The Long Haul

Wow – the first month of 2022 is already in the books. Yet, it seems like it is just more of the same – masks, restrictions on in-person gatherings, and the desire to stay safe and healthy. It’s hard to believe that this pandemic we thought would last just a few months is now nearing 2 years. And while things haven’t changed much on the pandemic front, our guild has managed to continue to offer amazing opportunities for quilters to gather (albeit virtually), grow and give.  

With more of the same going on in our wider community, I wanted to take the chance to share many of the small victories we have had as a guild:

• First and Third Friday Night Sew – This has been going on for about a year and a half, and continues to draw quilting friends from across the country. It is an opportunity to “gather” with fellow quilters while working from the comfort of your own home. Members drop in when they can, and share tips and tricks for improved quilting as well as projects they are currently working. The “regulars” are even hosting a block swap.
• Online Workshops – We have moved most workshops online so that we can continue to offer educational opportunities for our members. The workshops are now de-coupled from the guild meetings and planned conveniently on the weekends to accommodate our wider community. This also provides an opportunity for members to sign up after the guild meeting and still be able to attend.  Our number of attendees has increased – as we are able to offer a bit more flexibility through time and location.
• Pop-Up Socials (Formerly known as Drive-Thru) – We have hosted drive-thru almost every month to allow members to gather, drop off and pick up charity quilts, participate in challenges, and share quilty items (books, patterns, etc.). This year we are going to “re-brand” the drive-thru in 2022 to encourage safe in-person small gatherings. Since we can’t meet as a larger group, this is a great opportunity for those who are wanting to meet in person to get together with their friends and socialize.  
• Online Auction – As we haven’t been able to meet in person, we have given the Raffle Quilt program a reboot and moved to an online auction format. In 2021, we exceeded past years’ revenue from the raffle quilt, and we were able to feature the talents of many of our members. Items included not only quilts, but bags, table runners, classes and books. Revenue from the online auction helps to offset the expense of programs, allowing us to bring in renowned speakers to share at guild meetings. We plan on hosting a fall auction this year around September/October, so start planning your projects to help fund the guild.

While 2022, may look different than our guild historically has operated, your board continues to work to ensure that we are meeting ACQ’s mission of providing opportunities for charity, education and fellowship for the quilting community. I hope that you are able to find a way to get involved in the many upcoming opportunities we have for the guild this year.

Submitted by Jen Dietz, President