Quilting Guild of The Villages (QGOTV)

President Barbara Morse acknowledged the January birthdays. Cookies from Barbara Fish were served and the meeting was called to order at 9:15 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Secretary's minutes were read. A motion to accept them was made by Addie Tavares and seconded by Barbara Morse. The motion passed.

The Treasurer's report was read. A motion to accept the report was made by Patti Rizzo and seconded by Sue Huber. The motion passed.

Membership Committee: Ginger Cullen is taking a picture of each member for the new roster. When dues are paid, the Guild is also asking each member to fill out the new informational form. Then the new membership card will be issued. A member must attend six chapter meetings a year to remain active. As of today, we have 60 paid members, down from 85.

Program Committee: Cindy Work being absent, her report was given by President Morse:

At our January 21st meeting, we will learn to make the fabric baskets which decorated the tables at the Christmas party.

On January 28, Rose Luehrsen will help those who need to complete the Stepchild quilt.

February 11, Mary Ann Pankowski will show us how to use 'ugly' fabric.

On February 18, Tonia Brock and Donna Blodgett will lead us in making pillow cases for the 'Kids with Cancer' project. We will need 2 yards of fabric (and an optional ¼ yd. for a flange). The pattern is available through either our website or www.connkerrcancer.org.

Executive Board: Report from Cindy Work read by President Morse.

Ruth Mazurski, Guild VP, would like to visit us to show examples of the upcoming class projects. Our classes, given by professional teachers, are subsidized by the Guild to keep our own costs to a minimum. (There followed much discussion on the class offerings). The Web Master, Marilyn Paluszak would also like to visit to explain the site to us.

UFO: Ann Moroz said that today is the last of the 2013 project. She is starting a new list for 2014 which you may join for $3.00. Bobby Welter won for this quarter and Carol Shepard won from the pool of all 2013 entrants.

Charity Quilts: Donna Blodgett and Barbara Fairley will head the project this year. A theme has not yet been chosen. Donna has labels ready for anyone who needs them.

Library: Barbara Morse will still maintain the library but she needs a helper for Library Day.

Guild Classes: Pat Wallace, as our representative, is attending today's class with Grannie Suzannie. Grannie Suzannie is also the speaker at tonight's Guild meeting. We are the hosts of tonight's meeting. Mary Ann read the list of helpers who are to be there at 6:00.

Retreat: Mary Ann says that there are 20 paid attendees for the March 5,6,7 retreat at the Yale Center. There will again be a masseuse for us during the retreat.

Blotto: Mary Ann's blotto of 19 blocks was won by Cindy Haglund. See Gail Richards for instructions for the next Blotto.

50/50: Sue Huber won the cash prize, and Carol Bajus won a gift certificate.

LaTiDah Luncheon: Marilyn Tafro has tickets for the Sisters Guild annual luncheon and fashion show. The tickets are $25.00 for February 8 at Hacienda.

Marketplace: Ann Moroz has vendors signed up and ready. Lucy Verbois has signup sheets for helpers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 23-25.

Barbara Morse is preparing a questionnaire for our input regarding our interaction with our Guild. Ann Moroz stated for newcomers that our guild meetings take place at Laurel

Manor on the first Tuesday evening of the month, with a speaker and show and tell. The Guild website URL is www.QGOTV.org.

President Morse suggested that our business meeting be changed to the fourth Tuesday of the month so we are free to take the class offered on the first Tuesday. Doris Woodward made the proposal and Marilyn Tafro seconded. The motion carried.

Barb is looking for computer savvy members to take on newsletter and membership duties. Ann Moroz has offered to do the newsletter. Marilyn Tafro will assist Ginger Cullen with membership. Marge Jensen offered a message from Beth Bender that no quilt basting spray is to be used at either Chapter or Guild functions as some may have allergic reaction.

This month's fat quarters were won by Patti Rizzo, Luci Verboism and Carol Knoll.

The meeting was adjourned for show and tell at 10:40.

Respectfully submitted,

Dorothy Palen, Secretary

President Morse acknowledged the January birthdays and welcomed a visitor and two new members. The refreshments were served and included fortune cookies noting the start of the new Chinese year of the horse.

The minutes of January 7 were read. The URL of the Guild was corrected to QGOTV.org. The motion to accept was made by Joan Henry and seconded by Ginger Cullen.

The Treasurer's report was read and accepted.

The proposed budget was presented by Treasurer Carol Knoll. Lynn Heipershausen made the motion to accept the budget and Donna Blodgett seconded. The proposed budget was accepted.

Charity Quilts: Donna Blodgett, Barbara Fairley and Lynn Heipershausen presented examples for our 2014 projects. On February 18 we will make pillowcases for the Kids with Cancer project. From March to May the project is a wheelchair quilt; June to August is to be walker bags and September to November will be lap quilts. Patterns for each project will be available. All members are requested to participate in order to reach our goal of a minimum of one item of each project from each member. Lucie Verbois complemented the committee's plans for these projects.

Executive Board: Marge Jensen-The board made a motion to have a yearly budget instead of two years. The judging for the 2015 Quilt Showcase will take place in mid January. Each chapter is to send one member who has not previously participated in the judging to help handling the quilts for the judge. The website has instructions as to entries for the show. Each member may enter a quilt in two different categories as well as the challenge. At the February guild meeting the challenge theme and fabric will be presented. The computer program "Quick Books" will be purchased for use by the Treasurer. Hospice has requested a new quilt from each chapter. Marge has made and donated to Hospice a military themed Angel quilt from Mulberry. Barbara Morse noted that she also has one in the making. There will be a prize of batting and a cake from the Guild to the chapter who turns in the most pillowcases.

Programs: Cindy Work-On February 4 Joan Ford is giving a half-day class to make a scrappy throw pillow and a class for making a stained glass quilt on February 5. On March 4, Molly Waddell will speak on what judges look for, with a class on piped bindings and machine trapunto. March 18 is the Guild's garage sale.

Library: Barbara Morse says library day is the 2nd Tuesday but she will take books any Tuesday.

Membership: Ginger Cullen-Since the budget year has changed to March 31, we have three extra month's membership. The yellow information sheets were a big help because 25% of our members had changes. Let Ginger know your changes right away.

We have 70 paid members as of today. Reports will be sent as PDF files. Check your spam file in case you have not received the newsletter. Ginger will send the membership list this week. Discussion followed as to computing skills re: PDF/Adobe.

Mystery Quilt: Carol LaFleur-There will be a sign up sheet next week. It will be a modern quilt.

Programs: Cindy Work-We need to send a representative to help the quilt judge. Next week you may sign up and she will draw a name. Dale Angione commented that the person chosen must be physically able to stand and hold up the quilts-it is not a sit-down job. February 4 Rose will help finish the Step Child quilt and Conny Beauchamp will show us the English paper piecing technique. February 11 Carol Bajus will give us a pillowcase dress demo and Mary Ann Pankowski will introduce the 'ugly fabric' contest. March 4 and 11 we will work on charity quilts here. May 6 Simply Sew Boutique will be here. June 24 Sew Mini Things will be here and we are inviting Sunset Point to join us. June 3 and 10 we will work on charity projects here.

Refreshments: Sue Huber-See her to sign up.

Old Business: The color of February fat quarter is changed to red. See Mary Ann Pankowski for March retreat information. Lynn Heipershausen is the new Sunshine lady. Mary Ann also told us to choose ½ yard of our ugliest fabric for the coming challenge. See Dale Angione if you have any questions or concerns about the Showcase of Quilts. We received notice from the Guild that Mary Ann and her team were the most organized of any previous chapter hosting the Guild meeting.

Marketplace: Ann Moroz thanked everyone for helping at Marketplace. Final figures are not ready yet but the Basketmania raised over $2,000 for ALS patients.

New Business: Ann Moroz told us a bus is going to the Lakeland Quilt Show, March 20-22. Also, there is a shop hop January 31 to February 8. Barbara Morse needs a volunteer to chair shop hops. Barbara Laur will continue care of the bulletin board.

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 with show and tell.