Minutes of the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Committee Meeting held on Saturday April 11th 2015 at St Stephen’s House, 48 Emperor’s Gate, London SW7 4HJ
Present:
Christine Eborall (Chair)
Helena Timms (Secretary)
Jane Rutt (Membership Secretary)
Joan Scriven (Programme Secretary)
Lyn Duffus (Editor, W&W)
Roberto Campana
- Apologies
Apologies were received from Wendy Morris (President), Karen Firmin-Cooper (Treasurer) and Elite Bernet.
- Minutes of the meeting held on April 11th 2015
The minutes were agreed and signed by Christine Eborall.
- Matters Arising
Selvedge – exhibition advert placed so will be dealt with along with this.
W&W guidelinesfor website – not done Action: Lyn
Copy Datesto advertisers – held over until Karen is back Action: Karen
June workshop - cancelled
Library archive – need to ask Eve on status Action: Helena
Coordinators – in agenda
Wheel - sold
Sales tables – in progress
W&W postage - done
Watermarked W&W – Lyn has investigated and watermarking is easy to do. Action: Jane and Lyn to look into sending to guilds instead of paper copy. Additional note regarding other guilds’ newsletters Action: Helena to ask Eve to add to members’ area
Membership discrepancies – in agenda
2014 accounts - done
Membership numbers – in agenda
Bounced emails - done
Non renewers – in agenda
New meeting sign in list - done
Member discounts – Jane has contacted a few places and the answer is no discounts.
Bios for August workshops – not done Action: Joan to give to Lyn for W&W
Spinning info on website - done
Print run – in agenda
Interest group write ups - ongoing
Show and tell - ongoing
Proofreading - done
AGM report - done
Draft AGM minutes on website - done
Charity status – on agenda
Donation option on membership form–on agenda
Exhibition entry forms - done
Visits - done
Publicity – on agenda
Sort box of stored items – done, some disposed off, Helena has taken some, small demo box left with Karen.
Update inventory – not done Action: Helena
Rental forms and deposits system – ongoing Action: Helena and Karen
Projector hire–no longer required
Guild docs – ongoingAction: Helena to progress
Additional note regarding Association quiz – put in W&W/website Action: Lyn to organise
Other guild members door price - implemented
Phoenix garden show – Jane is working on this, confirming attendees
Committee tracking– ongoingAction: Helena to complete for current and past committee
- Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer’s report is in the appendix.
The poor income/attendance from workshops and visits so far was noted.
Joan asked about the current fee structure for speakers, consensus was to leave it at £100 as the standard fee, and for Joan and Karen to discuss if any changes should be made in future. Action: Joan and Karen
A membership tally was also presented. It was noted that all membership payments made direct have so far been linkable to members’ names but that cheque payments have not been so linked.
- Membership Secretary’s Report
The Membership Secretary’s report is in the appendix.
Current total members: 149.
There is a discrepancy of 2 members between Karen and Jane’s figures and the total membership fees paid for the year do not reconcile
Jane was asked give Karen a full breakdown of all money banked for 2015 membership payments including the names of the members, type of membership and type of payment in order to help Karen keep track of payments and identify duplicates/non payments, and to continue providing this information to Karen regularly. Action: Jane
Non-renewers – check total number from 2014. Action: Jane
New Why not join our Guild leaflet – version sent was not the most up to date, Jane will resend by email for comments. Action: Jane; Lyn to assist with layout if necessary.
Proposed slight changes to renewal form to make it simpler and different to new member form; both to include donation option and possibly skills information.Action: Jane to draft new versions for next committee meeting
Donation option on membership/renewal forms, and explanatory information on the website.Action: Jane
- Programme Secretary’s report
The Programme Secretary’s report is in the appendix.
It was agreed that the draft programme was looking good. 3 spaces still to fill, and 2 dates to pin down.
Considering a talk on fibre analysis – Action: Helena to track down details of lecturer she knows of.
For AGM extra – Association speaker, another speaker, another activity, or in house discussion/talk were discussed
Another potential speaker suggested was Daniel Harris from London Cloth Company – he is speaking at the Association conference next spring so could maybe repeat the talk for the guild in the summer.
Workshops – more needed for the programme. Suggestion of asking Jenny Balfour-Paul if she can run an indigo one as she did for her book launch;a different location would be needed (possibly a city farm).
Action: Joan to progress all
- Social Media
There is nothing to report on the website from Eve.
We currently have 35 Facebook likes and 94 twitter followers.
- Warp & Weft Editor’s Report
No report submitted due to time constraints.
Current print run:(190) to be maintained for August edition.
Extras to sell at exhibition – we have about 30 copies of May edition spare, so predict another 30 spare for August edition that could be sold. Exhibition team can decide on price, the committee suggested 50p - £1, and set price for all editions to avoid confusion.
Proofreaders needed for August edition. Action: Helena and Christine
Copy date for August issue is Wednesday 15th July.
- Librarian’s Report
There is no library update for this meeting. (Note to Minutes: Alison Clark has taken over as Librarian but will attend committee meetings only when specific Library issues need to be raised or discussed).
- Exhibition Update
The update was provided by Jane Rutt on behalf of the Exhibition Committee.
Jan Slater will be in charge of managing the sales area of the exhibition, including set up and take down instructions and display.
Stewards are still needed but progress is being made in signing people up so far.
Publicity – adverts placed in Craft magazine and Selvedge. Press release to be based on the information from the promotional postcard. Some postcards should be taken to Art in Action. Action: Jane to follow up
Postcards and flyers should be sent to local guilds. Action: Jane
For the awards evening, the vicar of St Martins will judge Best in Show, aided by Melanie Venes. Complex Weavers award will be judged by Lesley Wilcox. There are also 3 other awards.
Brenda is making progress with the individual postcard project.
- Coordinators
August – Eve or Christine may be able to MC. Action: Joan to ask Eve (subsequent to the meeting, Eve has agreed)
September – Joan
October – Penny Penton Action: Joan to ask
November – Christine – will give Lyn more information on Caron Penney for W&W. Action: Christine
Joan to check September workshop costs and details and advertise to members.£25 for 2 hour session.Action: Joan
- Visits
Only 3 guild members attended the Gainsborough Silk Mill (plus 2 guests) and only 6 members attended the Ashford Wool Depot. Both very disappointing. Note to be put in W&W regarding this. Action: Lyn
The British Museum Textile Store has been postponed.
Trying to organise a visit to the Warner Textile Archive for next year.Action: Roberto
- Publicity
The Publicity report is in the appendix.
Due to Elite’s absencethis to be progressed by email.
- AGM actions
Charitable Status –conclusion from research so far is that it is complicated. Group needed to look into in more depth. Action: Christine and Lyn plus also possibly Rachel Taylor, the member who raised the issue at the AGM
Donations/register of skills – covered under membership.
- Research exercise
Deferred due to time constraints. Looking into alternative venues so far not productive, and likely only other Church halls available and within price range. Agreed to try to continue to bear in mind the other “wouldn’t it be nice ifs” when planning all future activities.
- Documentation and Archive
Documentation deferred.
Archive – Karen is still scanning, when this is done can organise archiving.
- Association Matters
2018 conference confirmed for Milton Keynes. Local guilds (Bucks/Beds) to organise logistics, others including Christine and Roberto working on list of speakers.
- AOB
Tapestry Interest Group – no objections to Karen going ahead with organising this,to be held at the same time as the other interest groups. Action: Karen
Co-opted committee members – Andrea Easey has agreed to be a co-opted member starting after the exhibition (October).
- Date of Next Meeting- October 17th 2015
Appendix
- Treasurer’s Report
Committee Meeting July 2015 - Treasurers Report.
Function/Activity / Income (to date) / Expenditure (to date) / Balance (to date)Membership
2015 Payments / 3223.50
3223.50
Monthly Meetings
Jan Door / 165.50
Jan Hall + Speaker + Teas / 142.98
Feb Door / 289.55
Feb Hall + Speaker + Teas / 144.25
Mar Door / 103.95
Mar Hall + Speaker + Teas / 83.65
Apr Door / 122.50
Apr Hall + Speaker + Teas / 325.07
May Door / 253.20
May Hall + Speaker + Teas / 323.77
June Hall / 181.80
June Hall + Speaker + Teas / 275.00 / -178.22
Workshops
March Tapestry Workshop / 450.00 / 466.78 / -16.78
Warp & Weft
Expenditure to date: 2 issues; programme inserts £69.46; admin costs / 643.46
Advertising Income (3 paid) / 400.00 / -243.46
Library
Income to date / 20.00 / 20.00
Sales + Commission
Income to date: Journals + yarn / stash sale / equipment sale / 390.50 / 390.50
Admin, Equipment + Publicity
Expenditure to date: / 208.68 / -208.68
Miscellaneous
Income to date: 2 donation (£50+£69.46) / 119.46
119.46
Equipment Hire
Income to date: / 40.00 / 40.00
Exhibitions + Events
St-Martin-in-the-Field Exhibition 2015 / 823.80 / -823.80
Website
Expenditure to date: hosting and email admin costs / 75.00 / -75.00
Start of year£5836.85
Current position£8059.42
Of Note:
- Exhibition breakdown:
- Space hire£550.00
- Hospitality£48.00
- Publicity printing£225.80
- 3 of 4 Warp & Weft advertisers paid so far. Chasing the last one.
- Stash sales netted £150.50 and 3 donated spinning wheels sold for £240.00. Doing really well.
- Warp & Weft Issue 256 cost £280.00; Issue 257 £294.00 / Speaker postcards £69.46.
2015 Membership Tally from Accounts: a total of £3,223.50 from membership payments recorded on bank statements.
- Membership Secretary’s Report
Membership Secretary’s report to Committee11July 2015
- Statistics
There are currently 149 members in the Guild. This breaks down into:
- 9 Honorary members
- 114 members renewing for 2013
- 26 new members of which 3 are Student Members
2. Receipts
A total of £3213 membership fees have been paid into the bank account. This breaks down as follows:
Type of member / Number / Fee (£) / Total fees paid (£)Honorary / 9 / - / -
2014 Full members renewing for 2015 / 113 / 23.00 / 2599.00
2014 Student members renewing for2015 / 1 / 12.50 / 12.50
New 2015 full members / 24 / 25.00 / 600.00
New (2015) student members / 2 / 13.50 / 27.00
GRAND TOTAL (to date) / 148 / 3238.50
Additionally we have received a donation of £27 and overpayment of £2 and a contribution to postage of £2
3. Comments
This has been an encouraging year for recruiting new members. Where indicated on the application forms this has been i) personal contact or meeting them at events such as “Wetlands” and “Knitting and Stitching, Show” ii) through courses at Handweavers or Brenda Gibson). Efforts to support and encourage new members are continuing, identifying them by green dots on badge and “meet and greet”.
Non-renewers
I contacted approximately 25 non-renewers from 2014 who had email addresses Responses indicate 8 have renewed, 4 have relocated, 1 resigned for personal reasons, 1 too busy to attend meetings.
4 Join Our Guild Proposal
Revised version (see document). The next step is to format it to print back to back with some membership application forms, I’m not very good with forms so can anyone can help with this?
5 Donations
I have only done a bit of limited research.
Basket Weavers- Limited Company so probably not applicable
London Underground Society; London Beekeepers Association - no mention on application form or website
Textile Society is an Educational Charity and no mention of Donations
The Embroiders Guild has very comprehensive information with a section on their Web –page concerning Donations
Large organisations/Charities e.g National Trust; The National Art Fund; Friends of the Earth- also have a Donations Section on their website
4. New Payment Method
New Payment method, via bank transfer, has been used by 40 people, renewals and joiners.
Jane Rutt17/06/15
- Programme Secretary’s Report
Programme Secretary’s report
July 11th 2015
The Programme for 2016 is taking shape, thanks to very helpful and interesting suggestions from several members.
2016 Provisional Programme
Date / Speaker / Title (subject)Jan 9th / Clare Ford Wille / (weaving and spinning in Art)
Feb 13th / Kate Poland / Growing and making a London Garment; from seed to seam
March 12th / AGM
April 9th / Jo Atherton ** / (Flotsam Weaving)
May 14th / Eleanor Pritchard *
June 11th / Deb Gillanders * / (Ganseys)
July 9th
Aug13th / Workshops
? fibre analysis
Sept 10th / Jenny Balfour -Paul / (indigo)
Oct / Liz Rideal / Coloured cloth in pictures: a tale of spin and pirouette.
Nov 12th / Janet Phillips / (Masterclass and beyond)
Dec 10th / Competitions and
Party
* Agreed to speak, date not yet confirmed.
**Jo Atherton to run Workshop in May
There is a need for one more speaker plus more workshops. All suggestions welcome.
The AGM programme needs to be discussed, do we need a speaker?
Joan Scriven July 2015
- Publicity Report
Publicity subcommittee's report
We met on the 28th of April at RFH to discuss plans and actions.
Jane's table, which she drew at home, helped a lot as a starting point.
She divided the publicity options into sections: Media, Places (Museums, shops, libraries), Colleges and Events.
After discussing what will be relevant to our crafts and the Guild activities in any of these sections we shared tasks between us:
Jane will deal with the media - mostly newspapers.
Elite will deal with libraries and knitting and weaving shops.
Helena will deal with Colleges, guilds, societies and online sites for knitting (ravelry.com)
Lyn will deal with events.
All the Guild's leaflets and the postcards are stored in the Guild's Library cupboard.
Further progress:
We couldn't meet again before the committee meeting, so we decided that all will email me to tell about their progress so I can complete the report.
In general not much has been done, people were extremely busy and promised to do more in the near future.
I took a bunch of leaflets and postcards (exhibition and Guild's monthly talks) with me for distributing around the local libraries, in general the response was good but under most borough's policies priority goes for local events and activities to display, rather then in central London.
I had some success with Isleworth's library (where there is a weekly knitting group) and Landmark Art Centre which were both happy to display. I made follow up visits to make sure it is actually on display.
I haven't been to any yarn shops yet because of their location.
My plan is to attend a few more places and a few more shops.
Elite
July 2015