guests do not pay. When there are new members, each person present introduces themselves, say where they are from, etc. and welcome the new people. Perhaps things in that guild just got out of kilter because of the speaker. Are there other guilds in your area? Do you know someone in another guild? Please don't give up. My few years in my guild have been very informative, productive and enlightening.

i also felt invisible at my first guild meeting. don't let that stop you from trying again. when you arrive go up to the check in table and let them know you are new and would like a guild guide, or whatever they call the person who can take you around and show you the ropes.

the other thing is to try one of the classes. you get more one on one with the members in a smaller group. also check to see if they have any neighborhood groups or circles. they are always fun and you really get to know people that way.

guilds have a lot to offer but you will have to push yourself to reach out more. believe me when i say i understand. i have always been one to wait for someone to come to me. finally realized i was getting lonely waiting.

i just signed up, along with a friend, for a small position (block of the month chair) and now i am getting to know everyone. lots of fun.

go for it.

I understand how it feels to be new to a guild. The first night I attended I went ahead and paid dues for a year. Then I realized that hardly anyone was friendly. The president that year was actually very rude to me. Little by little the members began to talk to me. That was two years ago. This year I am the president!

Iv never gone to one, guess because I fear that might happen to me. I am kind of like you, dont really want to stand out. Maybe you could try again though at a regular meeting?

WOW I love your story! Way to go!

Next time go up to some one , tell them you are new and ask to be shown around. That is what we do at my Quilt group. People are friendly once they know you are new.