I would like to share some ideas I have for getting more members to participate.

Lately In chat I have been asked what is the guild doing? Well, I know that 9 members are working on the Brown Bag Challenge. They will reveal to each other in chat on August 19th. They will open their brown bags and find out who had the bag and what they made for them. 

I know that the Antlers have received Lotto Blocks from different members.  To clarify regarding Lotto Blocks, we are not doing Monthly Lotto Blocks but once a year Lotto Blocks.  It is in the newsletter under - surprise! - Lotto Blocks. We will have the grand drawing from each Antler in December at the Christmas Party.  Each Antler has posted instructions for their respective block.  These are the blocks to be made during the year.  You then send them to the respective Antler and your name goes into the coffee can or cup for the drawing.  Simple, try it! You will like it and could be a winner come December.

A couple of Antlers as well as a couple of members have made charity quilt tops, which are being quilted now.  As soon as the quilts are done photos will be in the newsletter along with a copy of the letter that accompanies the quilt to the charity.  I also know that certain members have donated comfort pillows to local hospitals/nursing homes.  What have you done for charity, have you donated anything to local or distant causes?  If you need copies of letter or labels contact one of the Antlers, they will be tickled pink to send them to you.

We have been successful so far this year with Lectures.  Our first lecture by Miss Dianne was well attended. So let’s be sure to be at the second lecture on June 14th with Ms. Carol Miller of Quilt University. And come this fall we should have a real big name.  Details are being finalized as I write this.  Again, this is all on our website - under Lecture Series.

The Secret Sewing Sister program is in full swing and reading the posts along with listening to others in chat, and all are having lots of fun and can’t wait to reveal them this December.

The Guild would be stronger if more attended the meetings. To facilitate that goal we’ve shortened the meetings considerably and now post all reports to our website. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss Guild projects and plans, and to permit members to raise concerns and suggest alternative strategies. From time to time a Board member receives adverse comments, or criticism reaches the Board second or third hand. A much more constructive approach is to attend the meeting and voice your comments so that they can be addressed properly in open, full discussion.

The newsletter has been wonderful and yes, I have contributed a lot to it. But others have also; there are recipes, photos, stories, and lots of information there. Smoky has done a fantastic job in keeping the site along with the newsletter up to date. Share with the members of RPLOTN, let us see your cat, dog, calf, and grandchildren, that special quilt, - got an owl? Tell us about your graduation or a graduation of someone who is important to you. Have you been to a recent wedding of family or friends? Tell us about it. Heck, tell us about your retreats or about Quilt shows you have attended. All members want to know about you.

Let’s share the joy of quilting and chatting, being friends with everyone and helping each other become a better quilter and person. Let’s not shut out anyone. All are welcomed to Chat, let’s have a great summer, attend lots of quilt shows, take lots of photos for the newsletter and share them with all. See everyone at the meeting this month.

Purple Hugs