As I sit in a campsite tonight, not far from Fredericton, New Brunswick, I am very aware of textile artists’ contributions
which make our world a far more interesting place. We have spent the day at a re-creation of a Loyalist Village at King’s
Landing. In almost every house we visited, there was some sort of hand work being done. We saw rug hooking, quilting,
crazy quilting, spinning of both wool and linen, the preparation of wool and flax for spinning, felted cloth, dyeing, and
knitting.
It also made me think of my own community of textile artists and what a wonderful, vibrant group I am honoured to
belong to. This is the time of year that a report is created out of all the reports from your executive. Before I get in to the
amalgamated reports, I want to thank each and everyone on the executive for the work they have done on our behalf this
year. It’s been a forward looking year as we reach out to the community to interest new members in our crafts. This has
been done through our website and our new promotional material. We have also reached out through demonstrations that
the Guild has undertaken during the year. In order to continue to be a vibrant Guild, looking towards the future, we need
to interest and encourage new members. I think we have taken steps in that direction this year.
We are losing a most valued Table Officer this year. I can’t think of any words that would properly thank Linda Spence
for her years of dedicated service to our Guild as Treasurer as well as many other positions over the years. Linda will stay
on, thankfully, as Scholarship Chair – so we will still have her valued input to the Executive.
Linda Spence, our Treasurer, has reported that the Memorial Fund and the Scholarship funds were within budget this year.
However, we had a net loss this year on our workshops and Linda has suggested ways of preventing this from occurring
again. The cost of our newsletter was higher than budgeted because of the wonderful sample set we all received in our
newsletter. We had unbudgeted expenses with the cost of production of the bookmarks and brochures during the year.
Linda has also noted that we are not receiving the revenue from ads in the newsletter that we have in previous years. She
reports a net loss this year of $1,551.00 which was less than it might have been had we not received interest from one of
our GICs. Linda has suggested that we increase our membership fee to $30.00 to help with additional honorarium costs
and the website – this will be discussed in the fall.
Jo Skinner has reported as Membership Coordinator that we have 142 members (including, lifetime members, a
scholarship recipient and a contest winner. We also have 16 Guilds and Exchanges with whom we associate. Jo reports
that we welcomed 26 new members this year! Louisa Chadwick came forward and offered to compile and design our
membership directory. We are currently hoping to increase the number of our members who receive their newsletters
electronically with our new system of distributing our samples. Jo also reports that our website is proving effective for
letting the public know we’re here, and to make joining us easy and efficient.
Speaking of the website – http://www.gvwsg.com/ – Louisa Chadwick reports that Felicia Lo has done a huge job in
getting the software background of our website changed so that it will be easier for Guild members to maintain. We have
a great team who are working at maintaining the information – Diana Herbst, Louisa Chadwick, Jo Skinner, Jo Anne
Ryeburn and Yoriko Oki. Louisa reminds all members to sign up for membership on the website so that they can access
the Members Only area.
Ruth Griffiths, thankfully, continues to create our wonderful newsletters. Janice Griffiths keeps us up to date in between
newsletters with our emailed Weavers News updates. Thank you to both of them for keeping us all “in the loop”.
Diana Herbst, our Program Coordinator arranged for a wonderful year of programs for the Guild. We were lucky enough
to receive presentations from Guild Members as well as outside speakers. For a list of the programs that we had last
year – check the website! Diana also surveyed the membership for suggestions for future topics and feedback on past
programs. We would like to thank Aurelia Wools and Friends of Chamber Music for providing door prizes for our June
meeting.
Rob Kolen, our Workshop Coordinator, reported that this year four workshops and two study groups were offered. The
concept of the study groups is to provide opportunities for Guild Members to practice a technique in weaving, dyeing,
spinning or basketry and to use that technique in a completion of a project. This would allow the Member to work at
their own pace and on their own equipment. The two study groups this year were well supported by the Members and
reports from both the instructors and the Members were positive. Thanks are extended to Jo Anne Ryeburn for leading the
Painted Warp and to Beryl Hickingbottom for leading the study group on Shadow Weave. Two of the workshops offered
this year were cancelled due to lack of registration. Jane Stafford presented one of her new workshops on “Collapse
Weave”. James Koehler presented a five day tapestry workshop on colour and design. James Koehler also was our
presenter at the Memorial Lecture in May.
Jo Anne Ryeburn reports on some of the many hats she wears for the Guild. Publicity: Guild publicity has received a
boost thanks to the work and expertise of Dawn Russell. She shepherded the design and printing of our new bookmarks
and brochures and regularly sends electronic meeting and Guild event notices to media and guild contacts. Refreshments:
Thanks to the generosity of guild members, meetings are enhanced by the availability of hot drinks and cookies.
Myrna Lindstrom, our Librarian, reports on the work done by her team of able assistants in the Library. She and Mary
Varga do an annual audit of our library. We are lucky to have one of the most extensive libraries on weaving, spinning,
and other related crafts in Canada. Myrna reports through our newsletters of any additions to our library. This year the
Guild subscribed to a wonderful new journal out of England – Selvedge – as well as purchasing two DVDs about basic
weaving skills. Myrna does ask for volunteers to help with the library. It’s a Guild job that helps you get to know other
Guild members as well as seeing the wonderful selection of material that we have access to.
Cathie Barr reports on Demonstrations and Exhibitions. This was an active year where we tried to reach out to the larger
community. In March, four weavers and three spinners demonstrated one day at the Vancouver Museum as part of the
Craft Association of BC exhibit “Contemporary Craft in BC: Excellence Within Diversity.” In July, Wilfred the Moose
(from the 2007 ANWG conference) went to the two day Maple Ridge Country Fest. He was in the Guild booth in the
Fabulous Fibres area and shared the space with eight Guild members who demonstrated weaving, spinning, knitting and
kumihimo. In August, six Guild members were at the Trout Lake Farmers’ Market and demonstrated weaving, spinning
and basket making. The new Guild bookmarks and brochures were distributed at these venues and our demonstrations
received a great deal of interest from the public. Many thanks, to everyone who helped to make these events successful.
There were no exhibitions this year, although planning has started for the Guild booth at the ANWG conference to be held
in May 2009 at Spokane WA. The theme for the conference is “Weaving Waves of Colour” and the Inland Northwest
has inspired the theme colours of red, yellow, blue, green, orange and purple. The Guild booth will feature scarves and
shawls, with each item using one of the theme colours. Guild members are being asked to spin, weave, knit and felt and
create the scarves and shawls for this event.
Gaye Hansen reported that The Capilano College Scholarship recipient this year was Sibila Maksimcev.
Louisa Chadwick reported that only one piece of spinning equipment was rented this year. She reminds us all of the
equipment that the Guild owns that is available for members to rent. Check your Membership Directory for a list of
equipment that is available.
I trust that this report covers the year 2007/08 in the manner it should.
Respectfully submitted.
Sandra Crompton
President
