Sonja Callaghan is a delightful young woman who entertained us thoroughly at the October meeting. She has a lovely sense of humour; she was organized; used technology very professionally and took us step by step through her creative process of designing paper pieced quilt patterns. She even had “stuff” for sale in the form of patterns. It almost sounds as if I am writing a report card. As always our Program committee deserves an “A+”. They are a very hard working committee and they are doing an excellent job for us all.

Another committee which is always working to bring us interesting experiences is our Workshop committee. Joan Herrin has been the chair of that committee for four years and she must take a break. I do know that one of her committee is willing to stay on the committee but the position of Workshop Co-ordinator is coming up for election in February. Please consider offering your time to that position. By time I mean attending nine Executive meetings during the year. Those meetings are held the Monday evening following the Guild meeting from 7:30 until 9:30. The current committee has already booked workshops up until June and there are many resources available for future bookings. So, if you enjoy workshops and have attended guild sponsored classes find the excitement by being a more integral part of them.

Executive positions coming available this February at our AGM include: President, Secretary, Workshop Co-ordinator, Membership Co-ordinator and Member-at-Large. I am pleased to say that I am offering to continue on as President for another term so that means we need four people to come forward and offer to take over the other positions; five if someone is excited about having an election and would like to take on the challenge and rewarding position of President. An election may even be held if we get a raft of members offering their services. Think about it but as soon as you make up your mind please inform myself or any current Executive member.

On behalf of the Executive I approached Dianne Ritter about chairing our Album of Quilts Show 2014. She said, “Yes”. YIPEE!!!!!! Thank you so much Dianne. However, we do need a Raffle Quilt Committee to get themselves established, the sooner, the better. It may seem like a very long way away but June of 2014 will be here before you know it!!

Another committee needed as soon as January is our Hospitality Committee. Come on you tea and coffee drinkers. Get yourselves on the front line and report to me that you will be happy to help in the kitchen. Tanith Laughton has agreed to be our new Guild Archives person. Thank you Tanith.

It seems like most of this President’s message has been dedicated to pleas for help. In January newsletter I would like to tell you more of the Guild Gathering meeting I attended mid October. There is an announcement in this newsletter of the Fraser Valley’s Challenge for guilds to send a team to the “IRON QUILTER” competition which will be held in June 2013 during the Fraser Valley Quilt Show. It sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps you can get 5 friends together and make up a team. Read the rules and think about it along with thoughts of participating more fully in Lions Gate Guild operating activities.

Happy Quilting,
Betty