Nesie

Starting Jan 1 I was thinking of starting a UFO Club for my Guild. Has anyone done anything like this with their Guild? My idea is to have participants choose 3 UFO’s they would like to complete next year. We usually give participants Gift Certificates to local shops as prizes. I would appreciate any and all feedback if you’ve done something like this with your Guild and even if you haven’t, your opinions on it. My idea is to keep it as simple as possible.
Trying to think of a catchy name also.

Onebyone

We did this for several years. All those that wanted to join gave the person in charge of it a list with description of all the UFO's they wanted to finish during the year. Whenever they finished one they brough it to show and tell. Then the quilt was marked off the list and the person was entered into a drawing for a nice prize basket at the end of the year. The more that she finished the more times her name went in the draw. You know why it was cancelled for our guild? I finished one quilt and had one chance of getting the prize. My name was the winner. There was an outcry of unfair that I only finished one and won when others devoted their time to finish most all on their list so they were more deserving of the prize. Really! . It was pitiful the way a bunch of old biddies acted.

bearisgray

You might consider categories for the UFO's

Completing a 90 x 105 Baltimore Album quilt for a show might be more challenging than completing a 45 x 60 Warm Wishes child's quilt.

Although the amount of effort for the maker may be about the same - depending.

I do like the idea of the participants choosing three projects for completion - and they could do show and tell for where the project is now and show progress when progress is made. Maybe someone could take pictures of each project and keep tabs on the progress that way. Maybe even why the project stalled.

How many members are in your Guild? Or how structured it is? Maybe they could have a sub-group?

This post is rather inchoherent - because I'm just typing as thought pop into my head.

I do better when someone is "keeping track" - although any progress should be acknowledged and applauded.

Instead of cash prizes, maybe a Ribbon for Completion could be awarded?

Also - how "complete" does a UFO need to be? For some, if a top is ready to be quilted, that is "complete"
For others, it is complete after it has had a label attached.

If I chose to play, the guidelines I might follow would be:

Choose project.
Show where it is right now.
Explain why project was chosen and why it is not finished yet.
Have photo taken.

When progress has been made, bring it back for more show and tell.
Explain what went well - and what did not go well.
Have photo taken.

Repeat.

When project is done,
Award Ribbon
Take photo.

At end of year, present photos to particpants and have a Guild Album.

Also - does any Guild have albums of the show and tell quilts/projects?

Onebyone

We use to keep albums of quilts and events but then no one wanted to be in charge of the many albums. No storage at the meeting room. Now all the show and tell pics are on the guild website. No one has to store albums. And no one ever asked to see the albums even when a few were put out every meeting for members to look. I guess the albums are in someone's attic, several bins full.

bearisgray

That's true. I think most people are only interested in the pictures that they are in.

Probably no one would be stopping me from taking my own pictures of my progress!

I was a member of TOPS for a while (in the 1990s)- it was "interesting" trying to write the rules for a game that involved one stem of a fake flower each week. When the member accumulated five of them, they were turned in for $5.00.

dunster

My guild has been running a UFO challenge for the past couple of years, very similar to the one described by Onebyone. I don't participate so I don't know all the rules, but I think finishing a potholder or something equally small doesn't count. The challenge leader announces at the meetings how many UFO's have been completed each month. Also I don't think there's a clear definition of what a UFO is, so one person might consider a project that just needs a few binding stitches to be a UFO where another might include items that are still in the preliminary planning stages. For the first year's prize, the leader donated a very nice new sewing machine that she had won and didn't need.

peaceandjoy

Ours was pretty simple. Participants listed 2 quilts or projects they wanted to finish by the end of the year. At the end of the year, they had a special show and tell for people who finished. I honestly don't remember whether they received a prize or not. I guess it wasn't the most popular activity, as they have not done it again.

The other guild I am in has not done one.

Pam S

When our guild did the challenge, we each submitted a list of 4 UFOs numbered 1 to 4 with a brief description. We paid $1 to enter and got one entry for the drawing to be held at the end. Each quarter, a number was drawn and everybody had to complete the corresponding quilt during that quarter. We had to show our completed quilt at the end of the quarter before the next number was drawn. If you hadn't finished your UFO, you put another $1 in the pot. If you had finished, you got one entry into the drawing that was held at the end of the year. So if you completed all your UFOs, you got 5 entries. A lot of us didn't manage to complete all of them so there was quite a bit of money won by someone at the end .

ElaineCovid

Our guild ran a UFO challenge twice, two different ways.
First time - everyone who wished to participate made a list of up to five UFO's, stage they were in. Judges decided how many points a project (completed, which meant quilted, bound and labeled - if label was needed/wanted).
Quilters were divided into one of four teams. Each time you finished a project you brought it to the judges who marked down the progress and the points. You then show and telled your item. Team aggregate scores were posted monthly. At the end, all sorts of prizes were given out, some from quilt shops, some from guild, some donated by members etc. There were prizes for first one to bring in a finished project, first one to finish their list, one with the most points, team with the most points etc. Everyone agreed this was a really fun challenge, even without the prizes.
Second time - you listed up to five projects, as you finished you brought to show and tell and to judges. No points, a draw at the end for the first one to finish all their projects. This one did not go over as well partly because it was during our "Zoom" meeting phase (but not during Covid). Also, many of the quilters who participated the first time said they didn't have enough projects to complete to bother joining.
We haven't done one since and it's been a few years.

copycat

A name for a UFO group I invented is Quiltronaut! (as in astronaut). You are ready to Blast off into a new Quilting year and discover the fun and adventure of completing your UFO's. The only prize is the feeling of accomplishment as you complete your UFO's during the guild year. As the quilter finishes the ufo and shows it at Sew & Tell (where each month member show their quilts), the members of the Quiltronaut group get a standing ovation! Make it fun and non-competitive is my thoughts!