Quilt Guild Newsletters
 

Hi All - I'd like to ask for input regarding guild newsletters. I will be taking over my club's bi-monthly newsletter and was wondering what you find most helpful or what you would like in a newsletter or if there is anything your guild newsletter has that I may want to add to ours. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

If you PM your email address I'll send you a copy of our newsletter.

Happen to have my Guild's bi-monthly latest newsletter right here. It includes basic info like President's column; listing of board members, their postions, home and email addys; calendar list of upcoming meetings, workshops, sew ins, etc. for several months; Library Section, reviews and new books recently addedd. We also have a This 'n That section where different groups or members tell about their activities and projects. As co-chair of our Guild's Project Pillowcases I often submit an article about how many pillowcases we've made and distributed and to what hospitals or charties and include some feedback we're received from the kids who received the pillowcases. Sometimes members tell about a new quilt shop or quilt show they have been too. Latest newsletter includes lots of info about our upcoming quilt show, special show challenges, take in and give back dates, etc. I think I still have a copy of our latest newsletter on my computer and could email it to you if you PM. May in Jersey

You might want to surf around ... I've found a lot of Guild Newsletters are posted on their site.
Some I've been impressed ... some I went *gasp* and said, why bother?

I am probably in the minority, but I don't like to see a lot of filler in the guild's newsletter. I want to see just things that are directly related to the guild's activities or to local quilting events. Some guilds try to "fatten up" the newsletter and make it more "interesting" by adding recipes, puzzles, etc. I guess some people may enjoy these things, but for me it just makes it harder to find the information I need.

It might be an idea to survey your membership ... and get a better handle of what their likes/dislikes/suggestions are!

My guild has a website where our newsletters are posted. It has lots of different information and is available to everyone. This way only a few hard [paper] copies of the newsletter are mailed out. The website had been relatively easy to maintain too.

www.paga.net

Though if you do a website remember to renew it as needed. We didn't and had to change out website.

ali

I do the newsletter for my guild. No one wanted the job at all so I took it with the understanding I would do it the way I wanted it. Anyone is welcome to take over the newsletter whenever they want but so far no one wants it so no complaints how I do it. If you start asking for suggestions the newsletter will be picked apart with members wanting you to add this and not add that. You will never please every member unless you send each one a personalized newsletter so don't try to.

A Facebook page private just for guild members is the easiest way to keep guild info updated. The members without internet can access it at libraries or neighbors house.

PM me with your email and I will send you the one from WA and the web site of the one I belonged to in FL
Mim

I just finished our guild newsletter today. Go ahead and take a look. http://dufferinpiecemakers.org/
Newsletters can be very time consuming but I really enjoy putting ours together.

K.I.S.S. always works best...keep it simple sweetie!
with postage what it is these days, the less the more! If your guild does a website or blog, then put more info there..but keep the mailing to a minimum!

could not bring up anything with the newsletter link!

If the link won't work for you, just google Dufferin Piecemakers and you'll find it. The link I gave does work but maybe not for you. Sorry.

oh, I got to the website, just the link to go the newsletter does not work. A blank page is all I get. The rest of the site looks great, but the Program page needs updated! Hard to believe it is already April 2012! Yep 1/3 of the year GONE already!

Thank you for this suggestion! Why didn't I think of that :-)

If I hadn't already witnessed the problem they had when the current editor wanted to give a title to the newsletter, I would canvass the members. However, half the membership wasn't interested and the other half couldn't agree on anything, so it was dropped. I hesitate to open that can of worms again :-)

A Calendar section for upcoming events and reminders, A tip of the month section, A Birthday Section, Spotlight on Jane Quilter (each newsletter have a little 'interview' with different members telling how they got started, their preferred techniques, etc.)....and the usual news...I LOVE doing newsletters!

Information about guild activities. Give other board members a date each month to have information to you that needs to be included. If not there on time, not included. If you set the ground rules from the start much less hassle. Ours has mostly information for activities of guild. Information on speakers and workshops coming up. Sometimes includes information submitted by members pertaining to quilting products such as sprays, mat, batting. Anything to educate our members. Our main goal is to teach and share quilting with others.

We do have a web site that someone else maintains. We have been talking about putting the newsletter on line to save money, but the "more experienced" quilters are not so computer savvy and are resisting. We may try loading it to the web site and mailing to those that don't have access...it's a board decision at this point. It if were me, it would be on the site.

Good suggestions for me....Thank you!

Shelbie .. there's still problems!
I tried it with the www ... nope
Also, tried google ... and the google links aren't working!!

Honestly the bane of our guild are the 'more experienced' members. They resist every new idea. Finally there are enough new members to out vote them. I told my kids when I start resisting or complaining about change and becoming an old biddy then keep me home!

Very nice web site. Thank you for the URL to see your newsletter....very helpful. Barb

Too FUNNY!

My too funny comment was meant for this post!

yep,, I used it, enjoyed your newsletter!

I agree! Totally! It is obvious that there are as many different "types" of newsletters as there are guilds.....but IMHO a newsletter should be just that - news of the guild for the past month, week or whatever is the guild's timeline. It should include a list of board members, officers and chairs for functions. Also, the Treasurer's report and the minutes of the last meeting, upcoming events and any pertinent information from various chairs. I have seen newsletters with pages of recipes, pages of links to online sites that someone thought was info to share, but I don't think that needs to be included. All but 10 members of my guild receive their newsletter via email, the others are mailed out. That is my 2 cents worth....

Welcome aboard as a guild newsletter editor--I was asked to do ours a year ago (one of those "if you don't do it we may not have one") and am still at it. I was fortunate that the lady doing it before was willing to do one with me the first month (then she moved). But she left me with several digital files so I didn't start from scratch: the logo template; a file of all the mailing addresses for those that don't get them via email; etc. unfortunately, we could not figure out how to set up all the email addresses into my computer, so I had to type in the email addresses--about130! (our guild is about 160 people with about 100 being active members). here's some advice that I got that sure helped.

1) make sure there is a "drop dead" deadline for people getting information to you after the meetings--and be ready to send it out shortly after.
2) work ahead--I use a mock-up format- on the next one--you'll find that there are many things that can just stay in the letter with slight modifications for the next month (or 3!) That way you aren't stuck trying to get the whole thing done in a couple of nights.
3) if the person that does a Block of the Month can do it digitally on EQ7 or a similar program, it will make it easier to be transferring it back and forth without problems.
4) if you have a large number of members that get it via email, set it up in several distribution groups--I have about 100 and have 3 groups--otherwise the files get too large and may not go through.
5) You will likely have to teach your members that get it via email that they need to be sure to have YOUR email address in their address book--otherwise the newsletter goes to spam/junk and you will never know (it won't bounce back) and they will complain that you forgot them! you may have to explain also how to open up a pdf file, etc as some members may only be able to email with family and not be real familiar with their computer programs.
6) I go through my quilt mags and this blog site and hang on to tips to fill the newsletter gaps
7) if you do some via print and post office--develop a good relationship with your print shop--mine is great and she'll call me without delay if she sees something that won't likely work--she's my best editor!
And Lastly--have fun with this! If you do work ahead, you'll find that once you get all set up, that you really can make it what you want (at the most they will "fire" you--I've decided in my guild that won't happen until I agree to take on another job!).

Confusing: Dates of 2010 are in the Newsletter.

Very helpful - thank you!