Amanda passed out RCMQG logo pins and magnets that were made at a sewing saturday. The remaining items will be used for new member bags. Amanda expressed our thanks to Fern for performing the financial audit for the 2017 accounting books.
Rachel postponed the sign-up for the rotary blade bulk buy because the prices had gone up. She will send an email sign-up when she finds another option.
The reminders handout information needs to be put up on the website.
We will be looking to formalize a buddy system in the coming months. There will be a potential pop-up sew for a charity day. We will discuss the national MQG benefits at the April meeting, and asked that members let us know if they cannot access the MQG website.
We had Show and Tell. Sherry will post pictures on Instagram.
Retreat balances were due tonight. There will be a Charity Assembly day on March 3rd. We are considering a pop-up sew in April. It was suggested to be after tax weekend.
We had 5 leftover items from the fundraising auction in 2017. After a brief discussion, we decided to add these to prizes.
We issued the Orphan Block challenge and members picked out blocks they will assemble into a quilt top.
Amanda led a discussion on long term goals for the guild. We discussed Operations spending - things such as the PO Box, Web Domain, National MQG Membership and Advertising. It was suggested we look into Chamber of Commerce membership, the Arts Council, a Storage Facility and contests. It was suggested we might be able to get the storage facility donated. Since we are a non-profit, the storage company could write it off as a charitable donation.
We also dicussed charity goals and spending. Suggestions included teaching sewing classes at a Women's shelter, donating pillowcases to foster children, donating items to the FBI Citizen's Academy in Birmingham, buying bolts of fabric, pre-cutting batting for charity quilts, sewing days at nursing homes or senior centers, and asking for donations of fabric and batting. It was also suggested that the charity blocks be put into kits.
We discussed big long term goals for the guild - things like a Quilt Show, a Big Name speaker, trips to Quilt Con and Paducah Quilt Week. Sponsering member at workshops in exchange for presenting what they learned to the guild. A dedicated meeting and sewing space. A long arm machine. Teaching workshops to the public. Attending Panoply - we could display quilts and do kid art projects. Starting a Junior MQG - perhaps with Rocket City Sewcial.
We also discussed member benefits. Benefits we have now - bulk buys, discounts at shops, charity work, challenges, socialization and friendship, learning new skils. And potential future benefits, like teaching demos and tips during the social time.
It was also suggested that we would like to have more members on the committees - Membership, Charity, Programming, Website / Social Media, and Fundraising.