This site seems to have such a wealth of experience, it seemed like a good place to ask this question. I've never been a member of a quilt guild, but would like to start one in my town. The nearest one is 30 miles away. Can those of you who are members of one give me some ideas about how to go about it? What kind of activities do you have? What do you do at your monthly meetings? I'd really just like to have a place to meet other local quilters and maybe we could teach other what we know.

Do a search on guilds on this board, lots of info!!!

perhaps don't worry so much about starting a GUILD, but just get some like minded folks together to share the JOYS of quiltings/sewing/learning/sharing! Then if it holds up, you can get into the long drawn out ordeal of forming a guild, wriing by-laws and the constitution, getting a lawyer to approve them, filing for a 501 charter, getting a board together...well..you get the drift I am sure...starting a GUILD is really not easy, and rarely any fun!

Do you have a State guild? Link in with them.

Maybe just start out with a few people to see how it goes.

If you have a local quilt shop, maybe they would like to start one.

A group of us just meet up once a month- we have a pot luck ( i bring desserts !! ) we chat and have show and tell... Recently i've been bringing/demonstrating block sets and every one goes home with a block to make up and return the next meeting

Great ideas, ladies! Keep'em coming.

BTW, I did talk to the owner of our LQS, but she wasn't interested (probably due to all the rigamarole Jacquie alluded to!).

Quilters are generally a fun group, swapping info and ideas are a good start. Print up some flyers to put up around town, This will tell you if theres any interest, even if theres only a few, it can still work out.

We have a monthly "sit and sew" at our LQS - no pressure, no rules, just chatting and sewing. It's lots of fun and whoever can come, does.

I would suggest just setting up a group of ladies that sew and have fun

(a guild has too many problems with bylaws etc.)