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Click here for minutes of the 2011 AGM
Report of the third Annual General Meeting of Village Green Quilters.
The AGM was held on Tuesday July 20th 2010 at Hedgecroft, Bracken Lane, Yateley.Present were 39 members and 1 visitor.
Chair: Hazel Ryder
Treasurer: Deb Hayes
Bookings secretary: Jackie Amies
Webmaster: Cathy Park
Gillian Clarke
Toni Selves
Secretary: Bec Handyside
Apologies were received from Sue Butterfield (Vice Chair).
Welcome by Hazel
Hazel welcomed the members and explained the format of the evening: the AGM and any other 'official' matters; voting for the cushion challenge; voting for next year's charity; a buffet supper followed by a few announcements at the end.
Change to the Constitution
Prior to the AGM, Hazel had emailed all members with the proposed change to the constitution:The current constitution, paragraph 3 reads as follows, 'Management of Village Green Quilters shall be vested in a Committee, elected annually (i) at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall include (ii) Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary. All retiring Officers and Members may offer themselves for re-election to the Committee (iii) for up to three consecutive years.'
Hazel suggested the following changes:
(i) From 'elected annually' to 'elected every three years'.
(ii) The Committee shall include as a minimum Chairman, Vice Chairman...
(iii) Remove 'for up to three consecutive years.'
Jackie Amies and Cathy Park seconded this change.
In addition, Hazel proposed another change: that nominations for a post should be notified at least one week before the AGM, none to be done on the night.
Hazel asked for a show of hands if the members were in agreement - all agreed.
Results of nominations for Officers for 2010-13
Prior to the AGM, Hazel had emailed all members with regards to the following posts that were now open to nomination, as these officers had been in their respective roles for three years:
Chair - Hazel Ryder
Vice Chair - Sue Butterfield
Treasurer - Deb Hayes
Membership Secretary - Cherie Cheetham
Bec informed the members that there had been no nominations for the above posts. Bec also informed the members that Sue Butterfield was unable, due to other commitments, to continue for another three years, which leaves the post vacant. Bec explained what the role included and asked if anyone would consider the post. No one came forward.
Bec informed the members that Brenda Ford had been nominated to join the Committee without portfolio.
Bec reported that Hazel, Deb and Cherie were happy to continue for another three years. However, to make this official, Bec had to check there were no objections to Hazel, Deb and Cherie continuing and Brenda joining. There were no objections. Bec also asked all members for a show of hands for agreement with each post. All were carried unanimously.
Finally, Bec reported that the current tea ladies, Sue, Marion and Gillian were stepping down. However, Angela, Margareta, Dot and Margaret had volunteered to do the teas next year. Coral is also willing to help when she is able to come to the meetings.
Treasurer's Report
Deb informed members of the following financial report for 2009/10:
Bank balance:....................................................£1,357.05
Saver Account:...................................................£500.20
Banked income:..................................................£1,854.00
Expenditure:
Rent:...............................................................£250.00
Speakers:.........................................................£676.00
Insurance:........................................................£69.40
Misc. inc Workshops, banners, cushions, thank you gifts and party food....£414.71
Money raised for charities:...................................£400.16
Membership report
Cherie reported that there were 66 members in 2009/2010.
In addition, Cherie informed members that the annual fee would remain at £22 for the 4th consecutive year. At £2 a month this offers excellent value for money as there is no extra charge for tea, coffee and biscuits every month, or for speakers and the Summer/AGM meal.
Programme 2010/11
Jackie confirmed the speakers for the next year.
These are:
2010
September 21st - Isabel Hall - 'My 39 Steps'
October 19th - Barbara Berber - Award Winning Quilts and how to make them.
November 16th - Sarah Howard -''A stitch in time - a look at how the Dress and Textiles collection belonging to Hampshire County Museums Service is preserved''
December 14th - Xmas Party
2011
January 18th - Helen Deighan - My quilts and their stories
February 15th - Sewing Evening run by Natures Threads
March 15th - Ferret
April 12th - Stitch Witches
May 17th - Sheena Norquay with a workshop on May 18th: Shining Circles
June 21st - Joanna O'Neill - Becoming a quilt judge
July 19th - AGM and Summer Party
August No meeting
Hazel also informed members that dates for the December meeting and the Easter meeting would be slightly different to the usual 3rd Tuesday of the month - the dates of which will be posted on the website.
Raffle
Gillian informed the members how important the sale of raffle tickets was as that money goes towards funding tea, coffee, biscuits, AGM meal, and prizes.
Charity for 2010/11
Hazel reported to the members that in 2008/09, VGQ raised over £1000 for the Eve Appeal and in 2009/10 just over £400 for three separate charities.
This year Hazel informed the members that the committee had nominated three charities. These charities would be described by three committee members and then members would be asked to vote for their favourite. Voting to be done by putting money in the jar of the chosen charity. Hazel informed members that the charity that raised the most money will be the charity VGQ will support over the next year. Money in each jar will go to the charity named on the jar.
Bec then informed the members about Stepping Stones, a local support group for parents and carers of children with Down's Syndrome.
Jackie informed the members about the Prostate Cancer Charity.
Deb informed the members about Help the Heroes.
Cushion Challenge
Hazel asked members to vote for their favourite cushion (a challenge set by VGQ in December to make a cushion with fabric supplied to them). Hazel informed members that the three top cushions would receive a prize.
Other Matters
(a) Thank-yous
Hazel thanked Sue, Marion and Gillian for their help with refreshments and opening up, presenting them with a bundle of fabric each.Hazel also thanked and presented some fabric to Margareta for her help setting up tables and chairs every month.
(b) Charity
Hazel announced that the winning charity was Stepping Stones, with £24.40 raised.
(c) Cushion Challenge
Hazel announced third, second and first places in the cushion challenge and presented the winners with bundles of fabric.
(e) Show and tell
Several members showed their lovely quilts.
Cathy took photos to put on the website and encouraged members to enter their quilts into competitions/festivals. Hazel reiterated this, as shows would not exist without people entering their quilts.
Hazel also asked members to email pictures of their quilts to Cathy for the website.
(f) Quiz
Elaine Smith gave the members the answers to the quiz questions and announced the winners.
Meeting closed at 10.30pm.
Thoughts and feelings on my first Quilters Guild Conference, by Anna Jenkins
Having jointly won the Sue Belton Bursary in 2009, one of the conditions was that I needed to show the progress of my work at the next AGM. I could have sent up some work and that idea was tempting as the AGM was in fact in Southport, a drive of over four hours. However, it was Kevin my husband who persuaded me that I should go and get my name known.It had been a few years since I had driven such a long way. I had my sat nav charged up and Kevin had even written me directions for the motorways, so the journey went very well. Arriving at the guesthouse I was welcomed by coffee and the company of another quilter, what could be better? In the evening I checked out the location of the conference centre and found some friends that had booked into another hotel on the High Street.
After breakfast on the Friday I set up my exhibition space and met the other winner of the Sue Belton award, Jackie Newey. It was lovely to met her and share stories. She went to Exeter University at the same time as my husband; I am hoping they will met next year and do some reminiscing together!
I had booked all the lectures but no workshops, as I don't have that much room in my little car and I wanted to spend some time on my stand and talk to quilters. That time did pay off as I have been booked for two talks, some teaching and I sold some work; not bad for a newbie.
The first talk I attended was by Alison Bramley "Against All Odds". It was a visual treat of bright silk dupion wall hangings. Next up was Magie Relph and her well known African fabrics and some not so well known fabrics which were interesting. African people seem to like wearing cloth that displays items they feel are important; mobile phones, Ipods, shoes, even presidents.
The conference centre was then closed until the evening lecture. Luckily I bumped into some friends (Cathy and Louisa) who invited me back to their place and cooked for me! The timing was perfect. I then walked back to the centre for the evening talk by Dr Sue Marks, which was amazing; "Why Old Quilts Matter". When Sue read out extracts about the ladies who made quilts hundreds of years ago you had no doubt why old quilts matter!
Saturday morning was the AGM which was a smooth operation, the main message being we need more members to increase funds. I am not sure then why we don't invite the general public to see our wonderful work, even if it's only for an afternoon? Could we invite professional quilters from the local area to set up small exhibitions or quilting groups to make a bigger visual impact? Don't get me wrong there were quilts on show, but given the huge scale of the place we could make more of the opportunity.
Ferret was talking after lunch, showing her early work and work of her students. But what I had really wanted to see was her nudes that are so wonderful. Maybe they are in exhibitions or she has sold them. Janice Gunner talked about her visit to Japan and showed slides of some of her favourite quilts at the Tokyo Quilt Festival. If you think the NEC is big, Tokyo looked at least twice the size!
Saturday evening was the Gala Dinner with after-dinner speakers Sue Nickels and Pat Holly, award-winning quilters from the USA. I felt envious of the ladies that had done workshops with them, as the intricacy of their work was outstanding!
Sunday morning I took down my exhibition and went to the last two lectures. I was a bit lectured out by this stage, so only remember that the first one was about work that was hand pieced over papers. Exhausted, I finally returned home. It had been a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to the next conference at Exeter University. If you haven't been to a conference yet why not give it a go?
Passionate Quilters
Cathy Park is so passionate about quilting that she spent several nights camping (in a tent!) last September, in order to get the most out of the Hever P&Q show. Not having enough light to sew by in the evenings, she kept herself out of mischief by writing the following poem.
Passionate Quilters
Hanne has a Husqvarna, you should see her go,
Piecing here, layering there, stitching to and fro.
She likes the way she always gets the perfect width of seam;
"My Compass Points and Evening Stars all match up like a dream."
Bernina suits Belinda, a Contemporary girl.
Ever since she bought it she has been in one big whirl.
Her free motion machine stitching gets fancier and faster,
With miles of vermicelli; in fact any sort of pasta!
Ffion says "Just ffabulous" when speaking of her Pfaff.
She's stitched a whole zoo using it, including a giraffe.
But Ellen with her Elna has been stitching round the clock,
Finishing her sampler with a complicated block.
Some quilters hang on to machines bequeathed them by their mother.
"It served her well and still suits me." says Buddy of his Brother.
"It might not have computer chips but it can surely sew.
With simple stitching straight and true I've won the Best in Show."
Back and forth to class each week Jasmina takes her Jem.
"You'd never know, a year ago I couldn't turn a hem.
Now I can piece, and quilt and bond, and other fancy stuff,
I think my little portable will serve me well enough."
Nita says a needle and some threads are all she needs
To turn scraps into Art Quilts (though she sometimes adds some beads)
Her teeny tiny project bag and special little lamp
Go with her all around the world; she'll even stitch at camp!
Aethelfleda is a hoarder, with a massive fabric stash.
Her old Singer (treadle powered) really saves her lots of cash.
She likes working very freely, in a loose and flowing style,
And she gets her inspiration from the colours in her pile.
At the quilters' "Show and Tell"
All the members have done well.
For no matter what the fashion,
Quilting is enjoyed with passion.
Patchwork and Quilting magazine published Cathy's poem in the January 2010 issue.
Village Green 'Students'
Sue Butterfield, Anna Jenkins and Neel Williams have been attending the City and Guilds patchwork and Quilting course run by Hazel and Terry at Odiham.At the beginning of December 2009, they put up an exhibition at Fleet Library. On display was lots of their course work and the pieces that they made for their assessments. All the visitors were very impressed with the beautiful work.
Here are the girls, each with the quilt they made at the end of the course.
Anna has won the Sue Belton Award 2009!
It was announced at the Quilters' Guild AGM in March that Anna is joint winner of the 2009 Sue Belton Award. This is a fantastic achievement although no surprise to those of us who know her and her wonderful standard of work. I am absolutely thrilled for her and for Loose Threads. We shall all have to go next year's AGM to see her work on display.The timing is good too as Anna had her op yesterday and is now recovering at the Royal Marsden - where she has been sewing a wall hanging to be hung at the hospital. Kevin reports that she is doing well, I am sure she will feel even better when she finds out about this!