We continue to welcome back good friends, and get to know new members, as the meeting room fills up each week. It's really a thrill to watch a familiar, missed face walk through the doors.
Haven House: The hands down highlight of this week's meeting was hearing from Kelly Smallridge, MA, the Executive Director of Haven of Lake & Sumter Counties, Inc. (I'm sure she's much too young for all that responsibility - she was just a sweet young thing!) Anyway, a serious place doing very needed service. She gave a brief outline, which opened us to many questions from members. Each answer led to another, and we were all, frankly in awe of what this is really all about and how it functions. As a result of our newly gained knowledge, the members agreed that this wonderful place would be the recipient of our Christmas Charity donations this year. We asked what area of its residents needed to be recognized, and she said without a hesitation, the older kids. The little ones get all the attention, and receive plenty, but the older kids are frankly left behind. So, that's our focus. Jeannie will be contacting her back for specific kids, for as far as our ear-marked funds, will stretch.
Leading to the next topic: Bring checkbooks, bring cash, bring your change jar, empty the envelope in your drawer, dump out your purse and bring the money at the bottom, bring a snack to share - bring your donations!!!
First annual in-house "Auction for the Treasury": Come, everyone, to Jeannie's house this Tuesday, Nov. 8th, at the regular 8:30 time, and join in the fun while contributing to the cause. We'll have the best of all worlds going on here, you know.... Great friends, a fun event, led by Auctioneer Pat Chapin, items you could not get anywhere else, for whatever price YOU want to pay, a guaranteed amount of "Ooooh's and Ahhhh's - laugh's and antics, some food for the body, and most important, a worthy place for the funds, which is food for the heart. Carpool, if possible, but get there!
Oh, incidentally - we will be drawing from the amazing lot of Halloween Blocks, too.
Directions to Jeannie's house: 1158 Eureka Mill Run - The Village of Bonita
If you are on Canal Street - go through the Bonita Gate, turn right on Homeland (it is right before the lake), take the 3rd turn to the right (that will be Heath Springs), take the 1st left - 4th house on the left.
If you are on Odell or Buena Vista - go to Bonita Blvd, turn on Canal, go through the Bonita Gate and follow directions above.
If you need any help, call Jeannie at 302-242-3522
OTHER STUFF
COMING PROJECTS: Christi has identified a great new quilt project from a Show and Tell that returning member, Cheryl Cruickshank had HAND MADE this summer. It's a sampler of different design blocks, is easy, looks great when done, and we can pick our own colors. No, we don't have to hand-sew ... that was just Cheryl's choice at the time. Christi will be organizing the patterns and information for us, and will report back Nov. 15th.
Pat has volunteered to come up with a smaller project, possibly a decorative panel, as an additional project. The possibilities for this are unlimited, and we have the perfect person with unlimited imagination, to create it!
DUES will continue to be collected; Jeannie's new roster is in the process. The new membership cards will be available in December.
Thank you to Carole Cranston for assembling our current friendship quilt, and supplying the backing. We need someone to take it from her for final assembly and finish. It's lovely. Please let Jeannie know if you are able to step in and help out with this part of the project.
RETREAT: The many attending this wonderful event, SOON, should be prepared to bring a few items that might make the experience a little more comfortable. Bring all your favorite sewing supplies, your small to medium cutting surfaces, an area lamp is helpful and maybe an extension cord, an ironing pad and iron will be needed. A suggestion of a folding snack-tray type table for alongside your sewing station, works as a catch-all, ironing table, etc. The formation of the 2012 Retreat is already underway, with Sunset Pointe Chapter joining us.
CRUISE: All final payments will be taken this month for those going on the cruise. Cathy Stone is getting our "Hot Chick's Quilt" shirt order prepared, and there is discussion about making this our chapter logo shirt. More to come…
CHRISTMAS PARTY: Dec. 13th. at 11:00 a.m. will be the day to share some holiday cheer, and this year we are diverting to Pat Olsen's home, as Carell will just be "visiting" her house between trips during that time, and a bit stressed from all the damn traveling this year! (Oops, did I say that???) Be prepared with a sewing/craft/ related gift for the exchange - if purchased, not more than around $15 value - if made, whatever you want - and a dish to share for the brunch. And we get to see another members home!!! Don't-cha love to see each other's places?!
GUILD CHRISTMAS PARTY: Dec. 6th is the Guild Party at Laurel Manor at 6:30 PM. We have been asked to supply the Ice Tea for the attendees. We'll get more details as we get closer.
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:
Nov. 8th - Auction for the Treasury / Halloween Block drawing event
Nov. 15th - Members not attending Retreat - bring your own project meeting
Nov. 15th - Retreat
Nov. 22nd - Members not traveling again ("hgrrrrrrmxxxx"), bring your own project
Dec. 8th - Christmas Blocks due and drawn
Dec. 13th - Christmas Party, 11:00 AM, Pat Olsen's house
Jan. 21 & 22 - One Stop Shop Hop at Savannah Center
