Okay, Prairie Quilt Guild, you and I just aren't going to be friends. I already wrote about our first visit here.
I decided to try the evening meeting, understanding that is was smaller and therefore, perhaps, friendlier to an intensely shy person like myself. I find the membership desk and the guest sign in, keeping an eye out for Donna to introduce myself (I never did find her... she was busy).
No greeting. "Are you a guest?" It was almost accusatory. "Yes, I am." "Is this your first visit?" Again, what did I do wrong? "No, it's my second." Then, the condescension came. "You have to register in September." If I come! Who says I want to come back, if this is the welcome I get as a guest? Then, she tossed a nametag in my direction, told me to sign it, and totally ignored me. I was so flustered by the disdain in her voice, I stumbled off to find a seat and didn't even get my ticket for a chance at a doorprize. I don't do rude. I have a hard enough time compelling myself to get out and meet new people, but having my visit thrown back in my face as an unwelcome visitor is more than I can take.
But you know what? That's okay. Maybe if I had had BoB with me, I would have said something about welcoming guests. But I didn't. It was just me and my hexies (I finished another snowflake! Woohoo!).
Good things about this visit? Great show-and-tell. Less women - even some men. I met Jen Eskridge of ReannaLily Designs (not that I knew exactly who she was at the time... I had to come home and look up the Wichita Modern Quilt Guild). Interesting speaker about getting yourself published.
The rotten part? I mean, other than the intensely unfriendly greeting? The timing for these meetings is terrible. 1-3 means I have no babysitter during the school year as my mom has other obligations (not that I could afford a babysitter just to go to a quilt meeting anyhow... I should save babysitting money for a date with my DH or something else worthwhile). 7-9 means the kids have to go to bed without me. Tonight, apparently, that involved WWIII for DH, and the baby was still frantically awake when I pulled in. It's not worth it for a less-than-enthusiastic greeting and two hours as an anonymous quilter. I'd rather spend the money for dues on... fabric.
So long, Prairie Quilt Guild. I think you're better off without me, and I'm better off doing other things with my time and money.
from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.
I decided to try the evening meeting, understanding that is was smaller and therefore, perhaps, friendlier to an intensely shy person like myself. I find the membership desk and the guest sign in, keeping an eye out for Donna to introduce myself (I never did find her... she was busy).
No greeting. "Are you a guest?" It was almost accusatory. "Yes, I am." "Is this your first visit?" Again, what did I do wrong? "No, it's my second." Then, the condescension came. "You have to register in September." If I come! Who says I want to come back, if this is the welcome I get as a guest? Then, she tossed a nametag in my direction, told me to sign it, and totally ignored me. I was so flustered by the disdain in her voice, I stumbled off to find a seat and didn't even get my ticket for a chance at a doorprize. I don't do rude. I have a hard enough time compelling myself to get out and meet new people, but having my visit thrown back in my face as an unwelcome visitor is more than I can take.
But you know what? That's okay. Maybe if I had had BoB with me, I would have said something about welcoming guests. But I didn't. It was just me and my hexies (I finished another snowflake! Woohoo!).
Good things about this visit? Great show-and-tell. Less women - even some men. I met Jen Eskridge of ReannaLily Designs (not that I knew exactly who she was at the time... I had to come home and look up the Wichita Modern Quilt Guild). Interesting speaker about getting yourself published.
The rotten part? I mean, other than the intensely unfriendly greeting? The timing for these meetings is terrible. 1-3 means I have no babysitter during the school year as my mom has other obligations (not that I could afford a babysitter just to go to a quilt meeting anyhow... I should save babysitting money for a date with my DH or something else worthwhile). 7-9 means the kids have to go to bed without me. Tonight, apparently, that involved WWIII for DH, and the baby was still frantically awake when I pulled in. It's not worth it for a less-than-enthusiastic greeting and two hours as an anonymous quilter. I'd rather spend the money for dues on... fabric.
So long, Prairie Quilt Guild. I think you're better off without me, and I'm better off doing other things with my time and money.
from the room of Zana's Ninis,
katie z.
4 comments:
Oh, Katie!! - BOB and I don't do guilds, either! Have you read about the time we went to the library?
http://thequiltbitch.blogspot.com/2011/06/bob-went-to-library.html
I really don't think that some guild members have a clue that they are being snotty, condescending and just downright rude! Or that they are being bitchier than BOB! (At least she admits it!)
Or they do know - and just don't CARE!
But that's OK - phooey on the guild - you have other quilter friends online - and we think that you 're VERY cool! ;)) See ya Saturday!
^..^
Kitty aka BOB
Sometimes guilds are not the answer. I went to guild meetings in my town for 5 years before I finally got the hint. I'm not welcomed into the "in" crowd. I felt like I was back in high school trying to break in to an established clique. One time at a meeting, Robyn Pandolph, the fabric designer, was the guest speaker and she spoke about her guild back in Texas. She said she learned everything about quilting at her meetings and I just looked at my sister and laughed.If anyone would talk to me or welcome me to their table, I might have learned a thing or two. The best part about the meetings is the "Show and Tell" portion. It's like a free quilt show once a month. To keep my finger in the loop here in town, I was trying to visit the quilt shops but I haven't even been to any of them all summer. I've gotten to the point where I don't really care who's making what and who quilted it for them. I read my blogs and most of the time, they are pretty entertaining. I have a couple of quilting friends and we always talk about creating our own guild that welcomes new members and shares their quilting knowledge with all people present. I know, dream on!
As you probably guessed, having met me, I am neither shy nor snotty. Rude? Sometimes I guess, but not without provocation.
Many many years ago I went to two meetings of my local quilt guild. They were without exception a bunch of snotty puffed up middle aged sixth graders.
I joined and attended Lori's guild, they were nice down to earth ladies. I went to Jay's sew in, lovely people!
Is this the only guild in town? If it is consider starting your own, call it a sewing circle if it makes you feel better. If you are the queen you set the rules, agenda, dues & the meeting time, you could probably have your meetings for free at your local library or your church may have a meeting room. Ask one of your local quilt shop owners to send an instructor or lecturer, next month ask another.
I understand - there is guild that's large and run by the same group of ladies. I stopped going to that one and went to the anti-guild that was forming. No dues, no agenda, bring a snack to share and quilts to show. Much better.
I agree that the way to go might be small sewing groups. The library has meeting rooms and they love it when local groups help with the monthly displays.
liz
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