Welcome to the November Newsletter!
The committee held the annual face to face meeting in Rotorua the weekend of the 11th – 13th of November. We do most of our work via zoom and email, the wonders of technology really help a nationwide group like us to function well. But face to face is really important too. Especially since we have five new committee members to settle in, to decide on jobs and to work on our plan for 2023 and 2024.
Committee hard at work!
Unfortunately, the vagaries of the weather prevented me from attending. I tried really, really hard, and got some of the way there after two attempts but eventually made the call that the world wouldn’t end if I didn’t make it and it was too dangerous to continue trying.
I live in a pretty isolated place out on the coast of Northland (you can look at Elliot Bay Campground Facebook page if you want to see photos) and it takes me at least an hour to get to a local quilting group. So for me, Aotearoa Quilters, being a national group that does a lot of stuff online, helps me feel connected to the quilting world. And for that I’m thankful to you!!
We want you to feel connected too. So our planning for activities is extensive, but we also would like to encourage anyone who has ideas for activities that they would like to run under the AQ umbrella to get in touch. A few years ago (when I wasn’t a committee member) I put a plan to AQ to run a 100 day challenge. They enthusiastically agreed and it was a super fun and very popular. Are you a quilter with a particular love of modern quilting, or hand embroidery, or eco-dyeing? Maybe you could run a special interest group, with it’s own little Facebook group?
Our planning also covered the Great NZ Quilt Show, which is happening in May 2023. Scroll down for a couple of exciting announcements to do with the show! We would also like to encourage you to make donation quilts for the 2023 show. As part of our funding applications we need to show that we make a difference to the local community. The last two shows we have collected quilts and donated them to community organisations. This show we will be donating to Maori Women’s Welfare League and we would like to beat our 83 quilt record last show! We will also be repeating the daily prize draw for people who donate a quilt. There will be a table for donation drop offs and also a place to sit, rest your feet, and help sew on labels.
I hope you enjoy November’s newsletter. It’s a pretty full one, so make yourself your favourite hot drink and settle in.
Charlotte Scott
Vice President