Hello everyone!

After many years away from the Quilting Community and Quilt Guilds, I am very happy to once again be a member of the LGQG. For me, serving as Co-President means an opportunity to meet and get to know many wonderful people who love quilts and quilting.  One of the things I most enjoyed in the past was going to LGQG Retreats.  Sometimes I got a lot accomplished, and sometimes I simply enjoyed being with everyone … and occasionally getting up to a little mischief!!

I also spent some time on the Executive of the Fraser Valley Quilters’ Guild, as Co-Chair for the Evening meetings and sharing the position of Community Liaison.  During those years with FVQG I  got to know many of the members and had an incredible amount of fun at UFO Days and Community Events.

Although this isn’t a new idea, the Executive has decided to try to make our Guild more welcoming by introducing a “Buddy” system for Guests.  Starting at the April meeting, we will be looking for two Volunteers each month to make themselves available to spend the evening with any Guests who would appreciate having a Buddy.  Buddies will be expected to sit with Guests, visit with them, answer any general questions they might have (or find someone who knows the answer), and do their best to ensure that Guests have a pleasant time visiting our Guild.  There will be a sign-up sheet for “Buddies” at the “Membership / Sign In” table.  Ideally we would like to have Buddy Volunteers signed up one or two months in advance.  And if we have Guests at the April meeting, we would like to start the “Buddy” initiative right away!  I hope you will consider being a Buddy for a month.

You may have heard that Kathryn Gillis will be chairing the monthly Guild meetings (Tuesday night) and I will be chairing the monthly Executive meetings, although I expect we will both attend as many of these meetings as we can.  Although I am new (again) to the LGQG, I know that most of you are not.  Whether you are working on a small project, perusing books in our Library, or enjoying the Program and visiting with friends, spending an evening with other quilters is comfortable and inspiring.  If you have a completed quilt project or a special quilt top that is not yet layered I hope you will bring it for Show ‘n Tell.  I look forward to seeing you at the April Guild meeting.  Happy quilting!!

Karen Cooke, Co-President (with Kathryn Gillis)