My guild was founded by a group of ladies that met at church, called the group a quilt guild and didn't register with any organization. We have a checking account under the guild name and that is as official as we get. There can be dozens of guilds in one town. We didn't bother with the National Guild or their rules.

Quilt guilds are tricky, maybe you might just want to start your own guilt bee ?

"Am looking for a light-weight and not wanting to pay a whole lot but too many things really going on"
I have abad back - found a Janome 124 for $49 (on sale) at Hancocks. Does straight and zig zag and I can lift it with 2 fingers. Check it out

I hate to say it, but women are DASTARDLY beings! We are often "undercover haters," not willing to share, encourage, or help others. It's awful. I feel your pain. Let's see . . . one, two, three, four . . . I've finally found a Sewing Circle -- NOT a guild, where everyone is friendly, and the sewing experience is so much fun. Of course, I'm speaking in general. I am sure all guilds are not bad . . . I just haven't found one! :-)

he, he. Surely men don't do this silly things. I'm thinking it really is a hormone thing. I'm so old, I don't have many hormones left!!

I belong to a large guild, but I go with my girlfriend so I am never alone. They have both a morning and evening meeting on the same day once a month. We go in the evening as we both work full time. Once a year they have a joint meeting in the evening and it is a potluck with the annual awards. Most months we have a speaker that also teaches classes, and there is a workshop the next day. There is a short business meeting, and show and tell (which is voluntary and anyone can show whatever they want). Guests are wilcome and you can stay a guest as long as you want but there is a guest fee if the speaker is one they have paid for. Guests are introduced during the business meeting when the membership chair reports.

There are also several small groups that meet at peoples homes - and they will help you find one if you ask. I don't belong to any small group, I have been invited but have been too busy to date. The small groups sew together, the main guild meeting does not except in August when they have "Bolt to Bed" and everyone works together on charity quilts all day and evening. On odd-numbered years they have a quilt show, even-numbered years there is "quilt college" where members teach classes to members and the cost is minimal for 2 days ($15-20)

I can't imagine the rude behavior that the OP described. One's religion (or lack of) has no part in a quilting group! Find a group that fits YOUR needs, we do this for fun after all!

I belong to a very large guild (300+ members) and we are very welcoming. We even have new visitors stand up to be recognized and try to have people talk to them to encourage them to show and tell and even come back. After reading some of these posts I am appalled at how rude some people can be. To not welcome or even be rude to visitors is just mean. I am sorry you all have been through that. Wish you all lived closer to where I go, you would all be most welcome!!!

Unfortunately, some people are simply mean. Dh keeps suggesting I join a quilt guild but it just doesn't appeal to me, in the least. Would love to find a friendly quilting group, though. One of these days . . . . :)

I just joined a local quilt guild, I attended one meeting and enjoyed all the items on the agenda, but no member actually spoke to me in kind, except for another new member (it was her 3rd meeting). She joined to be able to attend the classes, but she felt uncomfortable with all the "clicky friends" and insider "remarks" also. Quilt guild board members should have a "welcome committe" who would explain all the "normal" stuff - like the black bag challenge, all the other "stuff" that they do, sit next to the "newbie" for a meeting. I sat in the next to the last row, because all the other row empty seats had bags and stuff on them (saving seats for other members). Members who came later and had to sit behind us, sat together, rather than sit with the 2 newbies.