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Getting to Know Your Guild

  • About Us
  • History of BHQG
  • The Baltimore Heritage Quilters' Guild (BHQG) was founded in 1984 by three women who met through the owner of a local quilt shop. They decided to meet in October, and presented "Baltimore's History in Quiltmaking" to interested Baltimoreans. Needless to say, they were pleasantly surprised when sixty people attended! The BHQG was born!
  • The Current Guild
  • Today, the guild is thriving with approximately 150 members. A diverse range of programs and specialty classes are offered to meet the varying skill levels and interests of the members. Monthly meetings are held from September to June, where a variety of topics is discussed. From "quilting expert" speakers to show-and-tell, the guild is alive and well in Baltimore, today.
  • Board Members - Elected
  • These positions are elected by majority vote each year. Each elected Board member may only serve two consectuive terms. Elections are held at the May meeting.
  • President
  • The President conducts the meetings at both regular and board meetings. She is responsible for getting the meeting started and keeping it on track. Mostly, the President "presides" and delegates most of the work to the various committees. The President is also the "spokesperson" for the guild if interviewed in the media. The President is traditionally rewarded at the end of his or her term with a fun block made by each member of the membership, as a thank you for his or her service.
  • Vice-President
  • The Vice President fills in for the President when she is absent. The Vice President keeps the key to the church and opens the doors to the meetings. She also sets up or coordinates the presence of a microphone for lectures or the slide projector if needed. (A lectern was used in our old location, Friends School, and is in the care of the Vice President.) The Vice President also is traditionally the chooser of the secret project block that the membership makes for the President, and coordinates the collecting of the blocks for presentation to her at the last meeting.
  • Secretary
  • The Secretary is responsible for minutes at board meetings, and other committee meetings, such as Show committee meetings. Some notes at regular meetings may also be taken and appended to board meeting minutes. The Secretary reminds the Board of its meetings and also writes occasional correspondence.
  • Treasurer
  • The Treasurer collects, records, and maintains all financials of the guild. She keeps the checkbook, writes payments, and processes deposits. A monthly statement of the financial state of the guild may be sent for inclusion in the newsletter, and will be read at board meetings. The treasurer pays our occasional bills, and also files any state or federal taxes required.
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  • Board Members - Non-elected
  • These positions are not elected and are one year terms. These are volunteer positions, some are groups, such as the "Communications committee" and "Programs committee" which may be comprised of several members, but only get 1 vote in board meetings.
  • Communications Committee
  • Communications Committee This committee is responsible for the communications sent to the membership and world at large.
  • Newsletter team
  • This team is responsible for creation, mailing, (and now emailing) of the newsletter each month. This person sets a deadline and mails (and emails) newsletters to arrive the week before the guild's regular meeting.
  • Webmaster/Webmistress
  • This person is responsible for maintaining, updating, and creating the guild website, at www.baltimorequilters.com. This person also checks and forwards along the guild email from our communal email address.
  • Programs Committee
  • This group is responsible for organizing, creating, and executing the guild monthly programming. This group serves an unusual term in office, from December to January each year, as opposed to the normal schedule of September to August. This group often books national speakers years in advance, and may not be in office at the time that speaker comes to lecture. Often this group executes programming that was set up several years past, as speaker's scheduling often needs such advance planning.
  • Historian(s)
  • This non-elected board position takes care of recording the history of the guild. This member takes pictures at meetings and events and records which speakers we have had, and arranges this material for display at events and shows.
  • Member(s) at Large
  • These members take care of coordinating special events and projects throughout the year. This includes bus trips, West River retreats, fabric drawings, mystery quilts, and quilt challenges. This is also known as the Special Projects person.
  • Membership
  • This person is responsible for maintaining the membership list. Each new year she gathers the new and renewal slips and processes the funds to the treasurer. She also sends the paid membership lists to the Newsletter team so that paid members can get their newsletters. Also, once a year, this person makes a contact list, usually by the November meeting each year, and makes copies for the membership at large. This coordinator is also responsible for maintaining the name badges, and makes sure they are returned at the end of the evening at meetings.
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  • Non Board Member Positions
  • Charity Project Coordinator
  • Each year, the guild chooses a charity to support with quilts made by fellow members. This coordinator is responsible for picking a charity to support and verifying that someone at that charity is available to receive such goods. Then this coordinator plans, with the Programs committee, a meeting night in which members gather to finish work on these quilts. The Charity coordinator then arranges for the drop off of the quilts with their contact.
  • Librarian
  • The Librarian is responsible for bringing out the books that can be lent to the membership and is responsible for their tracking and return. This person also occasionally thins the collections of books that are no longer relevant or used, and obtains new books based on a budget set by the board.
  • Sunshine
  • The Sunshine person takes care of spreading cheer through the guild. If a member is sick or has passed away, the Sunshine person sends cards on behalf of the guild.
  • Refreshments
  • This committee (or usually one person) is responsible for sending around a sign up sheet to get members to bring various refreshments for the meeting. Several members are needed to bring soda and cookies or other snacks, which is organized through this committee. The refreshments coordinator reminds members through the newsletter, or via a reminder phone call, or both. This person also sets up the table for the refreshments and takes out the trash at the end of the night.
  • Nominating Committee
  • This group or person is responsible for recruiting members to fill board positions for the upcoming election held in the Spring of the year.
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  • Miscellaneous
  • West River Retreat
  • West River Retreat- The West River Retreat, held at West River United Methodist Retreat Center near Annapolis, MD, takes place twice a year. The retreat is a three day getaway where meals are prepared by the retreat center and rooms are cabin/dormitory style. Since room and board are included in the retreat price, all members need to bring is their projects, machines, material, and creativity. It is a great place to meet other members if you are a new member. Non members may attend, space permitted, for an additional $15 of the normal West River fee. Spaces are allotted to members first.
  • Fabric Drawing
  • At most meetings we hold a "fabric drawing" raffle. Members are encouraged to bring a fat quarter of the theme for that month, which is listed in the newsletter. Everyone who brings a fabric is allowed one ticket, and after the break of the meeting, the winning stub is drawn and the winner takes home all of the fabric in the pile.
  • Raffle Basket
  • The raffle basket is donated quilt-related tools and items and is taken to regular meetings. A ticket for the raffle basket is $1. All proceeds from the raffle basket go to buy new books in the guild library. The raffle basket is coordinated by a volunteer, who is not a member of the board.
  • Quilt Challenges
  • Traditionally, the guild holds a special challenge over the summer or winter months that is conducted by the Special Projects chairperson. These challenges can be related to using a special fabric, rules on color or theme, or whatever special guidelines the Special Projects chairperson deems fun for the membership to try. Usually there is a vote at the September or January meeting (depending on when the challenge was held) and prizes awarded to viewer's choice of the entries from the challenge. In some years instructions to a mystery quilt are published monthly in the newsletter.
  • Bylaws
  • Our guild is governed by a set of bylaws. These bylaws are required for our non-profit status. We also use these to resolve disputes. Our guild is mostly informal, but has occasionally called on the bylaws to direct important business or resolve problems.
  • Charity Projects
  • Our guild maintains one large charity project each year. While this maintains our non-profit status, it also provides the opportunity to spread the joy of quilting in our community. The charity project is maintained and the year's chosen charity by the Charity Project coordinator board position.
  • Newsletter
  • Each month the guild meets (Sept - June) there is a newsletter. The Communications Committee is in charge of creating, laying out, and distributing the newsletter. The newsletter is now available by email and regular US mail (for an additional fee). The newsletter contains updates on all of the guild's news and programs.
  • Meetings
  • The guild holds meetings once a month from September to June on the second Tuesday of the month. Traditionally, meetings start at 7pm. The meetings usually start with a short guild business update, followed by member's "show and tell". After "show and tell", a 15 minute break to have a snack and chat is observed, followed by the evening's programs. Some of these programs are:
  • Speakers
  • The guild prides itself on bringing in nationally known quilters, speakers and presenters to show their work and lecture to the guild.
  • Charity Night
  • At this meeting, the program is usually a night of creating or finishing charity quilts for our chosen charity.
  • Holiday Dinner
  • This December meeting is when the guild members bring a dish to share. We all enjoy a meal together, and sometimes have an extended "show and tell" session with a theme.
  • Mini-Workshops
  • (Also known as Demo night)- at this meeting, guild members become teachers of a new technique or project that attending members get to watch. Each presentation is about 15-20 minutes.
  • Garage Sale
  • At this program, members bring their quilting or hobby related items they want to sell, and other members can shop.
  • Gadget Night
  • On this night, members bring their favorite gadgets and share their secret tools, which may or may not be made for quilting, but that a quilter could use.
  • Library
  • The guild maintains a library of books that members may borrow. Members can select and drop off books before or during the break of the meeting. Members are strongly encouraged to bring books back quickly (by the next meeting if possible) so that others may enjoy them.
  • Membership Benefits
  • Your membership in the guild provides you with many benefits. Your membership fee includes:
  • - a copy of the monthly newsletter (postal copy is extra) - access to the guild library
    - free meetings, including free speaker meetings (non members pay $5)
    - exclusive retreats, workshops, shows, and trips
    - sit and sew hours
  • We ask that members participate in charity events, sell raffle tickets for the raffle quilt, and volunteer on a show committee in order to continue providing such wonderful services.
  • Sit 'n' Sew Hour
  • One hour before the guild meeting starts, the doors to the church are open so members can come and chat and sew. This is a great way to meet new members or get advice on a project.
  • Workshops
  • The guild arranges for national speakers and local artists to hold half or full day workshop classes on a technique or project in which quilters may be interested. There is a fee associated with most workshops, around $50. Non-members may attend workshops for an additional fee.
  • Bus Trips
  • The guild occasionally arranges for a bus trip to a local national quilt show. Bus Trips usually have a cost associated with them, about $45. The bus leaves early, gets you to the show and picks you up and takes you to the arranged parking area. Sometimes time is allotted for dinner on the way back.
  • Mini Groups
  • Mini groups are smaller groups of members who get together at other times in the month. We encourage members to form their own mini-groups. There are art groups, exchange groups, and sit and sew groups to name a few. If you are interested in a mini group ask a board member for more information.
  • Raffle Quilt
  • In order to earn money to provide all the guild does for its members, guild members design and make a raffle quilt, which is then raffled off over the course of a year.
  • Raffle Quilt Committee
  • The Raffle Quilt Committee designs and co-ordinates the creation of the raffle quilt. They contact guild shops to see if they would be willing to donate the fabric in exchange for recognition in guild publications about the raffle quilt. They also arrange for the quilter to quilt it and get tickets made into packets and distributed to the guild.
  • Keeper of the Quilt
  • This position is for a member who is willing to store the raffle quilt at her house and arrange to take it to other guilds' meetings and sell raffle tickets. It's an easy job, and you get to see other guilds' meetings and programs.
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  • Biennial Quilt Show
  • Every other year, the guild puts on a show of members' work at a two day venue, at which admission is charged. Not only can the public come and see your work displayed next to other members' work, but a selection of vendors to shop from is also available. Members also have the opportunity to put work up for sale. This show is a major fund raiser for the guild. The show is coordinated by the following committees:
  • Show Chairs
  • The show chairpersons are in charge of all of the other committees, and are responsible for calling meetings, arranging for the venue to be held somewhere, and making decisions when needed. This position reports to the board on the progress of the show at board meetings.
  • Vendors
  • This show committee position contracts with vendors to sell their wares at the show. She assists them in setting up at the show, makes sure they have what they need at the show, and arranges for booth sitters to gives them breaks when they need to eat, go to the restroom, etc.
  • White Gloves
  • This committee arranges for members to act as White Glovers, who not only protect the quilts, but help patrons see the back sides of the quilts.
  • Admissions
  • This committee staffs the admissions table and takes the public's money in order to gain entrance into the show. In addition, they will assist any show attendee who wants to join the guild.
  • Members' Sale Table
  • Each year, members can sell their work at the members' sale table. This committee position takes care of arranging the wares, selling the items, and calculating each member's sales, after the show. The guild takes a percentage from the sale of each item and also remits the sales tax to the state.
  • Signs/Flyers
  • This committee person arranges for all of the signs and flyers to be made to publicize the show.
  • Publicity
  • This committee arranges for the word to be spread in new and interesting ways into the community in order for the attendees to know about the show. Information about the show is sent to newspapers and magazine publications.
  • Refreshments
  • This committee arranges for food to be available to the public at the show in a designated food area of the show venue.
  • Hanging
  • This committee is in charge of artfully arranging the quilts on set up night so they look like a cohesive body of work. By working with the registration committee, pictures of the quilts are obtained so that the arrangement of quilts at the venue can be planned in advance. This committee also coordinates with the Set Up committee.
  • Set up/Tear Down
  • This committee recruits members to physically set up the hanging system, hang the quilts and break them down at the completion of the show.
  • Auction Quilts
  • This important committee helps collect small quilts and other items from members throughout the year in order to be auctioned off during the show. It is a way for the public to own a piece of the works in the show, and is one of the guild's largest money making activities.
  • Treasurer
  • The Guild Treasurer is on hand during the show to collect admission fees and cash from the Members' Table and keep it in a safe place.
  • Quilt Pick Up
  • Also known as the "Quilt Police", this committee helps arrange a system so that all quilts dropped off for hanging are distributed back to their rightful owners.
  • Quilt Registration
  • This committee records which quilts are in the show through a preregistration process, makes tags to hang next to each quilt identifying the title and artist who created it, and processes the quilts as they are brought in to the show.
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