Ankeny Area Quilters' Guild

The December meeting of the Ankeny Guild was the annual pot luck.  There were 39 members present.  We have a lot of good cooks in our guild, and they did not disappoint us. There was lots of delicious food!  Everyone had plenty to eat.
The Dutch auction was such a success.  There were over 60 items brought to the meeting for bidding.  There were a couple of items that had lots of attention.   As usual, our members were very generous with the items that were donated.  The final amount raised will be shared in the next treasurer’s report.
Deb Pierschbacher conducted the business meeting in the absence of the President.  We all enjoyed the fat quarter lottery, birthday celebration and show and tell.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Evers

Trivia Question:

Who was the very first President of the Ankeny Area Quilters Guild?

Write your answer on a piece of paper; along with your name. All correct answers will be placed in for a drawing. The winner will receive a wonderful prize!

Bonus question:

Can you name the four people elected as the first president, Vice president, secretary and Treasurer of the Ankeny Area Quilters Guild?

Merry Christmas everyone!

I’m a little late getting my ‘column’ out on the website. Where has the month of December gone? I feel like it is wheezing right by me, but yet, I don’t feel like it should be time for Christmas! Guess it must be the lack of snow! (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not wishing for any snow. I’m not up for any shoveling!) J

Thanks so much for the wonderful potluck we had in the December meeting and for the competitive bidding on the Dutch auction. I heard some amazing stories about how some people were not going to give up on take some precious items home with them! Thanks again to Deb taking over the meeting for me.

You will notice something new on the website; a trivia contest. If you have the answer for the trivia question; please write your answer on a piece of paper, along with your name and all the correct answers will placed in a drawing for a wonderful prize! Good luck!

Don’t forget the President’s challenge is due in February, 2012. This must be an finished project that is an original design and uses some type of embellishment….no size limitations! The possibilities are endless!! I hope inspiration strikes you!

It isn’t too early to start thinking about your entries for the 2012 Window to the East Quilt Show…what will you enter??

Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends and we’ll see you in 2012!

Tamara Watts-McPhail
President

Members present were:  Tamara Watts-McPhail, Janeen Pearson, Kathy Evers, Deb Pierschbacher, Denette Stoll, Debra Dickerson, Sharon McCarthy, Connie Lovelady, Janet Neuschwanger, Anita Allwood, Jan Hart and Jenna Ingle.
Meeting was called to order by President Tamara.  Secretary Minutes were read.  A motion to approve the secretary minutes was made by Connie Lovelady and seconded by Sharon McCarthy.   Motion carried.
Communication Chair Denette Stoll will do an email to the members for the upcoming guild meeting.  January 13th is the next Friday night sew.  February 11th is Shelly Burge’s workshop.
Quilt show Chair Janeen Pearson advised that she has sent emails to the vendors this week.  She is considering options for thank you gifts to the members that volunteer at the quilt show.  One option is shirts.  She would like the board to take a look at some shirt possibilities.
Treasurer Jan Hart presented the treasurer’s report.
Treasurer’s Report December, 2011
Item                                                          Category                                            Amount
REVENUE
Dues                                                   Dues and Guest Fees                               $330.00
Retreat Fees                                         Retreat Fees                                             460.00
Booth fees Iowa Falls Sewing                QS Vendor Booth Fees                       300.00
Total Revenue                                                                                                       1090.00
EXPENSES
Holy Trinity Church 11/8                          Rent                                                     125.00
Darlene Zimmerman                              Programs/Workshops                          534.60
Treasurer – State of Iowa                       QS Sales tax                                           130.00
PIA Printing – directory                           Printing                                                     81.41
Total Expenses                                                                                                          871.01
Starting Balance                                                                                                      6898.37
Ending Balance                                                                                                        7117.36
Money Market                                                                                                         8646.25
Motion was made to approve the Treasurer’s checks and report by Denette Stoll and seconded by Janet Neuschwanger.  Motion approved.
The guild’s liability insurance is due in June.  The question was raised whether small groups are covered under the guild’s liability insurance policy, particularly if they have their meetings at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.  We will check with our insurance agent to find out the answer.
Director at Large Sharon McCarthy tells us the December fat quarter is red flowers; January will be white flowers.  June will be the month for the guild challenge project.
Retreat Chair Connie Lovelady has posted all prices and registrations forms for the retreat on the web site.  She continues to work on getting prizes for the retreat.
Vice President Jenna has decided to add Youth Homes of Mid-Iowa to our places that we will place our donation quilts. The home is formerly known as YMCA Boys Home.  The purpose of the home is to provide troubled youth and their families a part to independence.  The home presently has 18 youth in the program.  One is pregnant.  Her plan is for each youth and the baby to receive a quilt.  We will continue to donate to Children and Families of Iowa.
Program Chair Janet reminds us that the December pot luck will start at 6:30 pm.  At the January meeting will be speaker Jan Patek.  The February speaker will be Stephanie Brandenburg.  On February 11, 2012 we will have a workshop with Shelly Burge.  She will teach about “String Piecing.” The cost is $25.
President Tamara discussed the Board retreat in January at Conrad.  Each board member will pay for their own expenses.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  We look forward to the President’s Challenge in February.  Tamara thanked all the board for their help with what they do.
Meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Evers

The Ankeny Quilt Guild Retreat for 2012 will be held Thursday, April 19 – Sunday, April 22, 2012.  The retreat will be held at the Twin Lakes Christian Center in Manson, Iowa.  We are excited to bring the retreat to this venue.  Highlights of this facility include:

• 8 foot table for each quilter
• Power for your sewing machine, light and iron at your table
• Elevated tables around the perimeter of the sewing space for cutting and pressing
• 4 foot ironing mats
• Great ‘show and tell’ space with a cork strip around the perimeter of the room to display finished tops
• Walking trail around the lake
• Great food

The theme for this year’s retreat is ‘Tool Time’ with a focus on learning about various rulers, notions, and techniques.  There will be instructor led training as well as a library of quilting instructional DVDs to watch at your leisure.

Details about the retreat pricing and registration will be announced at the November 2012 guild meeting.  Save the date.  This is an event you don’t want to miss.

2012 Quilt Guild Retreat

REVENUE

Dues                                                 330.00

Retreat Fees                                 460.00

QS booth fees                               300.00

Total revenue                            1090.00

EXPENSES

Rent 11/8                                      125.00

Program 11/8                              534.60

Sales tax                                         130.00

Printing – directory                     81.41

Total expenses                            871.01

Starting Balance                          6898.37

Ending Balance                          7117.36

Money Market                             8646.25

Submitted by Jan Hart

Happy Holidays everyone! I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are getting into the Christmas spirit.

Congrats to the Hawkeyes and Cyclones for their upcoming bowl appearances.

As you know the December guild meeting will be our traditional potluck. Yummy food!  For the second year we will have a Dutch auction where all members present can bid on items that another member has donated for the auction. One item that I know will be going to the highest bidder is a Sidewinder (bobbin winder) and 25 spools of thread! Imagine what you can do with all of that!

In January, Jan Patek will be our speaker. She is from Cameron, Missouri and designs quilt patterns. She will have patterns for sale at the meeting. Jan has been a vendor at the Des Moines show since AQS became involved in the show.

In February, Stephanie Brandenburg from Fern Hill – Amana Colonies – will be our speaker. On February 11, 2012 we will have a workshop with Shelly Burge of Lincoln, Nebraska. The first 20 people who sign up will learn about “String Piecing.” The cost is $25 (plus your meal) and sign up forms will be available at the December and January meetings.

Enjoy the holidays, eat something you shouldn’t, and have a safe new year!

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is here and what better gift to give or receive than the AAQG retreat.  Registration is open and we hope that you can make it.

Link to Registration Form

Prices for the retreat:

Private room – total of 6

• 3 day/2 night – $150
• 4 day/3 night – $195

Semi Private – total of 2

• 3 day/2 night – $130
• 4 day/3 night – $180

3 to 4 to a room

• 3 days/2 nights – $115
• 4 days/3 nights – $155

Prices include all meals (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner) starting with lunch on Thursday April 19 – Supper on Saturday April 21.  On Sunday we will be serving brunch.