Hope each of you had a wonderful time over the holidays with your family and friends. I spent my holidays recovering from my second knee replacement. Good thing I only have two knees!

Hard to believe another year is upon us. We begin the year with the Fun Day on January 28^th. Everyone is invited.

This month we have the launch of our new website. I personally want to thank Colleen Bell for the dedicated effort and organization she put into making the launch happen this month. She has provided a roadmap with detailed instructions for Anne O’Brien to follow as newsletter editor, and migrated all existing content to the new website. There have been challenges, but she has met them all head on! Both Suzanne Patchell and I have relied on her to guide the guild through the process.

Elections and our annual AGM are happening in February so please please volunteer for one of the following positions: President, Secretary, Workshops Coordinator, and Member-at Large. Katherine Morgan has put her name forward for Membership Coordinator. Being on the executive gives you opportunities to participate in how the guild is run and what direction it will take, and you get to meet so many guild members.

We are also looking for a Raffle Quilt Coordinator for the 2018 Quilt Show. This begins with planning early next year. And for someone to shadow Dianne Ritter at the 2018 show.

At our November 22 meeting, the 50/50 draw winner was Katherine Morgan. Katherine won $41.00. The total amount sold was $82.00.

Our next meeting is on January 24^th with Barb Mortell presenting a Colour Trunk Show & Presentation. If you have taken one of her colour classes and have a quilt that came out of it, please bring the quilt to the meeting – I have and will.

Bena Luxton
President

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It’s time to think about renewing your membership for 2017/2018. The dues for this year are $60.00. Your current membership is good until February 28, 2017 but membership renewals will be accepted at the January and February meetings.

A membership renewal form is on our Guild website. Just go along the headings at the top of the page and click on the ‘Members’ heading. Then go down to ‘join or renew’. This is a PDF file which will allow you to type in your information, print it off, sign it and then drop it off at the membership table with cash or a cheque for $60.00 made out to ‘Lions Gate Quilters Guild’ or ‘LGQG’. This form cannot be saved but can be printed off so you can hand write on it also. Please help us save paper by printing off your own form.

The guild currently has 125 members. We had 65 members present at the November guild meeting where we also welcomed 4 guests. The door prizes were won by Jo-Anne Salmon and Jo Ann Lee.

Remember to wear your nametags if you would like to win a door prize. Everyone who signs in has an opportunity to win. Nametags are available at the membership table for $1.00 each.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Happy Stitching!

Joan Herrin
Membership Coordinator

January Fun Day, January 28

January Fun Day, January 28th, from 10 am to 4 pm, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 1360 East 24^th St. (at Mt. Hwy.), North Vancouver. Cost is $25 plus an item for the potluck

As described in our October newsletter, we will be celebrating Canada’s 150^th Birthday with a quilting bee/potluck/birthday party. Please take note of the date – it is on the last Saturday of January. We had to change the date that was originally planned, as several of our members will be away at the Road2California quilt show. The quilting bee is an initiative of the Canadian Quilters’ Association, and all the quilts that are created will be donated to Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada. Each 12 ½” slab block is to have at least one piece of the special edition Canada 150 fabric in it, and the intention is for them to be scrappy. So, think scrappy kids’ quilts.

As Sue Forbes will be showing us how to “quilt as you go,” we are hoping people will also think about coordinating the backing of the blocks if you want to pool them together with other people’s blocks. We will have some fabrics you can use for the joining strips and backing. If you have any batting scraps that are at least 14” square, we can sure use them up for you!

This is a really flexible project. You can make blocks, a quilt top, or an entire quilt. Please have a look at the CQA website at https://www.canadianquilter.com/events/quilt-canada-2017-quilting-bee.php for the full details and instructions. They have a short video which shows how to make the slab blocks, as well as written instructions.

If you haven’t signed up to come yet, and plan to attend, please let me know asap. There will be an opportunity to register at the guild meeting, but we’d appreciate knowing how many people to expect before then.

Round Peg, Square Hole Workshop

Our Round Peg, Square Hole workshop will be February 18th from 9:30am to 4:30pm.  The locations is Highlands United Church, 3255 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver. The cost is $55.00, which includes the pattern fee

We still have some places available in the upcoming February 18^th, workshop with Krista Hennebury, her “Quarter Round” quilt design. Krista always does a great job of teaching, and we are really looking forward to the day! You can choose to make the four block wall hanging or the larger 16 block quilt.

Jane
Workshop Coordinator

Wasn’t that fun? Our last program featured our home-grown talent featuring a game show quiz; a comedic production by our creative Programs Committee. It was a surprise to all of us, including myself. From the feedback I received, everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show. Kudos to the Programs team!

Elections and our annual AGM are happening in February so please consider volunteering your time for one of the following positions: President, Secretary, Workshops Co-ordinator, Membership Co-ordinator and Member-at Large. The newsletter features write-ups on each of the positions. Being on the executive has advantages, you get a direct say in how the guild is run and what direction it will take, and you get to meet so many guild members.

Our new member, Kathleen Hiom has already agreed to step forward and shadow Anita Jones-Gould as she looks to take on the role of Community Quilts President in March. We are still looking for members of that team, so please consider volunteering to this worthwhile group.

Consider volunteering as a Raffle Quilt Coordinator for the 2018 Quilt Show. This begins with planning early next year.

Dianne Ritter agreed to put on the 2018 show, but we are looking for someone to step forward and shadow her in anticipation of putting on the 2020 show. Think about taking this on, and talk to Dianne.

I am sure many of you are busy now completing hand-crafted gifts for friends and family. Seems like the best way to enjoy the rainy weather!

At the Oct 25th meeting the 50/50 lottery draw raised $102.00; Elaine Fjoser was the winner and took home $51.00.

A reminder that our next meeting is on the 4^th Tuesday of the month – this month has 5 Tuesdays. See you on the 22^nd of November.

Wishing everyone a wonderful time over the holidays as you celebrate with family and friends.

Bena Luxton

Only 2 more meetings until election time so please, start thinking about this great opportunity to get more involved with your guild, meet more people and to learn about the inner workings of this organization!

The election of Directors is held at the AGM in February of every year, but only for half of the Board each time. The coveted, two year positions which will be available in 2017 are as follows:

President

• Manages the guild
• Prepares agendas for, and chairs General and Directors’ meetings
• Receives communications from members and the public
• Prepares a report for each newsletter issue
• Ensures that each member of the board has an updated Calendar of Executive Tasks and is familiar with their responsibilities

Secretary

• Keeps minutes of Annual General and Executive meetings
• Prepares correspondence and notices as requested by the Directors

Workshop coordinator

• Arranges workshop instructors, venues and schedules
• Announces workshops
• Collects & reconciles fees and submits to Treasurer

Membership coordinator

• Collects dues
• Provides information to new members – Maintains membership list

Member-at-Large

(one of two)

• Presents quilts at Show & Tell
• Sells 50/50 tickets
• Sends cards to members to comfort, console or celebrate

If you would like to run for one of these positions, or you’d like to nominate someone, please contact either Becky West (604 929 5454) or Sonja Milanez (604-988-9253)

By the time we hold our November 22nd guild meeting there will only be 32 days left to sew in order to get those projects finished for Christmas!!

November is our last meeting of this year. It is a time to think of renewing your membership for 2017. Look for the renewal form on our website in the New Year. This form can be typed on, then printed and brought to the guild meeting or mailed to the guild mailbox – the address is on the form. It cannot be saved.

The guild currently has 125 members. We had 80 members present at the October guild meeting and we welcomed one guest. The door prizes were won by Paulette Morton and Jo-Anne Salmon.

Be sure to sign in and be wearing your nametag in order to claim your door prize, should your name be drawn. Nametags are available, if you forgot to bring yours, and are $.00 each at the membership table.

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at membership@lionsgatequiltersguild.com

Happy Quilting and a Merry Christmas,

Joan Herrin,

Membership Co-ordinator