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Getting the Most out of Your Guild

Getting the Most out of Your Guild. Presented by Lynne A. Zeh Founding and Past President of Mo-Kan Machine Quilters Guild. Topics. State of the Industry Why start a guild? What do you need to consider? Where do you start? Where can your guild go? IMQA Industry Issues.

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Getting the Most out of Your Guild

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  1. Getting the Mostout of Your Guild Presented by Lynne A. Zeh Founding and Past President of Mo-Kan Machine Quilters Guild

  2. Topics • State of the Industry • Why start a guild? • What do you need to consider? • Where do you start? • Where can your guild go? • IMQA • Industry Issues

  3. State of the Industry • “There are not enough machine quilters in the USA today, to quilt all the tops in the USA today, in the next 100 years”. • The quilting industry is thriving despite the nay-sayers.

  4. Quilting in America 2006 Survey • Survey shows U.S. has 27 million quilters; industry worth $3.3 billion annually • Key Findings 2006 • • Number of quilters in the U.S. has grown by 6.3 million in the past 3 years to 27.7 million. • • Total U.S. quilting industry has grown by 35.5% in the past 3 years to $3.3. billion. • • Dedicated quilter market has grown by 34.6% in the past 3 years to $2.89 billion. • • 4.7% of all quilters—Dedicated Quilters—account for 88% of total quilting industry expenditures. • • 230% increase in non-dedicated spending. • www.quilts.com; website where this information can be found.

  5. Why start a guild? • Locate fellow quilters in your area and build relationships. • Create a community of sharing. • Keep up with what is happening in the industry. • Shorten the learning curve. • Discover regional marketing savvy • Share pricing information • Lessen negative competition and promote positive competition.

  6. What do you needto consider? • How much time can you devote to an effort outside of your business & family. • State laws on how groups can operate. • Federal laws on how groups can operate. • What would you like to accomplish as a group? • When and how often would you like to meet? • What are your geographic limitations? • How to use technology to aid in communications.

  7. Where do you start? • If you know another quilter in the area, find a way to connect. • Make up a poster/brochure/email describing your intent. • Post the poster and watch the results. • Sources: IMQA web site, quilt shops, fabric stores, local guilds

  8. Guild Structure • Formal, President, VP of Programs, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant of Arms • Informal, rule by committee • Positions to consider: Newsletter Editor, Web Editor, Membership, Greeter, Education, Guild Liaison, Community Service, Property Management, Challenge Coordinator

  9. Mission Statement • Mission Statement : To promote the art of machine quilting, to bridge the gap with traditional hand quilters, and to support each other with encouragement, information and education in a constructive, purposeful manner MKMQG • A Mission Statement helps you to work through the process of how you would like to define yourself and what your goals are.

  10. Program Possibilities • How to write a work order. • Scheduling • Pricing • How to set up a work space • Taxes • Positive results for customers • Marketing yourself • Using a digital camera • Where to buy supplies • Thread • Batting • Have great quilters from other areas come.

  11. IMQA Mission Statement

  12. Guild Events • 7 minutes or less Demonstrations/Lessons • Fund raising, Annual Sale, Opportunity Quilt • Annual Challenges • Digital Cameras • Group Shopping Expeditions • Meandering Moments • Mentor Program • MQS Dissected • National Machine Quilting Teachers • Participation in regional guild activities; giving demo’s • Prepare handouts for customers • Product University • Show and Tell or Questions & Answers • Studio Hop

  13. Where can your guild go? • The possibilities are unlimited. • You can create small exhibits within the guild and share them with traditional local guilds who put on shows. • You can create a program to give to traditional local guilds to help break down barriers. • You can create a local buying consortium to get batting or thread or machine parts. • You can help each other by creating relationships, so that if you are in need you can help each other out. • Create a Mentor program. • Influence IMQA, manufacturers, legislation • International outreach

  14. How Can IMQA Help? • In the process of creating a new position within IMQA • Utilize the web site • Maybe an article in On-Track • Promote the idea of Regional Groups • Possibly developing chapter organizations similar to NQA. • Formation of local forum groups • Conducting Forum groups during MQS • Promote the idea of “sister” guilds internationally. • Please fill out the survey. • Please contact me, my information is at the bottom of your handout.

  15. Industry Issues • Insurance for your business and health. • Pricing • The Newbie/Beginner • Internet • Quilt Shows • Copy write Laws • Driving manufactures for features & products • Create a master program

  16. Member Testimonials • Cindy Drake – Being around other quilters had increased my confidence, and I always walk away having learned something new. • Don Suttcliff – I like the fact that this group has a mission and that we stick to it. • Interviewed MKMQG members, comments have been paraphrased.

  17. Resource Websites • www.imqa.org • www.quilts.org

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