August 2015 Newsletter

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NEXT MEETING: AUGUST 3, 2015

WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING

• Name tag
• Block party block
• Show-and-Tell
• Program items
• Door Prizes for R, S, A

BIRTHDAYS

• Katrina Lindley … August 4
• Ruth Goodman … August 9
• Lauren Charron … August 11
• Nancy Conner … August 17
• Judy Meador … August 23

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Can you believe that August is already upon us???!!!  Seems like we were just celebrating the new year and now it is almost gone.  Christmas will be here before we know it, so I suspect that a lot of you are working on Christmas projects now.  Isn’t it wonderful that we have air conditioning so that we can comfortably quilt year round?  We had a wonderful time at our birthday party last month  – good food, fellowship, and an awesome auction.  There were many, many very nice items donated, and we almost doubled our donation to Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-op from last year.  Way to go ladies!!! I hope that each of you is having a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you at our August meeting!

Sue Heard

THANK YOU!

Thank you all for your generosity!

We donated 108 pounds of food to the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op as well as $638 from our Birthday Auction and an additional $30 that was donated the night of the meeting.

The proceeds from our Auction were up considerably from 2014 when we collected $341.

Way to go!!

VISITORS

Welcome to our July visitor, Reuben Boarman.  We are happy you joined us at our meeting and hope you will come back to our August meeting.

MYSTERY MINI

From August to November, you can join in a mystery mini swap. You’ll make a mini quilt for someone with their fabrics, and someone will make on for you, with yours.

If you’d like to participate, in August bring 3 fat quarters (or the rough equivalent) AND a quilt square. Your square can be any size or pattern. You don’t have to have made it yourself; maybe you won it as a block of the month, or bought it at the auction.

Everyone who participates will get a sack containing someone else’s block and the fabric that goes with it. Use those to make a completed mini quilt (backed, quilted and bound).  You mini can be any size, but you can only use the fabric you’ve been given on the front. You can supply fabric for the back and binding, if you choose. You must use the quilt block on the front of the quilt, and you can’t alter it (i.e., no “disappearing nine-patch”).

Bring the mini you make back in November. It will help if you keep the bag it came in.

Elisabeth McMahon

MINUTES

• We began the meeting with Jane Lamb leading us in prayer before our Birthday dinner.
• Sue Heard called the meeting to order after dinner.
• The Guild had 2 birthdays for July: Barbara Burnaugh and Barbara Garner
• Remembrances: Christine Blanton brought us up to date on her premature grandson, Charlie. He weighed 1 lb. 8 oz. and is 12 ½ inches long. He is having some difficulties with his heart valve that did not close as it should and has some bleeding on the brain. Christine is also having problems with kidney stones and will have them “blasted” on Thursday, July 9th. Keep both Christine and Charlie in our prayers. Lauren’s fiancé had a bicycle accident and broke an elbow. Ruth gave the good news that Nellie Karnes (former member) daughter got married.
• Michelle received an announcement that the Bonham Quilt Hop will be July 24, 2015.
• The minutes of the June meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.
• Barbara reported that the balance in the guild account is $1,425.64 and with a $10.00 deposit of dues the final balance is $1,435.64.
• Shirley reported we have 24 members and 1 visitor present.
• Debi read the minutes of the Executive Board Meeting held June 24, 2015.
• Michelle reminded us that the newsletter deadline is the 10th of the month. Retreat in Weatherford is October 22-25th. There are five signed up for the retreat.
• Janice Overton reported 12 members were present for the workshop in June. Janis, Kathy, Evelyn, Barbara and Carrie brought their completed quilts to show.
• Tory reported that the BOM theme for August is “Stars and Stripes Forever”. The July blocks, “Christmas in July” were won my Janis.
• Elizabeth reported that the “Mystery Mini” project will begin next month. Bring a center block with 3 coordinating fat quarters to participate.
• Debi, Michelle, Elisabeth, Lauren, Christine, Nancy, Tory, Kathy, Evelyn and Carol all had show and tell.
• Grace reported that the “Stitch a Bit” group meets on the 4th Thursday – 9:30 to 3:30 at The Woods Methodist Church.
• Grace reported the sixth round of the Border Quilt is piano keys. Instructions were distributed.
• Jane reported that the August program is a lady that owns a dog spa. She will demonstrate how to make a quilt with 3-1 yard pieces of fabric.
• Donations of canned goods were collected from members and will be donated to the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op.
• Tonight’s program was the auction of quilt items donated by members. The auctioneer was Janis Hill who did a fabulous job. All proceeds will go to Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op.

Debi Cypert

TO SHOP, OR NOT TO SHOP — ONLINE, THAT IS

Here recently I have been wondering how the local quilt shops are able to stay in business.  We have seen one of “our own” if you will, have to make some changes.  I had a very lengthy conversation with a local quilt owner not long ago.  The story she shared with me was something like this:

A couple of ladies came into her shop, spent a good bit of time selecting some fabric.  The sales clerk was thinking that they were about  to have a substantial sale for the day.  But the next thing that happened was the ladies were on their cell phones, found the fabric online for a little less money.  They got out their credit card and ordered it right there in the store.

I know none of us would ever be that inconsiderate.  But then earlier this evening I ordered some fabric off the internet.   Hummmmm, I didn’t order it while I was in the store and  I can justify what I did by saying the store was out of that particular fabric.  (The store really is out of the fabric I want because I bought it all.).

Just wondering what and how the Internet shopping impacts what I call “mom and pop” stores.  I certainly hope that it never comes down to Internet shopping only,  I LOVE looking at all the different fabric.  And I have to “feel” of them as well.  For a quilter it’s more than buying, it’s about finding the perfect piece of fabric to make what we are working on our work of art.

Just thinking and pondering what the future might bring!

Jane Lamb

BLOCK PARTY

In 2015 the Block of the Month will be a little different.  Tory has picked out a pattern for a block.  Each month you will make that block.

The difference between the months will be the theme.  The theme for the August block is “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Each person should make the block using that theme, bring it to the meeting in July, and then be entered to win all the blocks that were turned in.  In July, you will make the same block that you made in June, but with different fabrics — to go with the July theme.

If you have any questions, please contact Tory.

 

AUGUST PROGRAM

Howdy, y’all! I’m Becky Chevalier. I was born in Dallas, but my family moved to Sulphur Springs (a small town about one and a half hours east of Dallas) when I was about five years old. In 1987, I graduated from SSHS. My last day of HS was also my first day of college at ETSU. From there, I attended six different colleges while trying out 8 different majors. From computer science to fine art. From music education to graphic arts. Even Architecture and Interior design. I just couldn’t make up my mind! I did finally receive my two-year Associates in Art the same year my 18-year-old nephew (who was born my HS senior year) graduated HS. I like to think I have a super-diverse education, just not the piece of paper to show off.

My husband, Tony, and I met in 1987 at a college co-ed mixer at Carswell AFB. (His dad was in the reserves and dragged Tony along against his will). The moment I saw Tony walk in, I told my roommate that he was the man I was going to marry someday. Three years later, that’s exactly what happened! This year in August we’ll be celebrating our 25th anniversary. We live in Euless with our furr-son, Brüster. We have not yet been blessed with children of our own, so a year and a half ago, we decided to adopt.

While waiting for a match from the foster care system, I was eager to help kids in need somehow. I found an organization called Quilts for Kids and began making quilts for them. Quilts For Kids, Inc. is an international non-profit organization with 96 chapters in U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas. It wasn’t very long before I decided to start a local chapter so that I could help kids in my own area. My mom, Wilma Moss, was gracious enough to help with our example quilts (and many more since then!), and we passed the quality test to start the Lone Star Chapter of QFK. In January, a small group (eight) of us gathered at Batiks Galore Retreat in Joshua and pieced just over one hundred quilt tops! So far our chapter’s volunteers have quilted and finished QFKs for more than sixty kids in our NE Texas area.

In my “day-to-day” life, I own a fairly successful grooming salon in Arlington called The DogSpaw. Tony helps me as much as his schedule with American Airlines allows. We have nine employees, most of which have been with us four or more years. Sometimes keeping up with that many people can be a challenge, but we usually have fun working together making our furr-clients beautiful for their people.

For the program on Monday night, I will show y’all how to make three complete kid-sized quilts from three yards each of three coordinating fabrics.

Jane Lamb

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning balance … $1,435.64

Deposits: None

Disbursements: 116.50

Ending Balance … $1,319.14

Barbara Burnaugh

MINUTES FROM EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. on 6/24/15 at President Sue Heard’s home.  Board members present:  Tory, Sue, Michelle, Jane, Shirley, Janice O, Grace, Barbara B; board members absent:  Debi and Carol

It was noted that we should be having regular board meetings (even if there is nothing to discuss), per the bylaws.  It was decided we will have board meetings starting at 15 minutes prior to our regular Guild meetings starting with the August meeting. Tonight’s meeting will serve as our July board meeting.

The main purpose of tonight’s meeting was to review and discuss a member’s concern regarding our 501(c)(3) status as well as our tax exempt status as well as her concern that we collect sales tax at our July auction. Copies of the Guild’s bylaws and standing rules were distributed as well as copies of the e-mail received expressing the concerns.  Several other handouts were passed out that pertained to the discussion including the “Texas Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certification” form.  That form states that it does not require a number to be valid and that “sales and use tax exemption numbers” or “tax exempt numbers” do not exist.  The purpose of the form, in our case, would be to use it to not pay sales tax when buying fabric or other items that the Guild purchases.

It was noted that a similar discussion took place at a regular Guild meeting in early 2014 regarding our status.  It was discussed then that we had allowed our 501(c)(3) status to expire due to failure to file the required forms with IRS.  At the time this was discussed in early 2014, the membership passed on refiling for the 501(c)(3) status.

The Executive Board discussed all issues pertaining to the member’s concerns and issues the following statement:

A member brought a concern to the board regarding our “non profit and tax-exempt” status (two separate items).  After discussion and review of the bylaws and standing rules of the Quilter’s Guild of Grand Prairie, it was agreed by the Executive Board that we are a social organization and fall under the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(7) definition – our dues are our primary source of revenue.

For further clarification we referred to our bylaws, specifically Article II, 2.1, Objective – The objective of this Guild is to preserve the heritage of quilting, to be a source of information and inspiration to perpetuate a high quality of excellence in quilting and related arts, and to be a gathering place for people with a common interest.

  Based on this, we are not required to hold tax-exempt status or non-profit status.  With regard to the collecting of sales tax at our July auction, the Board is of the opinion that  sales tax would not need to be collected.  Sales tax would have been collected at the time of original purchase.

Michelle Rodriguez (for the travelling Debi Cypert) 

REMINDERS

• Articles for the newsletter are due by the 10th of the month. Any articles not received by the 10th of the month may or may not get published in that month’s newsletter.
• The newsletter is published monthly usually within 10 days of the meeting date (first Monday of each month). You will receive an email with a link to the website. The website is: https://qgogp.wordpress.com . All previous newsletters are archived on our website. You may also go to our Facebook page. Our newsletter link is posted there monthly. If, at any time, you cannot find your newsletter or have deleted the email with the link, you could do an internet search for “quilter’s guild of grand prairie” to find our website.
• If you have a question about a program, a workshop, or the block of the month, be sure to contact the person(s) in charge of whatever you have a question about. The names, phone numbers and emails are all listed in the newsletter.
• If you are using our Guild directory to set up an email list for yourself, please be courteous and don’t take advantage of our group’s email addresses being made public.
• Please silence your cell phone during our meetings.

Michelle Rodriguez