Hello All! I'm the program chair for my quilt guild and am seeking some advice from all of you. First, any really good speakers/workshops you have attended and you would recommend? I do have a budget but can afford to get some speakers. And second, (probably MOST IMPORTANT), any ideas on what your group or guild might do when you don't have a guest speaker or what to do when your guild/group cannot afford a speaker/workshop? Any advice/ideas will be GREATLY appreciated--thanks in advance, KRob

I love MENTOR NIGHT. That is when members of the guild set up mini-workshops in their expertise and the attendees rotate through a select number. Usually, each demonstration (or participatio) takes 20 minutes and we get to do 3. I have learned about perfect binding, crayon quilts, continuous prairie points, labels.......

We do the same as what Madquilter was talking about. We also have what they call, getting to know you. They approach one of the members the week before the meeting & she brings some of the quilts she has made, & they interview her. That way we get to know more of the ladies in our guild. Our guild has a membership of over 200. Greeter Eva

I've heard of block 'lotteries'. Someone choses a block (any style) and participants make blocks. For each block they make their name is entered in a drawing to win. Sometimes there's a limit of 5 (or whatever number you chose) - sometimes there's 2 drawings if there's lots of participants and blocks.

How many quilters are in your group? That may determine what you do for activities.

Our last meeting of the year is in November and we hold a Havest Supper, meeting room is decorated for Fall, everyone brings a covered dish and we have a doll quilt contest. For each doll quilt a member makes her name goes into the prize bowl, I made 5 this year so my name goes in the prize bowl 5 times. There usually are about 10 prizes awarded.
All the doll quilts are given to local senior group that adds the little quilts to the Holiday gifts they give to their town's Head Start kids.

In May we hold a Tea. Everyone is asked to bring their favorite tea cup and a dish of cookies or tea sandwiches and we have a great time. Hats and gloves are optional. May in Jersey

My old guild didn't have a lot of money but we managed to bring Cathy Miller, The singing quilter:

http://www.singingquilter.com/

She is very entertaining. She also offers a seminar the next day and she travels everywhere. You can arrange for her to come to your guild while she is in your area and the visit may be a little cheaper.

Our guild has at least 4 meetings of 12 in the year that a member does a trnk show of quilts the have done and tells their story of becoming a quilter. It's wonderful to see the work people have done over the years. One month we had a person in the guild who travels a lot bring a collection of fabrics, wallhangings, quilts, clothing, and tablecloths that had been purchased from around the world. Very interesting.