History Tid Bits... By LAP member Ruby Post
The first organizational meeting was at the home of Juan Brunson and she was the first president of LAP. By years-end there were 30 members.|
Sharon Clark taught a beginners quilting class at Waverly High School and the beginning of LAP was a few of the students from that class.
LAP first quilt show was held at the Turner-Dodge mansion, May 1984, in conjunction with the "Quilt Study Group", Embroiderers Guild of America. Admission was $1.00 for Adults and 50¢ for senior citizens and children under age 12.
During the year 1984-85 members took turns teaching the construction of a different quilt block each month.
LAP pins were first manufactured and sold in 1990 using the Logo that was designed by artist Wally Antuck, husband of Norine. The Logo is also used on the newsletter and other LAP correspondence.
1990-It was voted for guild dues to remain at $5. At the same time a fine of .25 was imposed by the board if a member did not wear a name tag, and the money was given to the library to buy new books! It was collected by the Sergeant at Arms.
In 1990 a “Question Basket” was begun. Members with a quilting question or problem would write it on paper and put it in the basket. Following the business meeting these notes would be read, discussed and problems resolved.
In 1993, the Lap library had 44 quilting books for check-out! There are now 150 books!
LAP celebrated its 12th anniversary with a party. Everyone wore ‘party hats’ and cake and ice-cream was served in addition to two clowns being in attendance. A 15th anniversary party was also held with cake and ice-cream being served.
'Small Group Spotlight’ was featured during 1995. Each month a different small group was featured during the guild meeting.
LAP helped the MSU quilt museum purchase the Mary Schaefer quilt collection by taking donations of money at each guild meeting.
Some of the more memorable lectures given at LAP were: “Bernina in the bathroom, Bra on the quilt frame” by Sharon Rexroad and “Why aren’t you making more quilts? I know you have the fabric!” by Charlotte Angotti.
Some of the fun projects were: Members Silent Auction w/10% going to guild, various challenge quilts including one entirely of half square triangles, and the Ugly Fabric block contest, as well as the present UFO Challenge.
LAP has actively done charity projects all through the years some of which are: Operation Stork, Teddy Bear Ministries, Personal needs bags & items to the womens shelter, Flannel sheets & small quilts to the Sparrow Hospital Neo-Natal unit, donations to the Greater Lansing Food Bank, donations of fabric & sewing tools to quilters in Iowa who lost everything in a flood, up to the present donations of quilts to Ele’s Place and doll quilts distributed by the Salvation Army.
LAP decorated and donated a tree to the Festival of Trees in 1999, 2000, & 2001. The tree in 1999 was dedicated to the the memory of member Dee Pearson who lost her fight with cancer. The proceeds went to Breast Cancer Research.