Quiltingboard Forums - went to first guild meeting, felt like an intruder

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that is great!

Quote:

Originally Posted by knlsmith

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

I'm president of my small guild and I started the visitor package. Each visitor is given a packet with all the guild info, a fat quarter, a charm square, one layer cake square, and a 2 1/2" strip. The greeter cuts these and packages them with info about what they are. We make sure it is the good LQS quality.
I have noticed some of the long time members forget new people have no idea what is going on. I forget more then I should. The new members that speak up and jump right in are like they have been there for years after a few meetings.

What a great idea!

also if you have quilt shops in your area, ask them if they have sew days where you take your project and sewing machine for a day and sew

workshops etc.

you will meet others, will take time!

google quilt guilds in your area

Sounds like an awfully small guild. We have 8 in our mini-group but about 100 in our guild. I would give it another couple of times. It's hard to go to a social group like this for the first time. If this doesn't work for you maybe a larger group with lots of activities and different types of quilts would be better for you. Good luck!!

Lisa - cloth dolls. A few are posted on here, if you search for "Amelia" and "Elizabeth" they may come up.

Thanks for the info, Charlee! I will post them, don't worry!

Thanks, everyone for the advice. I didn't expect balloons and bear hugs from them but a little acknowledgement would have been nice.

I may check out the larger one as there is a chance they may sew things other than quilts.

Life is too short to waste it on people who cannot even speak to you. Hold out for a group that makes you feel like this Board makes us feel ... instant new friends, kind, challenged, learning, important, new ideas, and welcomed.

This exact thing happened to me. I was invited to attend ...but then it was like ...what are you doing here... ( not in a good way) was the attitude.
I never went again and to this day when someone asks me 'what guild to you belong to" ...like I'm not a "real" quilter because I don't belong ... I just tell them my own personal guild it meets every Monday .
The level of discomfort I felt ....was not something I would ever want to repeat. I make it a rule not to go places I'm not wanted, everyone is happier that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltinghere

After all how is the organization going to grow and do more for the community if you don't get more members?

One local guild is quite large for a rural area, but is known for being unfriendly. Several of the members also belong to the one that I belong to and express that there are many things they don't like - but because they are large enough to attract "known" teachers, etc., they continue their membership. However, the majority of them are far past retirement age and I often wonder how they will continue when the bulk of their membership are no longer able to participate. Fact is, unless they become a friendlier group overall, they won't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

LOVE this idea!! :thumbup: Thank you for sharing. I'm going to suggest it to our guild! :-D

I belong to a private group that a gal started in her home. A small quilting group of maybe 10 of us. It is nice, but I really like doing my own thing too! We meet once a month and make charity quilts throughout the year. Maybe start your own group of doll makers or sewing group!