Newsletter - The Stitchin Times

Prairie Pioneer Quilters
Grand Island, Nebraska
From our President:

Happy New Year to all, and welcome back!

Hope everyone enjoyed a blessed holiday season and is now ready to get back in the quilting groove.  I enjoyed a wonderful vacation with my kids/grandkids in Pennsylvania and time with my cousin, Annie, in Ann Arbor - she's the one who started me on my quilting journey back in 2016.  In that way, I guess I'm actually a newbie to this exciting hobby/pastime/life style, but a newbie who is anxious to learn more and get better.  

As the printing of the yearbook, our guild has 94 member (WOW) including a bunch of new and returning members - 15 as of this morning!!  What a group of creativity and talent!!  Please join me in welcoming them to our group and extend our Nebraska brand of hospitality as they get to know us and our group.  Special welcome to the 6 who joined as a result of our display at Art in the Park.

We have everal changes to the Steering Committee due to changes in the lineup of Committee Chairs.  A grateful "Thank you" to Deb Krugman who will serve as my vice president.  New committee chairs are Shirley Walgren - Courtesy, Sandi Griepenstroh - Facebook, Pat Johnson and Janet Kosmicki - Membership, Tina Johnson - Newsletter, Janice Stuhmer - Programs, Lynette Koelzer - Publicity.  Pat Johnson and Shirley Walgren stepped up in the middle of the year to work on Membership and Courtesy and Janice Stuhmer has arranged the programs we are going to enjoy this year.  

Members who continue to serve the guild are Anita Polansky - Art in the Park, Susie Powell and Julie Lechner - Community Projects, Beth Engler - Historian, Donnise Larsen - Librarian, Vicki Bartels - Website and Lisa Foglesong - Yearbook.  Welcome all to a new year filled with exciting challenges and creative sharing.

We are looking for someone to fill the spot of parliamentarian.  Any volunteers who know Roberts Rules of Order??

Steering Committee will have the same schedule as last year - 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Salvation Army, 818 West 3rd Street (March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, EXCEPTION: July 11, august 1, September 5 and October 3),  

We have some inspiring programs coming up this year and I'd like to give a hearty shout out/thank you to Janice for all her hard work.

We start off in March with a trunk show by Kris Reeves from Loup City.

I always enjoy hearing from other quilters as they tell us about their quilting journey.  There are seven individual workshops planned for the upcoming months and I'm planning to attend several of them.  Think about the topics being offered, and I'm sure you'll also find something intriguing.  Check your yearbook for the complete schedule.

Deb Krugman is working on scheduling "schools" for the year - March is "Ribbon Rosettes" by Linda Lesiak.  Schools are normally at 6:00 p.m. with our regular meeting following at 7:00 p.m.  If you possess a particular skill or know a procedure or quick trick that would be of interest to the rest of the guild, give Deb Krugman a call - we would like to have 3 or 4 more schools on the schedule - Thanks.

As in the past will will not be serving food at our meetings, with the exception of the Salad Supper in April and the Potato Bar in October.  Cookies will be provided by the courtesy committees listed in the yearbook and Shirley has offered to alert/contact contact you when it's your turn.  Cookies for the March meeting will be provided by your Steering Committee.

I very excited about our 2023 Raffle Quilt.  Pattern is Wind Drifter by Robin Pickens.  It is a beautiful modern design in blues and greens, 71" square.  Pieced by Dee Regier and Julie Lechner.  Quilted by Julie in Modern Curves.  Planning to have tickets and photos available at the April meeting.  Each member is asked to buy/sell 10 tickets at $1.00 each.  The quilt will be awarded at our Holiday Party in November.  Hoping to display the quilt at several events during the year and Art in the Park, where we will also be selling tickets.

Show and Tell continues t be a popular and dynamic part of our guild meetings and I'm always amazed at the beautiful, creative work show by all of you!  So...contemplate the upcoming workshops and programs (found in the yearbook) and start planning your Quilting Year.

Happy Quilting Forever- 
Anna Wood

Prairie Pioneer Quilt Guild
March 10, 2023


The evening started with our speaker Kris Reeves from Loup City, NE.

President Anna Wood opened the meeting. She began by introducing our two visitors.

The minutes from the November meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.  
Motion made to approve by Amanda Blackburn, seconded by Lisa Foglesong.

The treasurer’s report was approved as printed in the newsletter. Motion made by Debbie Krugman, seconded by Shirley Wahlgren.

Anna announced that member Lynette Koelzer will be speaking at the International Quilt Museum on Saturday, March 18, for National Quilting Day. She will speak at 9:30 and 1:00.

Community Quilts:  They have 25 quilts to be quilted at this time. They would love to have some help if anyone could volunteer some time. Contact Julie Lechner if interested.
Susie will be bringing some give away fabric to the meetings for use in community quilts. Please pick up and help keep someone warm and happy.

Courtesy:  Shirley Walgren will be emailing reminders when it is your turn to bring cookies for the meetings. One change in the new yearbook. The Salad Supper will be at the April meeting instead of the May meeting as listed in the yearbook.

Newsletter:  Tina Johnson is the Newsletter Editor for this year. Deadline for April newsletter is March 28th.

Programs:  April 13 our speaker will be Yvonne Hollenbeck from Clearfield, SD. Her program is entitled “Patchwork of the Prairie”. This program is presented through a grant by Humanities of Nebraska, it must be advertised and open to the public. Please bring a guest. Our salad supper is also scheduled for that evening. Supper begins at 6:00, program at 7:00.

Mystery Bus Trip:  The bus trip will be held on Saturday, June 17th. Deadline to sign up is April 15th. Cost will be $80. We need 52 people to sign up to make this happen. Members will be signed up first. If we do not have enough members sign up, it will be opened up to nonmembers. Please pay by check if possible.

Yearbook:  Please make the following correction:
Page 4: April and May dates need to be switched. Salad Supper in April.  
Note on page 17 that we have membership symbols for each member to help divide up responsibilities for courtesy committees, fundraisers and other events.
Please check your information and if it is incorrect, please let Lisa Foglesong know.

Quilt School:  Linda Lesiak cancelled tonight’s class due to weather. She will be rescheduled for the August meeting. Debbie Krugman still needs volunteers for the June and July meetings. If you have a special talent you would like to share please contact her.

Anna Wood announced that Janet Stuhmer and her husband are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Congratulations!!

The 2024 Member Retreat will be held on April 19 – 21. More information will be coming.

The Presidents Challenge this year is to make a pinwheel quilted item in jewel tone colors. More information is in the yearbook.

The Holiday gift exchange will be a mug rug. More information is in the yearbook.

The Raffle Quilt made by Dee Regier, Tina Johnson and Julie Lechner was on display. It is beautiful. Each member is asked to buy at least 10 tickets to sell or to keep yourself.
Tickets should be here by the April meeting. Margaret Williams and Barb Hovie have volunteered to sell and keep track of the tickets sold. Thank you Margaret and Barb!!

On April 15, Shirley Wahlgren will be an afternoon speaker sharing her love of Vintage Quilting at the Midwest Machine Quilters event. Event runs from 9:00 to 4:00 at the Evangelical Free Church in Central City. It is open to the public.

Question was asked about the TBD fundraiser listed in the budget for 2023. Steering committee will be talking about that in future meetings.

Member Janet Kosmicki fell and broke her hip. She is doing well and should be home in the next couple days.

Door prizes were won by : Lisa Foglesong - Fabric packet 
Georgetta Platt - Easter Bunny decoration 
Pat Nuncio - Snip and Sip 
Denise Denning - Display Case 

We had 8 members bring Show and Tell. They were all beautiful. Thank you ladies.

Submitted by Vicki Bartels