Vintage Stitchers is a chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc (EGA) located in the East Bay area of San Francisco. EGA is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose purpose is to promote needlework in its many forms through an active program of education and study. Vintage Stitchers has members living all around the East Bay area as well as Long Distance Members from other parts of the United States, England, and The Netherlands.
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About Vintage Stitchers
A group of 29 women, who would become The Vintage Stitchers, met on June 28, 1995, at St. Clare's Episcopal Church in Pleasanton, CA.
Spearheading the group was Debbie Meijer, who also presided at the initial meeting. After unanimous agreement that evening to petition National for chapter status, the newly-elected officers and the by-laws committee shifted into high gear to complete the application package in time for the National Board meeting on July 23rd, 1995. In under a month, all forms were completed and by laws written, and the National Board gave its approval. Charter President, Susan Larson, said she felt Vintage Stitchers were meant to have special treatment because of two pieces of serendipity surrounding our formation: St. Clare is the patron saint of embroiderers, and the initial meeting was in "the purple room."
The name, Vintage Stitchers, was chosen to honor the Tri-Valley region, which was one of the first areas in California to grow wine grapes. The chapter symbol is a cluster of grapes, and the logo features grapes with a tendril threaded through a needle's eye. Chapter colors are DMC 550 and 367.
The chapter meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday evening of the month, except for November and December, which is a combined meeting on the first Wednesday evening of December.(See the Meetings page for further detail).
Chapter activities include monthly meetings with hands-on programs or lectures, coordination of Group Correspondence Courses, sponsorship of visiting teachers for workshops, community outreach, special social events, exhibits, and informal stitch-ins.
The chapter newsletter, The Grapevine, is published monthly; subscription cost is included in chapter membership dues.
The Board of Directors meets monthly on the second Wednesday evening. The chapter Board of Directors is comprised of the five elected officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and region representative), the immediate past president, and the five standing committee chairpersons (education, programs, membership, newsletter, and webmaster). Chairs of the special committees (workshops, long distance liason, and hospitality), any other committees specified by the president, are also invited to attend the board meetings, at the president's discretion.