While attending the ANWG AGM in Salem in July, we learned a little about the history of ANWG and also were given information about the conference which will be held in Salem next spring.
First, a brief account of the organization’s history: Founded in 1957 by Virginia Harvey, it became a formal organization in 1974, whose objective was to sponsor regional conferences. Today it is the only regional weavers’ organization with members from the weaving guilds of both Canada and the U. S. ANWG does not actually put on regional conferences; instead it supports local guilds and associations of guilds which wish to put on conferences, providing seed money and a cushion for cost overruns, in return for which it gets a share of any profits that are made. In addition, ANWG gives grants to guilds to assist them in running workshops taught by well-known teachers who come from outside their region, gives grants to members of individual guilds to assist them attending conferences, has a video lending library, and furthers communication among member guilds by publishing a newsletter and maintaining an informative website – http:www.northwestweavers.org/index.htm.
Next spring’s ANWG conference is titled “Exploring Fiber Horizons” with the added comment: “Look into the future – the sky is the limit!” The conference will be held at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. (The Amtrack train station is very near to the university campus.)
Keynote Speaker: Madelyn van der Hoogt
Some of the workshop leaders: Jason Collingwood, Linda Davis, Linda Hartshorn, Cathy Todd Hooker, Nancy Hoskins, Bobbie Irwin, Daryl Lancaster, Anita Mayer and Pat Spark. (Other prospective workshop leaders have not yet signed contracts.)
The conference website: www.exploringfiberhorizons.com
Submitted by Jo Anne Ryeburn
