On February 1st a meeting was held of AQ members to decide its future. There had been significant feedback via the website and emails regarding the associations’ future as well. At this meeting after strong, robust discussion the majority voted to keep AQ going. More information will be coming out soon via a newsletter to members. Thank you for your feedback and support. We now need your continued support by renewing your subscription for this year and encouraging others to do the same.
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Yea I am happy about that decision just food for thought Would asking quilters groups to extend their subscriptions just a little (and I know this will cause a scream having been president twice and know what happens when raising subs is mentioned) but most organizations have a levy to their parent body I belong to the Camellia Society and our whole sub of 35 dollars goes to the National Association club funds have to come from other efforts ie trading table and raffles while I think this is extreme and I don’t know of any other organization that takes the lot I am sure a balance could be found Thank you all for your hard work Regards Jocelyn Allen
That same comment was said to me today when I was at the Christchurch craft fair, that all groups should add a $1 or 2 or 3 per person to go to the national association. This is what happens in most other associations eg sport groups etc.
we will look at any constitution changes that need to be made to put the mechanism in place for this to happen. However it will take a lot of work and building with groups and guilds to make it happen. In reality we would need to add $10 to subs (2 cups of coffee nowadays) to make it worth while. If this was achievable each year we would be able to do heaps more.
So spread the word in your area and give us feedback on what people think
thanks
It’s great that Aotearoa Quilters will continue. Informal discussions at my guild have been generally supportive of a levy to guilds, BUT there is a feeling that the levy should not be paying for flights to meetings (Skype should be used instead) and there would have to be a big improvement in the information and resources available – both in the quality, and quantity.
The more people I talk to in different clubs, associations etc., the more I am realising that Aotearoa Quilters is definitely a minority in not having affiliation with quilt clubs around the country. The latest one, today, was in archery, and part of their annual membership goes to a parent body.
Quilters will want to feel they are getting something for their affiliation fee, this is part of the grumble at present, that it is “not for me” and “what would I get out of it?”. But any quilter who in the past attended the Hamilton Craft Fair, and enjoyed Quilts Aotearoa, or has had the opportunity to view one of the bi-ennial challenges, would have got a lot of inspiration from the quilts on display. But they don’t necessarily see the benefit of that, or realise that a show or challenge like that can only happen if there are the funds to pay for it.
Yes, Amy, you are right that subscriptions should not be gobbled up by housekeeping. Meetings would appear to be kept to a minimum, but any national body is going to find that its committee members are spread across the country, and some recompense of expenses is to be expected.
The area I feel needs major work on is the website, and hopefully this will become more interesting and user-friendly in the future.
Consider – if every current member got one other quilter to join or renew a lapsed membership, that would double our membership. If every current member got two people to join, that would triple membership and immediately put the association in a more viable situation. Persuading one or two of your quilting friends should not be too hard to do?