Seamlines from the President-November 2023

Much accomplished, much to do…

Hard to believe it’s been two years since I became President of our great ASG Chapter. In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others it seems like a long time ago. So much has happened since we were almost starting anew after the long Covid break. From the first, our priorities were set up as follows.

1. Grow our presence and name recognition as the “Go To” place for all

things sewing throughout our community

2. Grow our membership through engagement - engagement - engagement

3. Have a lot of fun while doing it.

Your CAB group dug in and worked as a well oiled team, planning activities and events hoping to meet the wants of our members. I have felt very privileged to work along side them and have enjoyed their company and commitment to ASG. VP Bonnie and I started out by visiting each of the neighborhood groups asking for input and help.

Our first venture was a Wine and Design trip to the studio of Joy Noelle, locale designer. From there we field tripped to Faribault Woolen Mill, MN Institute of Art, Lyric Theatre (Real Women Have Curves), Reproduction Fabrics, numerous sewing for service events, Fashion Show luncheons, State Fair booths, Annual Meeting Luncheons, fabric swaps and fabric sales, and retreats. We have offered classes for Serger, Cover Stitch, Pattern Fitting and thanks to Pat Swanson and her volunteers, provided sewing classes for youth of our community.

We worked hard to increase our presence through our updated Web Site, Facebook, Instagram, working more in partnership with our retailers, connecting with local colleges of design and inviting non-members to attend special functions. Efforts were made to improve communication within our group through the newsletter and Group Works postings, and making welcoming calls to new members. We have added two new neighborhood group locations and average 3-4 new members every month.

We are starting to see our newer members volunteer to help out and our neighborhood groups offer to host events for the full chapter. All of these efforts not only strengthened our group, but brought us to the attention of our National organization. Mpls ASG was asked to present our “Best Practices” to other ASG Presidents during the national conference.

Two of our CAB leaders, Brenda Oseland and Donella Petro, were nominated for the National Spirit Award for all their dedicated years of service and hard work to you and this chapter.

I can’t thank the wonderful women of CAB enough, or all the people who have volunteered in so many ways through these years. This has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to helping our new leadership team as we continue to move forward.

Rosemary at the Annual Meeting and Election