Joan Herrin, our wonderful Workshop Coordinator, will be completing her 2nd two year term. That means that even if she begged us, she wouldn’t be able to run for a 3rd term. Nope. It’s not allowed. So if you want workshops, someone is going to have to run for the position. HERE’S YOUR CHANCE!

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 2013, are as follows:

PRESIDENT -Manages the guild -Prepares agendas for, and chairs, General and Directors’ meetings -Receives communications from members & the public -Prepares a report for each newsletter issue

SECRETARY -Keeps minutes of all meetings -Prepares correspondence & notices as requested by the Directors

WORKSHOP CO-ORDINATOR -Arranges workshop instructors, venues and schedules -Announces workshops -Collects & reconciles fees and submits to Treasurer

MEMBERSHIP CO-ORDINATOR -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 Joan Elliott or Terri Gerath

Learn what’s new in the thread world and how to successfully use ALL thread types. Stitch with Cindy’s Superior Threads or use your own during this 1 – Day workshop. Thread kits will be available for purchase.

DATE: Saturday, May 4th, 2013
TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Agnes Church, 530 East 13th, North Vancouver
COST: $65.00

November, a time to Remember those who have fought for our country and our freedom. I come from a military family, three generations I am proud to say. Thank you, to all the men and women who are in our military, abroad and here at home. They work as a team. How does that relate to membership? We are a team, that together assist in our community and one another.

At our last meeting we had 90 members attend, and one guest. Currently we have 156 members. See you at the next meeting and don’t forget your name tags!

Kate Burzuk,
Membership Coordinator

We are pleased to announce a call to textile artists for a traveling art exhibition entitled “Celebrating African Grandmothers, Heroes of the continent.” This exhibit is the third in a series of traveling exhibits in support of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. We expect this exhibit to tour Vancouver Island and western Canada.

The link to the call for entries is http://www.royalcitygogos.org/art-show.html

We would be delighted if members of the guild entered this show.

Royal City Gogos Art Show Committee

I bet I am not the only guild member to say, ” ‘Ah ha’, so that is what has been happening when I stop sewing and my thread breaks. I am just sewing too darn fast and the hot needle is melting my plastic thread.” Now, we know why that has been happening. Even though I have taken Shelley and Bernie’s courses I always seem to learn something or am reminded about something I had forgotten about in regards to my machine. Thank you Program Committee. September’s program was very timely. I am just starting to sew up a storm for Christmas and then there is Community Quilts soon into the New Year.

Speaking of the New Year, if you are considering offering yourself and your time and energy to the Guild you can take the opportunity at our October and November meetings to chat with those people who are currently in those positions and get as much information as you might need. You might even enjoy being on the Executive! In February 2013 we will have our AGM and Elections but we all know how fast the next few months are going to fly by. At that time the positions of President, Secretary, Membership, Workshop Coordinator and one Member-atLarge are up for renewal. Descriptions of these positions are in this issue of the newsletter. I am going to continue bringing up this topic in the next few newsletters so stay tuned.

However, please consider helping with coffee and tea right now! Beginning in January we will need to have a committee of refreshment volunteers to do that job. If many are scheduled to share that task it needn’t be a huge commitment.

At the Executive Meeting the topic of side conversations distracting others during the body of our regular meetings came up. If you must have a side conversation while someone is speaking to the group, please step outside the meeting room to conduct it. Whispering a short comment to your neighbour is acceptable if it does not disturb others. Be respectful of the speaker and if you cannot hear the speaker, please make it known immediately.

While on this topic, please turn your cell phones to vibrate (if they must be on at all) to avoid interrupting the meeting.

Phew! Now on to something fun. Wasn’t Show and Tell awesome like it is every month? And, our Hallowe’en potholders were so lovely and unique, every one of them. I hope everyone is making an effort to dig out those UFO’s or PHD’s, etc. and register them during the October and November meetings. It is a wonderful incentive to inventory your sewing space and complete those kits or even start some of those kits you have purchased.. I have registered 10 projects myself which I want to machine quilt. They have been sitting around at least 10 years. I know that in order to get better at this skill I must practice it and so I will.

See you all on the 23rd of October (the 4th Tuesday of the month) with your lists of UFOs, your mug, your wallet and your Show and Tell projects.

We also need someone to take over the honourable job of guild archivist. You don’t have to be old!

Happy Quilting,
Betty

Do you love the quilt show? How about the guest speakers? Show and Tell? Workshops? Community quilts? Refreshments at the meetings?

All of these happen through the efforts of our volunteers, and once a year, we look for some new blood to take on the work of the guild. February is election month, but it’s never too early to start thinking about how you might contribute over the coming year.

The following elected positions are up for grabs:

• 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
• Secretary: keeps minutes of all meetings; prepares correspondence & notices as requested by directors
• Workshop Co-ordinator: arranges workshop instructors, venues, and schedules; announces workshops; collects & reconciles fees and submits to Treasurer
• Membership Co-ordinator: 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 if you’d like to nominate someone, please contact Joan Elliott or Terri Gerath (contact information is on the membership list).

This versatile and roomy over the shoulder tote comes with options! Make it with a custom strap length just for you and choose between two outer pouch pockets, or two zipper slash pockets for extra security and a streamlined appearance. Learn how to install a flush zipper and magnetic closure. Both design options can be accommodated in class. Fusible fleece gives the bag structure and the clever design lets you show off a feature fabric or two (see the samples at the October guild meeting). Home dec, lightweight denim or corduroy, linen blends or quilting fabric will all work with this pattern designed by Anna Graham at http://www.noodle-head.com/

This class is taught with Anna’s permission.

DATE: Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Agnes Church, 530 East 12th, North Vancouver
COST: $55.00 (includes $8.00 pattern cost)

Did you know CQA is having a Stitch Across Canada challenge? Guilds across the country are participating in our quest to stitch across the country from Newfoundland to British Columbia in six months. It is very fun and easy to participate in. Some guilds have appointed an ‘inch collector’ to do the gathering of the inches. Details are at http://www.canadianquilter.com/events/how-far-stitch.php

We are hosting an easy and fun Pin Cushion Challenge for ANYONE to enter, with 3 chances to win fabric prizes. Find out more at http://www.canadianquilter.com/events/pincushion-challenge.php, please encourage your guild members to participate.

Happy Fall! The colours of this time of year are as inspiring as they are in Spring. The yellow, gold’s, oranges and reds are so vivid and crisp. Fall is a great time to bring a friend to a meeting and for new members to join. From now until renewal in January, a new membership fee is $25.00.

Thank you everyone for coming to the membership table and signing in. For a first time, it was quite successful. We had 93 members attend according to our sign in Membership By Kate Burzuk, membership coordinator Lions Gate Quilters Guild Page 6 of 12 sheet. Currently we have 155 members in our guild.

Remember, if you are coming in the side door from the parking lot to come and sign in at the membership table. Have you made your nametag yet? I saw some really nice ones at the last meeting! If you forget yours it $1.00.

Kate Burzuk,
Membership Coordinator

The Executive met the first week of September and there were a few items that were discussed that I need to bring to your attention. The first was a request from a potential member that the guild meetings be “fragrance free.” Now I am sure most of you have heard that term in the big, outside world where more and more people are suffering from allergies and sensitivities. Please keep this in mind when you get ready for our next guild meeting on Tuesday, September 25th.

Over time members of the community contact the Guild with various sewing/quilting requests. Last Christmas, a lady was looking for someone to make her two daughters quilts as presents two weeks before Christmas. She decided that she really did not want to buy them the promised puppy and hoped that the quilts would substitute nicely. The Guild does have a list of members who are interested in earning a little money from custom and perhaps not so custom projects and if you would like your name added to that list please contact me.

In July, Brenda Sangster organized a bus trip to Sisters, Oregon. I was on the bus and what a lovely time we had. There were a few tense moments on the bus when it overheated at the top of a mountain but everyone took it as an adventure. There was much laughing, talking and of course, shopping, when he hit the stores. The quilt shops we went to were beautiful, but then I am partial to all fabric stores. There were one or two other bus trips during the summer and I hope many of you were able to participate.

With September comes a workshop called “Art Tips for Quilters.” I have registered and I am keen. I am looking forward to seeing many of you at St. Agnes Church and maybe we can get caught up. October is close and we have a Hallowe’en Potholder exchange happening at the Guild meeting this month. I participate in these activities because I know that I will learn something. I “lost” my potholder loop 3 times before I finally figured it out. And the “unpicking” I did was almost marathon. Who would have thought that a potholder could take so long. The video I watched took only 8 minutes to make my particular choice in potholders. I was clever in that I worked on this project two weeks before the guild meeting. So I gave myself plenty of time.

On a sad note, one of our current members, Lorna Ruelle, passed away early in September. Carol Piercy forwarded me this information and said that Lorna worked in the boutique for several Guild Shows along with her pal Marilyn Sewell. Pat Gormely and Paula Wohlgemuth were also close friends with Lorna. Our condolences go out to all of her friends and family. I have a request and it is directed to everyone.

Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, your preference, and then sit in front of your computer and go to the Lions Gate Quilters Guild web site. Go to Quilt Shows and you will find a “Smilebox” program which Dianne Ritter has produced for pure enjoyment. WATCH IT!!!!

I shall see you on the 25th with your pot holders, name tag, guild membership card (needed for sign in), mug, money for 50/50, blank cheques or lots of cash for workshop registration or Retreat registration and lots and lots of Show and Tell.

Happy Quilting,
Betty