We were really thrilled with the response again this year in our Outreach area.
We returned with pieces from Mayan Hands, Umpavim, and Alternations as well as the addition of a new booth from Arbor House.
Your purchases brought in the following to these groups:
Alternatives - $1315.40,
Mayan Hands - $627.65,
Umpavim - $800.80 and
Arbor House - $56.00.
Our ultimate goal is to aid those artists endeavoring to support themselves (and their families) with their fiber arts pieces. We stay on the look out for new groups to lend our support to, keeping in mind that the revenue we generate is to mainly support this goal and not profit for shops.
The groups we have now all meet this criteria. It is difficult to find importers (if goods come from out of the country) or church groups or even shops that will work with us. They most often want FTWG to buy the articles we sell, which we are not able to do.
Some of you may not know that in past years we have even supported some of the Guatamalan weaving groups with monies from our guild conference auctions.
Sewing machines and weaving equipment was purchased and then sent to them thru Deborah Chandler. I'm enclosing a message I received from an Outreach article that was published in a recent WARP (Weave A Real Peace) Newsletter. There was interest in how the FTWG Outreach policy has been so successful in aiding fiber artists so I was asked to submit a write-up for their member'sinformation -"During our meeting, the FTWG Outr each model was discussed in depth. Looks like we are about the only guild that does this."
We would like to see this tradition of support continue, but need your help to do this. Our main concern at this point is getting help running the booth during conference. Most of the materials are pre-priced and the set-up at conference is relative easy. If you find your interest lay in this area please let either Joan Furci or myself know about it. It would be even more wonderful to see you help us select new groups to bring in and work in the selection and pricing of their goods.
Joan Furci
Sandy Carr
programs@ftwg.org