Mt. Vernon Quilters

Mount Vernon News
Quilters Unlimited
November 2007

Mount Vernon Chapter Officers 2007 – 2008
Co-Presidents—Cathy Hanratty and Beth Smith
Co-Vice Presidents—Joyce Keating and Rhonda Adams
Secretary—Dotty Eisenhour
Treasurer—Barbara Dove
Nominating Chair—Tammy Mannarino


Presidents’ Message
It’s finally starting to feel like quilting weather. If you are like us, you are busy getting ready for the holidays and trying to get some of your projects done. Also, if you are like us, you have more projects than you will ever get done before the end of the year. Relax! Quilting relieves stress.

The Silent Auction was a big success. We raised more than $3000. That will certainly allow us to get some outstanding programs scheduled. Thanks to Barbara Tucker for managing the very popular food table. The food items flew out of there. A big thanks to the entire Fundraising Committee who worked so hard to make this a success. And of course, thanks to all of the members who helped set up and take down, and more importantly, bid on the wide array of items. The “Buy it Now” feature and the fixed price items seemed quite popular.

Before you know it the December luncheon will be here. If you are working on quilts for the foster care program, For Children’s’ Sake, this will be the time to bring them. We want the kids to have their quilts for the holidays.

Happy stitching!

Cathy and Beth

Program Change--November 27, 2007
Ladies, please make note on your calendars. There has been a change to our program for November 27, 2007. Joining us will be American Quilt Society certified appraiser and long time quilter, Mary Kerr with "Motherless Quilts", a lively trunk show and discussion about working with orphan blocks and tops. Mary will show numerous examples from her collection of multigenerational vintage quilts and new quilts from unrelated blocks and tops. This lecture is a great source of ideas for completing projects from yesteryear.

Mary grew up in a family of quilters and has been teaching since 1987 and currently lectures and conducts workshops that focus on quilt history and the preservation of antique textiles. Additionally, she is the owner of Pieced of Olde, a small business that specializes in restoration and repair of antique textiles. To learn more about Mary, please visit her website at http://www.marywkerr.com/ See you on the 27th at 12:30.

Monique Schutsky, who was to share her lecture on the ancient art of Japanese Sashiko, has taken ill. Hopefully, she will be well enough to join us in the spring. She sends her regrets is looking forward to meeting you all soon.

Hospitality Reminder
The following ladies have graciously offered to bring refreshments for the November 13th business meeting: Gigi Corbin, Janet Betz, and Frankie Carroll.

Calendar Events for November
November 6, 2007—Bee, 12:30, Room #216 Hollin Hall Senior Center
November 13, 2007—Business Meeting/Show & Tell, 12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
November 20, 2007—Bee, 12:30, Room #216 Hollin Hall Senior Center
November 27—Mary Kerr, “Motherless Quilts” Trunk Show & Lecture, Room #216, Hollin Hall Senior Center

Calendar Events for the Future
December 11, 2007—Mount Vernon Holiday Luncheon
January 13, 2008—QU Winter Quilt-In
January 22, 2008—Aby Dolinger, "It's Not About the Quilts"
February 18-22, 2008—2nd Annual Mount Vernon Retreat, Bird-in-Hand, PA
February 26, 2008—Lynda Poole Prioleau, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"
March 4, 2008—Paula Nadelstern, “Symmetry & Surprise: The Kaleidoscope as Design Inspiration”
March 11, 2008—Paula Nadelstern “Needle Stars” Workshop
April 21, 2008—Barbara Olson Workshop (title to be announced)
April 22, 2008—Barbara Olson Lecture (title to be announced)


November Birthdays
November 4 Tomma Santini
November 9 Anne Berard
November 15 Barbara Zygiel
November 20 Dotty Eisenhour
November 24 Tammy Mannarino
November 26 Beverly Krysa

December Birthdays
December 5 Aby Dolinger
December 11 Paula Mason
December 17 Joyce Matherly
December 29 Lynn Poulin


Minutes of the 10/9/07 Business Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 12:30 by Beth Smith.

Minutes
The minutes of our September meeting were presented. It was moved by Janet Betz and seconded by Rhonda Adams to accept the minutes.

Refreshments
Thanks to Pat Alfredson, Yvette Failin, Mary Mazzuchi, and Diane Kirkhart for the refreshments today. Diane Kirkhart, from the BIG QU, was also a guest today.

OLD BUSINESS
Booking future speakers
Gail Franchi presented a proposal that was written by a committee of herself, Barbara Dove, Kathy Edwards and Rhonda. This proposal concerns booking future speakers outside of the term of the current Vice President. It is necessary to book these speakers or instructors far in advance of our fiscal year – July to July. Following is a text of this proposal:

We propose that the current program chairman be permitted to look for opportunities for speakers and or workshops for future years. The chair would be limited to book one program per year for the following 2 years. Additionally there would be an approximate limitation of $1,500 for each opportunity, understanding that this figure would need to be adjusted in future years. This does not mean that the current chair must book one program for each of the following 2 years, but that if the opportunity arises it would be permitted.

If the program chair finds a speaker, workshop or program that is of interest, she would present it to the current board who would decide if it would be financially feasible to commit to this opportunity. If the board is in agreement, the idea would be presented to the membership for approval at the next business meeting. If there is a time problem and we risk losing the opportunity by waiting until the next business meeting, approval of the board would be all that would be necessary. This approval is only for out of term commitments and in no way means that the program chair needs to have her in term programs approved.

Having met all of these requirements, the program chair would be free to sign a contract or letter of commitment with the speaker. This would obligate the next year’s board to include it in their budget and the next program chair would already have one program booked. This letter of commitment would be kept by the treasurer and a notation would be added to the budget.

Additionally, it is proposed that instead of voting on this annually, this authority be in effect until rescinded by the membership. A motion was made by Pat Alfredson and seconded by Janet Betz to accept this proposal.

Bylaws review
Beth Smith suggested that we form a committee to study and, if necessary, update the bylaws. Please see Beth if you would like to be on this committee.

Mount Vernon Blog
Beverly Dasch said that the next deadline for posting articles to the Blog will be November 1st.

Treasurer's Report
This report is in the email that notified you of this post (MVQU Newsletter attachment).

Programs
Rhonda Adams noted that she is looking forward to the Silent Auction on October 23rd and the Sashiko demonstration by Monique Schutsky on November 27th. Also, Aby Dolinger will begin the sign up process at the business meeting on November 13th for the block exchange slated to begin in January.

Hospitality
Betty Smalley reported that she is set for refreshments until January.

Community Education
Tammy Fletcher would like members to sign up to help in hanging quilts at the Sherwood Library and the Senior Center.

Sunshine
Marge Barondes will send Lucy Petit a card because she is going to have surgery soon.

December Luncheon
Beverly Krysa and Gigi Corbin are making plans for the luncheon.

Secret Pals
At each meeting there will be a table for secret pal gifts.

QU Quilt Show: June 6-8, 2008
Libby Dudley reported for the committee which also includes Nancy McGlasson and Marge Barondes. Planning for the show is going well. They are negotiating with the Holiday Inn in the Expo complex for 40 rooms for those who want to stay in the area. The rooms will be $84 with a free continental breakfast. There is no special theme for the show except that it is the 35th anniversary for the show. There will be appraisers present and strollers will probably be allowed this year.

There was a discussion about holding a special event on Friday evening when the show is usually slow. After the members voiced many pros and cons to a Friday event, a vote was taken. It was unanimous that a Friday event would not fly. One of the main reasons is that Mount Vernon is in charge of volunteers for the show and it was felt that it would be difficult to find volunteers for Friday evening.

Winter Quilt-In
Cathy Hanratty was able to schedule the Quilt-In for Falls Church High School on January 13th from l - 4 p.m. We will have the room from 12 - 5 p.m. for set up and clean up. She is waiting for final approval from the school.

Martha Plank Quilt
Janet Betz presented the Martha Plank quilt to her husband, Paul. He was very happy to receive it and Paul gave her a generous donation to our chapter. Dotty Eisenhour will write him a note of thanks.

Silent Auction
Kay Brill said that there have been 220 items donated thus far. Since the deadline for submitting items was October 23rd, please contact her if you have anything else for the auction. There are flyers available for members to place around the community. Announcements will be placed in local newspapers. It was suggested that food offered for sale at the auction be something that can be frozen and used for the holidays.

Mary Mazzuchi presented the flyers to be distributed. She also said that the auction will take place from 12:00- 1:30 the afternoon of October 23rd. Set up will begin at 11:30. It will cost $35 for large laminated signs to be posted about the event. It was agreed unanimously that we spend the $35.

Jim Melton made some suggestions about publicizing the event way ahead of time to get more of the community to participate. Mary Stauss suggested that we display some of the quilts to be sold at the Sherwood Library with beginning bid prices on them to help publicize the event. Rhonda Adams suggested that we call our friends and they call their friends!

Block of the Month
Gail English presented an idea for “Block of the Month” this year. She will have the patterns available at the coming meetings.

Flu Shots
Mary Stauss said that each Tuesday from 9:00 to 12:00 flu shots will be available at Mount Vernon Hospital.

Show and Tell
Members participating: Ann Marlin, Pat Alfredson, Trish Hogan, Lynn Miller, Libby Dudley, Mary Kelleher, Cathy Hanratty, Kay Brill, Janet Betz, Margie Parkyn, Kathy Edwards, Jim Melton, and Anne Poulin.

Door Prizes
Door prizes were won by Mary Stauss, Ro Coller, and Kathy Z.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Dotty Eisenhour, Secretary


Please submit items to Beverly Dasch, MVQU Newsletter Editor, at mvqu.news@gmail.com the first of every month.