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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Community Outreach
EGA has a long tradition of outreach to the community in teaching needlework techniques to members of the community at large.The Vintage Stitchers chapter has been involved in several community outreach programs:
We had a booth at the Alameda County Fair on June 25 and July 2. Did you know that Laurie M. teaches embroidery to her local 4H every second week? Way to go Laurie, for keeping the joy of embroidery going.
Wy W. and Lori McM.at the Alameda County Fair June 2004
Habitat for Humanity-we finally got a contact to provide the samplers we made for their new homes. There’s an immediate need for three finished Habitat for Humanity samplers. We have two. They would love for us to keep making them. Maybe we can find more patterns for other options. So, keep working on those samplers. Towards the end of October Lara will be collecting them for distribution.
One on-going project involves a group of 20 ladies within the Dublin correctional facility called Inside Stitchers who meet once a month with volunteer EGA members and have a stitching program presented to them. EGA members from various chapters come in on a Saturday for a couple of hours and teach them stitching. This program is in its 10th year. Last July 1 Linda McD. helped teach Yarn Key Chains and started stitching the Appreciation patches. She returned in August to begin stitching a two part Christmas Sampler. They are going to the Women’s Correction Facility to teach Huck-weaving.
We need volunteers to join this outreach project. We have so many ladies eager to learn that we need additional hands to help. We currently have only four volunteer ladies, 2 go in at a time, and we rotate which month we go in and who teaches. We select the project that will be taught. The various chapters who have community outreach funds fund the cost of supplies. Whatever your skill or interest: canvas, cross-stitch, or knitting- we can use you! Please consider joining our current volunteers. These ladies belong to a variety of EGA and ANG chapters throughout the Bay Area. You need not be a member of either of the above, just a love of what you do and an urge to share your knowledge with these ladies. We will be happy to train you and the prison also requires one four-hour training session in Dublin. We make our visits in pairs once a month on Saturdays between noon and 2:30 p.m two or three times a year. This is a most rewarding venture. For further information on the Inside Stitchers outreach program, contact Charlene (510) 667-0950 or Ruth (408) 356-4786.
A form is no longer needed. All C.O. are to be published in the newsletter and a copy sent to regional.