Weavers Guild of Rhode Island Minutes
Room: North Kingstown Library
September 8, 2018
Call to order
Mary Brunell called the meeting to order at 9:34 am. Meeting started with thanks to the last year’s officers and chairs, an introduction of the new executive committee, new committee members, new members, and visitors.
Thanks to our Officers and Chairs of 2017-2018
President: Janet Cooper
Vice President: Mary Brunell
Treasurer: Gretchen White
Secretary: Joy Beeson
Committee Chairs 2017-2018
Educational Grants: Manon Pelletier
Nominations: Norma Smayda
Show and Tell and Greeter: Margaret Moone
Weavers Challenge: Margaret Moone and Sally Rianhard
NEWS Reps: Linda Rhynard and Ginny Walsh
Newsletter: Lisa Geigen
Hospitality: Jennie Dean-Howes
Website: Pam Rathmell, Janet Cooper and Mary Brunell
Welcome to New Officers for 2018-2019
President: Mary Brunell
Vice President: Lynn Morriseau
Treasurer: Gretchen White
Secretary: Elizabeth Hill
Welcome to New Committee Chairs for 2018-2019
Educational Grants: Manon Pelletier
Nominations: Sally Rianhard
Show and Tell and Greeter: Margaret Moone
Weavers Challenge: Margaret Moone and Sally Rianhard
NEWS Reps: Ginny Walsh and Anne Richardson
Newsletter: Cat Weeks
Publicity: Joy Beeson
Hospitality: TBD
Website: Janet Cooper and Mary Brunell
Welcome to New Members
Beth Andrews, Barbara Legg
Announcements
The Guild received thank you letters from both the North Kingstown Library and Clark Memorial Library for the donations made by the guild for using their rooms last year.
A property list of what the guild owns is being put together. Please let Mary Brunell know what you may have. We need to archive this information.
We do not have a hospitality chair. If you are interested in filling that role, please tell Mary Brunell. Janet Cooper has the box of supplies for this function and will pass it along to the person who takes this on.
Planning for the 75th anniversary is underway. Mary Brunell and Norma Smayda will Co-Chair the event. Mary Brunell asked the group if they would like a different venue from the 70thcelebration. The response was unanimous for the same venue, the Narragansett Beach Club. We will call them to confirm a reservation.
Minutes from the June Meeting
Janet Cooper made a motion that we accept the minutes from the June meeting as written. Seconded and approved by the membership.
WGRI Program Report by Lynn Morriseau
The program for the Guild’s meetings are posted on the WGRI website and fall newsletter. In October we will discuss Bertha Gray Hayes. Janet Cooper will lead this discussion. Bring your copy of the book, anything you have woven from the drafts in the book, craft paper, and pencil.
We have a Facebook (FB) page. The page has received many “likes” already. Lynn Morriseau will post for members. If you have anything you would like to post to the page, send it to Lynn’s email, and she will take care of it.
Treasurer’s report by Gretchen White
WGRI has $7,570.53 in the checking account from June 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018.
$4,156.34 Encumbered Fund and $3414.19 General Fund
Total Funds Incoming were $1260.00 with Dues $1110.00 and BGH Book $150.
There were 37 members as of August 31, with 4 honorary and 33 paid.
Total Funds Outgoing were $20 for State of RI Filing.
Committee Reports
Educational Grants
Manon Pelletier discussed the availability of the educational grants to guild members. She encouraged members to apply, especially with NEWS next summer. Visit the WGRI website to learn more about this topic. In the drop-down menu at the top of the right hand side of the page, click on Organization– then click on WGRI Educational Grant. This will display the Guidelines and Conditions page that explains the process. This is a wonderful way to build upon one’s weaving knowledge, at the same time, being able to share the knowledge with fellow guild members.
Nominations
Sally Rianhard had no report at this time.
Weavers Challenge 2018-2019
Margaret Moone presented her idea for this year’s challenge, continuing with a Beatles theme.This year we took part in weaving scarves “With a little help from our friends.” I’m sure you recognized the quote from The Beatles, even if you weren’t around in the 1960’s. This year we will continue with our Beatles and 1960’s theme.
With a partner or alone we are encouraging everyone to participate.
Can you weave a yellow submarine?
What did you weave in the sixties?
A name draft for Ringo?
A design from a 1960’s Handwoven Magazine?
For our annual meeting, June 1, 2019, please complete a weaving project that reminds you of that period – weaving, photos, drafts, and hairy scarves! Be creative and surprise your friends.
NEWS
Ginny Walsh and Anne Richardson are WGRI’s representatives to NEWS 2019. NEWS will be held July 11-14, 2019 at Smith College, Northampton, MA. WGRI is responsible for providing a woven sample for the NEWS 2019 FALL (2018) NEWSLETTER. The Guild will submit one small woven sample (3" x 3") with a description of the Summer and Winter design, its drawdown, and tie ups for inclusion in the NEWS Traveling Library. A copy of this sample description with a color photo will be published in the FALL 2018 NEWS Newsletter due in October/November 2018. The chosen sample is from a Summer and Winter project using 20/2 cotton pattern thread and 30/2 white cotton tabby partially finished by WGRI weavers some years ago.
Newsletter
There was no report on the WGRI Newsletter.
Website
Mary Brunell and Janet Cooper demonstrated the new website at the end of the program. They requested members send photos, news, other information to be posted on the website. They reminded the members to open the headings by clicking on the three bars at the upper right corner of the opening page.
Community Outreach
Mary Brunell and Janet Cooper met with Alicia Skaggs, the art teacher from the Wakefield Middle School. The plan is to donate yarn to the class and lend looms for a project with WGRI members teaching the students with Alicia Skaggs. There is a genuine enthusiasm for this collaboration with the school. In the meantime, if members have any supplies that can be donated to the project or are available to help the students in the classroom, please contact Janet or Mary.
Publicity
Joy Beeson was appointed to this new committee position. She encouraged members to brainstorm for ideas. Marketing and sales were suggested and ways to recruit young people and families into the weaving community.
New Business
WGRI Yardage Challenge 2018-2019
Janet Cooper announced the WGRI Yardage Challenge would be held this year. She gave background information on the challenge. In 2015, we held our first yardage challenge to encourage interest in weaving yardage that could result in future submissions to NEWS.
Yardage Challenge Entry Requirements
1. The entrant must be a member of WGRI.
2. The yardage must be woven by the entrant.
3. Yardage submitted must have a finished minimum size of 12 inches by 2.5
yards.
4. The submission form must specify the end-use of the fabric, and the yardage
woven must be appropriate for this use.
5. The following information must be submitted with the yardage: draft/weaving
technique, yarn content.
6. The yardage must be clean and free of major errors.
7. Yardage must be submitted by the May meeting. The entrant, or her/his
representative must bring the yardage and associated paperwork to the
meeting.
8. The yardage will be judged and returned at the annual meeting in June.
There are three categories for entrants
1. Class I: 0 to 5 years weaving experience
2. Class II: non-professional weaver; more than 5 years experience
3. Class III: professional weaver, defined as a weaver who makes
money by any of the following: lecturing, teaching weaving, giving seminars and
workshops, selling woven items and/or weaving-related or fiber arts-related
publications.
Judging and Awards
The judges will be three WGRI members appointed by the President. The
awards and prize money will be presented at the annual meeting in June. First
Prize and Honorable Mention will be awarded to each Class of Weaver:
First Prize: $100
Honorable Mention: $25
In addition, Judges Choice award:
Judges Choice First Prize: $100
Judges Choice Honorable Mention: $ 25.
There will be no duplicate awards, i.e, a weaver who is awarded a prize in
a Class of Weaver category is not eligible for the Judges Choice award, and a
weaver who is awarded a Judges Choice award is not eligible for a Class of
Weaver award.
New England Weavers Seminar (NEWS) Information
In planning for the yardage entries, weavers are encouraged to consider
entry requirements for NEWS. The NEWS Web site related to gallery entries is:
http://newenglandweaversseminar.com/news-2017-conference-information/
news-exhibits/gallery-and-fashion-information/entry-requirements-for-2017-
fashion-and-gallery-shows/
Norma Smayda suggested that a correction may be necessary in the write-up, as the challenge may require 3 yards rather than 2.5 yards. Janet Cooper will confirm this.
WGRI Bylaws Proposed Revision
Vote to be taken at the October Meeting
Please review the proposed bylaws for 2018 (sent by email to
members). Thank you to Janet Cooper for taking the lead to draft these
bylaws. The WGRI Board reviewed and approved the proposed bylaws at our
August meeting. We will discuss the changes at our October meeting and vote
on new bylaws. There is a summary of the major changes and rationale to the
bylaws below.
Summary of WGRI Bylaws Proposed Changes
The 1995 and 2010 bylaws are on the website if you would like to look at
the past and current bylaws.
The WGRI Board looks forward to the discussion and vote on the bylaws
changes in October. Please try to attend that meeting so we will have a quorum.
Thank you. Mary Brunell, President, WGRI
Explanation of changes proposed to WGRI 2010 Bylaws (8/28/2018)
Proposed: Eliminate the apostrophe in guild name to Weavers (versus
Weavers’).
Rationale: according to old stationery, the original guild name was Weavers
Guild of Rhode Island. At some point the apostrophe was added. Avoiding the
use of the apostrophe will eliminate confusion and return us to our original name.
Proposed: Grammatical and typographical corrections. The Oxford Commas
was employed in sentences with series. Words with hyphens were closed up.
Example: 501(c) (3) was replaced by 501(c)(3). Non - Profit was replace by Non-
Profit.
Rationale: For consistency of style.
Proposed: Article III: Membership: Change to allow Honorary Members to
vote. Wording to prohibit Honorary Membership to vote was eliminated.
Rationale: Honorary Members should be allowed the benefit of voting.
Proposed: Article III: Membership: Change to permit only first-time members
joining after January 1 to pay one-half of the annual fee.
Rationale: The one-half fee for continuing members is eliminated for planning
and budgeting. It is equitable, however, for new members to pay one-half fee
after January 1.
Proposed: Article VII: Nominating Committee and Elections: Sub-paragraph
c. Wording requiring the proposed slate of officers to be announced in the
newsletter before the annual meeting has been changed. The change specifies
that the slate be announced at the monthly meeting prior to the annual meeting,
and announced electronically at minimum of two weeks prior to the annual
meeting.
Rationale: Wording has been made more specificand eliminates the newsletter
requirement.
Other Business
Sally Rianhard spoke with Dave Westcott. He let her know that he is looking forward to rejoining the WGRI meetings soon. Our best wishes go to Dave during this time.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn the business meeting at 10:10am.
Presentation
After a brief break, Kate Barber presented Breaking the Grid. Every big turn in my path as a weaver began with the question “what if?” This question has inevitably followed by time in my studio playing, experimenting, and sampling. In this presentation I will talk about my evolution as a weaver and textile artist, and focus on my most recent work with woven and pleated textiles. I will talk about my creative process, the teachers who have influenced me, and what excites me. I hope my presentation will inspire others to tap into their own playful spirit to create work that is fresh and personally meaningful. Photos of her work are on the WGRI website.
September Show & Tell
Margaret Moone wove a name draft liturgical garment. Joy Beeson and Linda Rhynard displayed their woven tapestries. Photos of the Show & Tell are on the WGRI Website.