Quilt guild question
 

Hi folks,
For those of you that belong to guilds, do your guilds do classes or workshops on items or other things that are not true " quilting" projects? Our guild does mostly quilted items and quilt workshops, but we have offered a handful of textile-based workshops. Some deem to be crafts and not quilting. Many of these have come directly from other quilt guilds. I have no opinion on this either way, but the original members of The guild wish to keep it 100% quilting only and newer members like the variety. I would just like to know what's happening in other guilds in relation to this because I'm sure discussion will be coming our way within our own guild. Thanks for any feedback

Honestly the quilt programs given by known quilt instructors are too expensive for more then one every other year or so. Once the 'seasoned' members saw what the workshop/class fee would be to even break even having these known quilters (if they would even travel) that they felt was what a guild should have, they decided it was best to have locals. We use as many local artists as possible for workshops and classes. The local art group has wonderful workshops on stamping and ink. We had workshops how to make fabric jewelry, painted quilt designs on wood, origami using fabric, crochet edging for fabrics and really any other interesting workshops that local people are willing to do.

I would say that both my guilds have quilt-related workshops only. I only attend if it's an instructor with a method that I'm really interested in. The cost to members is only $40 for one guild, and I'm not sure what it is for the other. The guild pays the bulk of the fees from income from dues, opportunity ticket sales, quilt raffle sales, etc. but sometimes the instructor charges a hefty "kit" fee. I have noticed that neither guild has had truly well known speakers in a long time.

Thank you for getting back to me. Yeah, the expensive workshops is really really crazy these days. Our guild has gone to the local county for a folk art Grant and that actually gives us some money for these more expensive workshops, but you need to keep our members busy and doing interesting things throughout the year so the local artists and craft ideas keep the interest going but not everyone looks at it that way. I really appreciate your getting back on this

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Our guild offers a lot of workshops by our members as teachers and they're offered for free to members. Our member instructors are paid but only $50 for a half-day workshop which is more than reasonable. We have folks that begrudge them even that much if the subject is not 100% quilt related. They honestly don't realize how lucky they have it to be having free workshops and they're free to attend or not. Some of these are for tote bags and things that are then donated to the guild for their fundraising sales. Folks are also free to take them home. I appreciate getting input from outside guilds.

Talking about guilds. How much is average yearly dues? Ours is $25 which haven't changed from thirty years ago. I suggested the dues be raised to $50 per year. You would have thought I suggested Social Security cuts.

We've had a little bit of a crossover in that there was a successful floor mat class (decor weight fabric that was raw edge appliqued on. Most people planned to use them as wall hangings or door decor rather than on the floor.

The education committee also offered a wooden flower painting class that only a couple of people signed up for; it ended up being cancelled as there just wasn't enough interest.

My guild has a member whose does an education presentation at each meeting. She mostly does demos on quilt blocks etc. But occasionally has done demos on making fabric bowls and other items as well.
Workshops by "famous quilters" always are on quilt topics.

The classes in our Guild pay for themselves with the expenses divided equally in a class fee. So it isn't an expense for the Guild. People who want to do only "quilting" can't complain, it isn't costing them anything. There have been barn quilt painting, fabric dyeing, the teacher payment (varies).

While most of our presentations are quilt related, occasionally (such and last month) we have local artisans whose crafts are fabric related. Lat month we had a local gal who hand dyes silk and cotton from natural dyes.

Our guild has bylaws for programs/classes that pertain to the cost of any program over $100, must be voted on by guild members present at the meeting. The majority rules. We have an upcoming program on dying fabrics presented at a local quilt shop.
We have had a color theory class presented by a member. Our members donate their time to present programs and aren't paid.
We have a Nov. social where we bring covered dishes and enjoy our quilty friendships. We just had a Christmas in July meeting where we made no sew Christmas ornaments using fabric. I would say the ornaments aren't True quilting projects, but involve fabric, which all quilters like.

Our guild does have presentations that are not strictly quilting. Our presenter, today, in fact, will tell/show us about Kantha stitching, which I had to Google. I am waiting to see if I want to sign up for tomorrow's workshop.
"August 15 Workshop: Create a Cosmetic/Small Tool Bag UP DATE: The workshop cost has gone up to 20.00 due to some extras in the kit. You will have a choice between two color pallets. Kit fee is payable to pre-senter on the day of the Workshop."
I enjoy learning new things. Of course, my favorite part of guild meetings is Show and Tell from members.
There are only 12 meetings per year, and some don't even have a presenter. We organize a workday for charity stuff; one meeting involves a sewing-bingo game/social.
100% quilting seems limiting to the possibilities. You never know how you may incorporate a new skill into a new quilt!

Since the majority of my guild classes are taught by members we are paid $50 for a half day class and $100 for an all day class. If you haven’t taught a class, you have no idea the time involved prior to class. Since we appreciate and encourage members to teach, paying them helps. Once a year we have a well know, or outside instructor. If the cost is too high for our budget, we share this person with another local guild that meets a few days before our meeting. Often it isn’t the class fee, but the travel expenses that make the class too costly and by sharing this is divided. Our programs are mostly quilt related but we also have a few that are not. Our dues were just raised after 20 years to $40 per year. And our class fees were raised as well to $30. I find it a good deal for what we gain in learning and companionship.

That $25 to $50 may be the difference between someone on Social Security from being able to belong to a group they come to for friendships.

our guild standard is "can this technique be used on fabric, therefore potentially in a quilt? If the answer is yes, we include it in our planning. In the past our senior members have "policed" the topics and were vocal on whether it was really quilting or not. The outside teachers who we pay to come in are limited to those who teach actual quilting techniques and not "could be" topics.

That $25 to $50 may be the difference between someone on Social Security from being able to belong to a group they come to for friendships.

Could be but doubtful. $2 plus a few cents per meeting is practically free. The $50 fee won't pay room rent for a year but will help. We depend on fundraising and that is getting difficult. Most of the younger members say we didn't join to have a job Ugh.

Annual membership dues for my guild are $35. Workshop classes by "famous" quilters vary in price. The big money maker for the guild is the quilt show every other year. The guild sells all kinds of donated items at the show such as orphan blocks, fabric, quilted items, rulers, books, etc. I bought a light box that had been donated at the last show.

My group is not officially a guild but along standing group of about 45-50 members. Our dues are $20 per year and have been since I joined in 2008. I am surprised the fee hasn't increased. The cost for our two 3-day retreats has nearly doubled, thus I am guessing our leaders are doing everything possible to keep the over all cost reasonable by not increasing
membership fees.

I belong to two guilds, one very small and one slightly larger. The small group only meets twice a month and does not bring in instructors. Members volunteer to demonstrate (teach) techniques but it is done very informally and not everyone pays attention. This bugs me!

The larger group meets weekly and once a month a member will demonstrate a technique or someone will come in and teach a technique. When we bring someone in there may be a small cost involved. We also bring in more well-known teachers but not on guild days so those classes are on weekends and open to the public with a smaller cost for guild members. The member demonstrations have included non-quilty items such as rope bowls and oven mitts. At Christmas time we made fabric ornaments. I'd say the workshop days that focus on quilting techniques are more popular than the others.