The January Meeting was opened with a Welcome by President, Dawn Bianco.
Dawn announced the roll out of the new web site, and gave an overview of:
- The Year At A Glance with details of meetings and programs to come
- Challenges
- Christmas in July
- The members only section will house membership directory, bylaws and minutes. The current password is pin25 but will change on March 1 when a
new pin will be sent to all current members. - Philanthropy
- Resources such as local quilt shops
- Member owned businesses
All members were encouraged to visit the site and explore all the information there. This is where all details of meetings, programs, classes and special events will be found going forward. Find the web site here: www.greenvillemodernquiltguild.com
Any web site information should be sent to our web master, Suzanne Elswick at webmaster@greenvillemodernquiltguild.com .
Any social media posts, pictures, info should be sent to Anna Taylor at communication@greenvillemodernquiltguild.com
Dawn also provided a brief overview of the results from our recent survey.
Overall there were 35 responses our of 70 members in the recent survey. Survey Results
77% want the quarterly challenges to continue
67.6 % would participate in a workshop via Zoom
57.1% follow us on social media
Top techniques to learn
Free motion quilting
Improv
Circle and curves
Improvement noted Sew Days, with teaching opportunities, Saturday sew days
Shorter business meetings more focus on hands on opportunities, allowing time to socialize
The actual survey results will be attached with these minutes.
Philanthropy: Diane Kent
Diane announced that she had labels with her for anyone who wants to take them to sew into charity quilts being offered. She will attach them to any quilts that do not already have one. She reviewed a sign in form for quilts, and reviewed the numbers of quilts that we have obligated to for the two charities we support: 10 quilts per agency per quarter. Details of the agencies can be found on the new web site under the Philanthropy heading.
Dawn Holter, Treasurer
The holiday luncheon raised $1,660 which is the highest dollar amount for any fundraiser to date. As of 12/30/2025 we have $8,130 on hand. $2,250 has been collected from membership, but approximately one third of that goes to the national organization. The Guild Budget will be posted in the Members Only section of the new web site.
Cindy Brothers, Secretary
As Secretary, Cindy asked for a show of hands of those who use the website, and those who use social media. The board has discussed starting a newsletter for the guild, but before we use the time on that, we’d like to see what the membership wants, and if they would find value in a newsletter. The consensus was that there was no value in a newsletter, and other than minutes of the meetings, communication will be via web site, and social media.
Diana Pickens, Programs
The Programs committee is made up of Diana, Pat Merkle, Jennifer Griffith, and Donna Boylan. Using the survey input, the committee has put together several upcoming events
to answer those.
1. Our June meeting will be a combination Sew Day / Meeting. We have the room beginning at 9 a.m. and will break at 1 pm for the regular meeting. Bring whatever you are working on, or gather at a table to review curved piecing.
2. The committee is looking at Zoom workshops so that
members stay in their own sewing room and take a class with a national speaker. That is a cost savings for elevated program, and there may be a per person charge for this. Details will come as programs are identified.
3. Challenges are welcome, and will be repeated this year. The first challenge was announced. A sheet outlining that challenge will be shared with these minutes.
Diana and committee are looking for speakers local to SC / Western NC (within 2 hours driving time) who have skills universal to all quilting scheduling with other guilds in the area is also being investigated to see if we can share workshops or sew days with other guilds.
Meanwhile, in February our own Mandy Ruden will be discussing quilting motifs that work well for traditional and modern quilts. Free-motion quilting can start with any shape you can draw, then add some echoes, and move on from one
motif to another to completely fill the space. There is so much more than straight lines, or only stitching in the ditch. Bring something to write with. Mandy will be leading activities using preprinted samples of free-motion motifs.
Visit the web site, and social media for other program details as they are booked.
The members participated in Show and Share before a break, and program for table talks on identifying characteristics of modern quilts.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Brothers
Secretary
Leave a Reply