Greetings to all members of EQI! …
Recover, Recharge, Regroup and Rebuild
Welcome, everyone to the December edition of “President’s Chatter”.
As things unwind at EQI going toward the Christmas season and, hopefully, a great summer, your committee is very busy behind the scenes doing committee business, organizing events and activities, Guest Speakers, the adoption of the 4th Saturday of the month “Sit and Stitch” days, and some surprises for the membership in 2023
If you have any suggestions for 2023 please write on the provided form (please; put your name and sign it) and place it in the Suggestion Box at the Front Desk, the committee will consider these.
Also, if you need/wish/want to communicate with one of the committee, please come and see us at the gatherings, email, use the suggestion box or you can always phone me I am happy to listen.
But, I am getting ahead of myself because Wednesday 14th December is our last gathering for 2022 and a celebration of the Christmas season! It is the 2nd Wednesday of the month, not the 3rd Wednesday as is our usual gathering time.
So, for our last get-together please bring your jolly selves, a plate of festive food to share for lunch, a fat quarter of fabric in a brown paper bag for a bit of a fun event and your Christmas-themed quilts etc for “show and tell”. There may be a few surprise additions to the day, something to look forward to!
Oh! And decorating your table and with friends is, of course, an EQI “tradition” As is decorating yourselves. Let’s see those festive tables!
(And selves!)
Please be aware that Covid is rising its ugly viral head again. If you have cold or flu symptoms, a sore throat or a cough, or just do not feel well, please do not attend an EQI activity or event. Please think of others.
There is an “Expression of Interest” form at the Front Table for the “Take a Chance” block activity for 2023. Sign up for $20 for the year, get 2 blocks every month (most from our history 1989-1999, with some additions), use your own fabrics to make your own quilt using the blocks and, at the end of the year bring your top along for show and tell! Then in 2024, the year for our next Quilt Show it would be great to display them.
In 2023 our first gathering for the year will be on Saturday 28th for a “Saturday Sit and Stitch” from 10 am to 3 pm at the hall. Members and Guests are welcome. Bring your machine and/or handwork. $10 entry. BYO lunch and mug.
Next August EQI will be hosting Vic Quilter’s “Spring Gathering” at our “Quilt-In”. We have a great Guest Speaker, Emma Jean Janson, from Ballarat. The event needs a theme, so put on your thinking caps, and I hope you have some great suggestions that we will be collecting at our Christmas Gathering.
As some of you know 2023 is the 25-year celebration of EQI’s relationship with the Freemasons We are planning a bit of a celebration.
Before this, on Friday, 9th December, the Ladies Christmas Dinner for the Freemasons is happening. EQI has been invited to attend. Robyn Roberts and I are going and it would be great to get a few more EQI members on the table. Please phone me (0402588729) if you are interested. It starts at 7 pm and is a casual, friendly end-of-year celebration.
We have donated a quilt to the night for their Christmas “raffle”
A member commented that many things are changing “Post Covid” and I agree. EQI is changing as well. Your committee is small, with only five of us. It has a lot to do to keep the well-oiled wheels of EQI running. It is there for the membership and the association of EQI. It is responsible for the fiscal viability of the organization. To make sure we have a future (Personally, my goal is to celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2029!)
But I hope, that one thing does not change at Essendon Quilters. That is the Fellowship (what a strong, positive word) of our group.
I have a request for all members. Over the Christmas break, please read your EQI constitution. It is on our member’s website. If requested we can email you a copy. Or, for those unable to access email, we can post you a copy. It is a very important legal document. Every financial member of EQI is bound by the rules and regulations contained in it. Not only the committee but each one of you.
We are not “just a little sewing group”, but an Incorporated Association accountable to Vic Consumer Affairs.
Yes!….. I know it’s a bit of a “dry” read, so, for a start, just read the “bits” that have been topical recently. Meetings (page 10), and the role of the committee (page 15) is another. Also, have a read of EQI’s “Purposes” (page 3) all are very positive, and once again that strong “Fellowship” word stands out.
So, I am, at each President’s Chatter going to explain a feature of our group. This month it is:
“Members Forum”. A unique part of our gatherings instigated way back when Cindy Cudmore was President. The committee wanted a place for members to announce events, let members know about other members who may need assistance, announce any “news” in the quilting world and generally be a place for the dissemination of information.
It is not a place for committee business or a platform for grievances.
Please respect that.
If you read your constitution, there are grievance procedures (page 7 and 9) included, which members can follow.
Or please communicate your concern/s in a respectable manner via other channels such as the suggestion box, emailing the committee, or by phone.
Irene Blanck’s Applique workshop was considered a success from those attending. Irene made the comment that she was a bit apprehensive teaching at EQI where she has been a member for many years!
However, as we walked out the back, to her car, she said she enjoyed the atmosphere, the facilities and the enthusiasm of the attendees.
Ok! Enough from me!
I am now off to my next EQI “task”. Completing the 2nd part of the Federal Grant Application “Volunteer Grants” The committee was successful with the 1st Part: “expression of interest”, and now it requires some hours to complete the last part. If successful (and it is a tight field!) EQI could be granted, for the Financial Year, 2023-2024, $2300 towards EQI’s community service activity of making and giving quilts to others.
Fingers crossed!
On behalf of the committee, if I do not see you before Christmas.
Have a safe Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
See you all in January (the 28th, I hope!) 2023
Kerry Roe
President
Essendon Quilters Inc.
