crankygran

I belong to two small guilds (about forty in each) and get so much from them. Interesting programs, inspiration and good fellowship. I get as much from them as from here, just different.

Marylou

I belong to a fairly small guild and love it. I have made some wonderful friends and since we have sew Saturdays four times a year, I have had the opportunity to learn from those who have had more experience than me. For me, joining a guild had been a blessing. Marylou

Ladybug 1938

We have a large guild but also many of the girls break off and have a BEE meting once a month. We have about 8 Bees in our Guild. I have one called the Ladybugs and we have 10 people and are opening it up to include 3 more... We meet at each others home and have just decided to meet at a restaurant starting in February. a day out for all of us...

zyxquilts

I've belonged to my guild since it first started in about 1995. At first we were a program of the YWCA, but we have since struck out on our own. We meet once a month, on the second Thursday night. We have some sort of program most months - speakers, pot luck, technique night and in December (tonight!!) we have a catered dinner (Guild pays half, member pays half) & a huge amount of donated goodies to raffle. We have many workshops thru' the year, some given by that month's speaker, others given by our own members, as well as philanthropy quilt-ins. We have a quilt show every other year.
I'm also a past board member of the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds, which has a membership of over 100 guilds - all shapes & sizes! It's true that I'm prejudiced, but I have heard from our speakers that we are one of the friendliest guilds they have been to! :D

theifner

I belong to a guild that has 28 members and we meet the last Thursday of the month we eat have a meeting, then we all help each other with what anyone needs help with. We also have quilting 3 times a week that we can get together and sew and talk. Its about 10 minutes from my house and the membership is only 10.00 a year.

Shemjo

I belong to a guild that is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, 2010. I have been a member off and on for most of that time, and an officer a couple times, and we are around 100 members strong. We have a quilt show every other year, monthly evening meetings with speakers, a yearly retreat, Saturday classes taught by guild members, or out of town speakers for a fee. We have charity quilts, optional blocks each month, a substantial lending library, a yearly challenge, and all levels and ages of quilters. We do welcome men, but discourage children below teen years. I do believe we are responsive to the needs of our memebers, offering classses in current tehniques and by request from members. We have a welcome volunteer to take new people through the meeting and answer questions and have a friendly face to meet and greet. I LOVE show and tell, and have met many very talented quilters. My skills have gone from zero to accomplished so that I am willing to try new techniques. We offer a meeting at a member's home once a month, and two evenings a month at a local library for more informal gatherings.
I agree with previous posters who say you get out of the guild more than you put in, but it does require effort on my part to be active, and to reach out to others. There are always some people who are more outgoing and friendly than others, but most are receptive to one on one chatter. New members who volunteer for Raffle Basket, or library and work with another member learn more and feel more a part of the group.
I LOVE MY GUILD!

suern3

I joined a guild recently,usually attend the monthly meetings with SIL. It is a large group and they have a monthly speaker, some nationally known. They also have many small groups but most are full. Just was contacted by someone starting a new small group. She said she had been asked by someone in guild to start another one, so I think they are trying to reach out to people. But, as in any large group, it is hard to get to know others wihtout getting involved in projects,etc. So, my point is, I am giving it a try and hoping it will work out. Should be a good way to meet new people. If all I was able to do is go to a monthly meeting there, I probably wouldn't bother. Hoping for the best!

Yarn or Fabric

The guild we have here in my town is very stuffy, they don't have classes often at all and I just didn't feel like it was a good fit for me. I envisioned MORE from a guild - classes, sewing groups, etc.

Soooo... I am actually starting a branch of the Modern Quilt Guild in town. Our first meeting will be in February. It's going to be great - I hope. I plan on organizing all sorts of things - and having members of the guild teach techniques and classes, have a monthly small project make and take, etc. It will be an active group that people will want to be a part of. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm sure the other guild will not be happy about it but I feel the town is big enough for both of us ;)

galvestonangel

I went one time several years ago and I really don't know why I didn't go back. They were working on some charity quilts and I joined in. Since starting to get back into quilting, I am going to start the first of the year. It is not a huge quild and they do a lot of charity work.

jitkaau

See if you can test out a few with some visits before you commit yourself to time and money. Some that I joined were unfriendly and very unworthwhile. The three that I belong to now are absolutely wonderful in every respect, and so are definitely worth the time and money. I think it is a matter of finding a nice niche, where everyone is treated decently.