Bulletin Board

August “Around the Block” Newsletter

The time has finally come to discontinue the QU library. With so much information available online and not being able to store the books where we meet, the books just aren’t used enough.

Starting in August, we will be offering the books to QU members for $2 each. This will be cash only. Those not sold at the meeting will be donated to the Leon County Public Library for their Friends Shop.

If you currently have a book that you checked out, you can bring it back in August or buy it for 2 dollars. Just bring the name of the book with your money to the meeting.

If you know of a book we have that you want, please email me and, if it’s still available, I will save it for you.

Michele Hackmeyer, QU Librarian

It’s time to volunteer and sign up to help Quilters Unlimited for 2027!

Current Open Officer and Chair positions:
•President-Elect
•Membership VP
•Treasurer
•Annual Quilt Show 2027
•Opportunity Quilt 2027
•Opportunity Quilt 2028
•Philanthropy
•Publicity/Social Media
•Door Prize
•Show and Tell
•Silent Auction 2027
•Welcoming
•Audit
•Awards
•Travel

Please feel free to contact current officers or other steering committee members to find out more information if you are interested in volunteering.

Here are brief descriptions of the officers’ positions:

Treasurer: The QU Treasurer is responsible for the money management of the guild and submitting required reports and filings with the IRS and state. The accounting is handled via Excel spreadsheets and online portals and documentation is done via computer files and paper documents, so access to a computer with Excel and a printer is advised.

Membership: Keeps the membership spreadsheet updated re: dues payments & contact info.
Greets members and guests at the door and tracks attendance. Provides the most current info for laying out the directories, then gets them printed and mails one to the few who pay extra for that. Provides directory updates as needed.

Positions already filled for 2027: President, Secretary, Annual Quilt Show 2028, Internet/Website, Newsletter/Email, Programs, Workshops, Block of the Month, Challenge Quilts, Equipment, Sit-n-Stitch, and Sunshine.

It is time to think about nominating an active member of Quilters Unlimited for the Volunteer of the Year Award. This award gives us a chance to say “Thank You” to an active member for generously contributing time and expertise to Quilters Unlimited.

The Entry Form has contact information and three sections to describe the nominee:

1. Examples of initiative and/or assuming responsibility & leadership
in guild activities

2. Willingness to help with routine tasks and unexpected needs

3. Examples of encouraging member participation in guild-related,
community activities

The Award Criteria below is online in the Policies and Procedures:

4. Committee Procedures for Nomination
   a) The Awards Committee shall solicit nominations from active Quilters Unlimited members through forms, published on the guild’s web site. b) There shall be a nominator and a co-nominator and both shall complete and sign the Nomination Form. c) The Awards Committee Chairperson shall not be a nominator or co-nominator. In the case of any tie votes, the Chairperson shall cast the deciding vote. d) An Awards Committee member, nominated for an award, shall not participate in discussions or voting pertaining to that award. e) The current President is not eligible for the Volunteer of the Year Award.
   
5. Volunteer of the Year Award Criteria.
   a) The Volunteer of the Year Award will be given to a participating guild member, who: supports the goals and purposes of Quilters Unlimited by promoting knowledge of and interest in quilting and the art of quilting; shows initiative and/or assumes responsibility and leadership; is willing to help with routine tasks and unexpected needs; stimulates participation in guild activities and community-related activities; and gives unselfishly of their time and effort for the benefit of the guild. b) The nominee may also: serve as officer or committee chairperson and demonstrates areas of expertise in guild (programs, writing, other). c) The Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form is due to the Awards Committee Chairperson no later than October 1st of each year.
   
   Nomination forms for the Volunteer of the Year Award
   
   The nomination form can be completed and submitted on your computer or on paper. The form must have both a nominator and a co-nominator from the guild.
   
   Nomination forms for the Volunteer of the Year Award are due by October 1. Contact Janet Hughes with questions about submitting nominations.

At our July 9th meeting, Karen Bauer, a previous Quilt of Valor awardee, will be our guest speaker. Karen served six years in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. She will inform us as to the work women do in the services. Five years ago, she helped organize the Women Veterans Unite organization here in Tallahassee. The group meets once a month at the American Legion Hall. Currently it has sixty plus members.

At our July meeting, we will also be awarding Quilts of Valor to three women veterans.

Hello QU!

Do you all remember what you were doing during our country’s Bicentennial in 1976? I was eleven years old, living at Camp Lejune, NC with my family. My dad’s platoon sponsored our Girl Scout Troop (talk about uniform inspections!) so you can imagine the birthday celebration held by our troop living on a USMC military base. It was incredible. The memories are all in my head. We have very few pictures—film and developing, even at the PX, was still a luxury item. I picked out the gingham fabric, in red and blue for the dress my mom made. The biggest thrill was the red shoes! Doesn’t every little girl need a pair of dressy, red shoes?

While reflecting on the USA’s Semi-quincentennial and pondering the many ideas in my head for our challenge, I went to the branch library near my house and discovered a new book commemorating American quilts from our first Centennial celebration (1876) and their history leading up to today. The history and pictures of quilts from the Centennial and Bicentennial years are awe inspiring. Please put the book, Commemorative American Quilts: Stitching Our Heritage from 1876 to Today by Sandra Sider, on hold so you can enjoy our country’s rich quilt history. I will probably end up purchasing this book to fully read and absorb every chapter.

YOU HAVE plenty of time to create your own commemorative challenge quilt to celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial with our guild’s Americana theme. Read over the QU Americana Challenge rules and make your quilt. You’ll be happy you did

.
TURN IN DATES: Submit your quilt information, with a picture. I will also have paper forms at the QU July meeting on Thursday, July 9. Bring your quilt in a pillowcase WITH a printed picture. The FINAL turn-in date is Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Jackson Branch Library (3840 North Monroe Street— Corner of Fred George Road and North Monroe Street in Huntington Oaks Plaza.)

THANK YOU for all your support and enthusiasm for this year’s challenge. I know we are all very busy and sometimes a challenge is pushed to the back burners. I challenge you to challenge yourself to participate in this very special year. I forgot to remind you that there is NO FEE to enter this year. The rules are FREE! The entry is FREE!

A huge benefit of being a QU member. Grab fabric from your own collection and start sewing. You got this!

Sincerely,
Carole P. Gentry,
QU Challenge Chair 2026