I apologize for not keeping in touch with each of you. Many things have changed in the last year and I think it is very important to bring everyone up to date. As I have expressed to most of the officers, I am very upset with the general state of the guild. As many of you are aware,

I was approached by many members of this guild to run for office. I was told of some of the

issues the guild had and those members thought I could bring it back to life. I believe no one

had any real understanding how our organization was hurting. Like most volunteer groups,

members just want to participate and have a good time. I am accustomed to this and came

in as president knowing that I was going to assume many administrative duties. I was not

prepared nor expected what was about to occur over the course of my term.

Some of you may laugh, but from this point forward, I have rewritten this newsletter several

times. There is so much to discuss, however I have the feeling I would lose the interest of

most of you due to the length, so I decided to just hit home with the facts. You will see that

our account balances have changed significantly since our last show. This was reported at

the fall meeting; however I need to remind everyone how we got here. As many of you are

aware, our quilt shows over the years have been in a downward spiral. Our 2009 show took

the greatest loss. Our chairperson, Stacey Moss, along with some of the officers, did

everything possible to lessen the pain of losing money. We even considered cancelling the

show. After negations failed with the Expo Center, it was decided that the guild would suffer

less of a loss then paying the penalties of cancelling the show. I would personally like to

thank Stacey and recognize her dedication and sacrifices she made for us.

We have on record that our obligation to the museum fund is just under $6,000.00. These

funds were donated to the “Museum Fund” by private donations. The show had donated

money to the “Museum Fund” which has been returned to them at their request to off set

the short fall of the last show. In short, we have very little money, and we are obligated to

-$ 352.00 The Schoolhouse project is owed $352 (More information is need before we can

-$ 600.00 Meeting Expenses will be $600.00 for the rental of the meeting room

$2,744.50* Balance *Figure does not include monthly expenses (Website, Mailings etc)

We have our annual meeting fast approaching, May 1, 2010. It has been suggested

that we suspend operations, a thought I have been agonized with for the last six months.

I feel that I have failed, bringing this suggestion to the membership, but I have no other choice.

A motion will be made at this meeting to suspend operations. The only reason I am

entertaining supporting the idea is because many members are supporting it. I have spoken

to several long time prominent members who feel that this is the proper time. We should

do right by our benefactor, Melanie Norman, and do this with dignity and class, the same

way she created the guild. At the present time, the positions of President, 1st Vice President

and 2nd Vice President are up for election. Currently, there are no candidates. The guild

cannot function without officers. If no one steps up to fill these positions, then there is

obviously no choice but to suspend operations. If the guild is to continue, then someone must

step up and fill these positions. Anyone seeking nomination for any of the above positions

should immediately contact Ms. Geri Wolf, who acting as the Nominations Committee.