clsurz

Some advice on how to decide to which guild's you will join or not.

First decide what it is you want out of it and than do a search online of guilds in your state and near where you live and consider how far you are willing to travel to meet up with one.

Make your list of those you are interested in visiting with where they are located and do so. Just about all guilds allow you to be a visitor the first time but by second you must join and/or pay a guest fee each time you go until you decide if it is for you.

When you make contact and go visit them inquire about what they are all about and ask if they will give you a copy of the constitution and by-laws which tells what they are all about. That will give you a good basis to find out if it's a guild you want to continue pursing.

It's important to know what you are getting yourself into before putting your name with a group that it is reputable, and up to snuff, so to speak.

Based on what you are looking for in a guild ask questions to see if they have what you are looking for. If it looks like something you may like you can either join the next meeting and go from there. If you have an interest but not sure it offers what you are looking for keep going as a guest and pay monthly guest fee until you decide.

Personally I can very well be by myself at home sewing as a loner and it suits me just fine. From time to time I do enjoy going to sew days with some of the gals once a week but than again I can suddenly stop and be gone for months.

I currently belong to two guilds. The first one I joined over a year ago I sadly did not research it out and stopped going for almost a year. They are not very organized, can't seem to provide guest or new members with packettes of what they offer and to this day even after asking to view the constitution and by-laws in my second year still has not happened. I paid for a second year to give them a chance to follow through but it doesn't seem like they will so I most likely will not be doing much with it after the new year.

The second guild I joined in a town about 30 minutes from me is very different. They are well organized have monthly business meetings twice in one day to accomodate workers so they can attend either during the day or night. They have sew-afters the meetings and also have several members who meet weekly in there home with each other. They also take good care of guest on first visit and once you join they also place you with a Big Sister to teach you the ropes of what the guild does on a yearly basis. They also spend money to bring in teachers a few times a year to teach on various sewing techinques, quilting, applique, and more. They also do for each other and it's not just the guild doing stuff for the community but also taking care of there own.

Now I've been researching some other guilds as far away as an hour to hour an a half drive and one of those I've very interested in cause they seem to have even ore going on than the one I mention above with alot more local activity in the community, there own members and education is at a preimum on a monthly basis. Yes it costs more to join this one but so worth the extra bucks for all they have available.

So it all boils down to what you want out of it and finding one that meets your needs.

whinnytoo

I belong to three guilds, each different and they are all great!

Willa

Thanks for the advice! Haven't joined a guild but have thought about it.

luana

How do you find time for a guild? I spend too much time right here. This group of quilters seem to be just the right kind of group for me.

KerryK

I joined a guild when I first began quilting. It had all of the things you mentioned, seemed organized, worked on charity events, etc. But ... and this was a big but for me (no pun intended!) ... there were cliques that made it not very pleasant for me. I tried to join in whenever I could, but I never felt welcomed, past my first visiting night. I kept going for a while, tried to put myself out there, but finally just stopped going. I was obviously never missed. It would have been nice, but I am happy doing my own thing, so I guess it all worked out as it should. Just my two cents worth about guilds.

deedum

thanks for the info! I have been thinking of joining a quild for a year. I am not good at following the crowd and quite happy working on my own. After reading what you and others have posted, I think I will continue to work on my own for a number of reasons! Just visit now and then.