Welcome Quilt Artist Sue Holdaway-Heyes

Janet Steinke opened the meeting at 7:05 with the following business:

·        Membership renewal - 60+ people came tonight, including several new members and guests. This is renewal month (October to October), be sure to turn in your form and $30 annual dues.  Congratulations on our first year, which officially began with the startup team in May 2014!! The guild DOES NOT work or exist without hard working Board members, members, and volunteers. 

·        Upcoming Programs & Events –

o   November 23, 2015 – sew in at the adjacent Beechwood lodge

o   December 28, 2015 – New Year’s Celebration, a time to haul out the UFO’s more on this to come!

o   April 25, 2015 – ArtPrize 2x winner Ann Loveless program.  12+ hands would be interested in a half day workshop, roughly $55/pp to be held Monday afternoon.  If we don’t have enough sign up the workshop would be cancelled and money refunded.

o   June 27, 2016 - “Red & White” challenge quilts due – We have 2 size and 2 style categories:

Small – anything below a total of 216” total (outside dimension)

Large – anything above 216” total (outside dimension)

The two style categories remain the same – Traditional and Art/Modern

This means you can enter 4 quilts, a small and large Traditional style, and a small and large Art/Modern.

Entry forms will be made available later, and turned in at our April 2016 meeting.  For now…….get quilting!

·        Guild Fundraisers

Our garage sale earned $476, and since Beechwood Church has been so generous with their facility the board suggested we donate 50% to their food pantry. Membership voted YES to support the donation.

·        Financial update – Treasurer Vicky Gray

The board has acted very cautiously using the guilds funds, in good faith putting their membership dues up front last summer as seed money to get the guild off the ground.  Keep in mind, high quality speakers are expensive, and we built this past year from nothing. Fundraising to date include member dues, guests, garage sale, member pins, and IQF bus trip.  Financial summary (thru 10.19.15):

          Income -                                                                                       $3695.67

          Expenses -                                                                                    $2946.22

          Total net income for fiscal year ending 9.30.15 -                 $  749.45

          *A complete detailed summary of income and expenses can be seen or requested at any time by contacting your Board Treasurer Vicky Gary.

·        Election of Officers – Janet thanked all previous years’ board members for their hard work, and really creating a guild out of nothing, recognizing those stepping down Marie Yutendale (VP), Barb Walsh (Programs), Char Litwinski (Membership) and Janet Steinke (President).  She asked new board nominees to come up front, asked if there were any new nominees, and a member asked that the nominations be closed, and it went for a vote. Your 2015-2016 BRQG Board: 

o   President – Pat Navis

o   Vice President – Barb Bredemeier

o   Treasurer – Vicky Gray

o   Secretary/Blog – Barb Schippa

o   Membership – Sally Leep

o   Programs – Kathy Mueller

·        At this time the program was turned over to new President Pat Navis.

·        October 26 Program Welcome – Quilt artist Sue Holdaway-Heyes presented over 140 photos of her step by step process, various technique of fusible, painting, drawing and thread work as well as sources of inspiration. She followed with a trunk show of 12 of her stunning art quilts. Members were treated to up-close and personal looks at her work for further inspiration. Sue has won many awards including the American Quilt Society Show, the Ella Sharpe Museum, and the Ann Arbor Art Center.  Her work has been published many times, and is represented in many public and private collections including a doll in the White House Collection.

·        Other future programs:

·        November 23, 2015 – Sew in night, Beechwood Lodge

·        December 28, 2015 – New Year’s celebration

·        January 25, 2016 – Sew in night, Beechwood Lodge

·        February 22, 2016 – Schoolhouse night, volunteer teachers share their talents and expertise in a round robin evening event.  We are looking for 2-4 more teachers……come forward and share your knowledge!

·        March 28, 2016 – Sew in night, Beechwood Lodge

·        April 25, 2016 – Ann Loveless, 2013 & 2015 Art prize winner and quilt artist

·        May 23, 2016 – Sew in night, Beechwood Lodge

·        June 27, 2016 – Red & White Challenge Quilts – Show & Event

·        July 25, 2016 – Sew in night, Beechwood Lodge

·        August 22, 2016 – (Tentative) Garage Sale and ice cream social

·        Door Prizes – This month sponsored by Pressing Matters & Sue Holdaway-Heys, congratulations to winners Judy Zivick, Char Litwinski, Sheryl Lunn, Debra Long, Myrna Duthler, and Becky Baumgartner.  Board members work hard soliciting donations from west Michigan quilt shops. If you have something you’d like to offer please see your Board.

·        Pat adjourned the evening at 9:00 PM

Barb Schippa