Minutes of London Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Committee Meeting held on Saturday 10 th

January 2015 at St Stephen’s House. 48 Emperor’s Gate, London W7 4HJ

Present:

Helena Timms (Secretary)Christine Eborall (Chair)Karen Firmin-Cooper (Treasurer)Joan Scriven (Programme Secretary)Jane Rutt (Membership Secretary)Eve Alexander (Webmaster)Lyn Duffus (Editor W&W)Roberto Campana (Visits & Events)Jan Slater (Librarian)Elite Bernet

1. Apologies

Wendy Morris (President)

2. Minutes

The minutes of the October meeting were approved and signed by Christine Eborall.

3. Matters Arising

Item 3 Selvedge – Jane has emailed, no response, will call. Action: Jane.Item 3 Book disposal – moved to library discussionItem 3 Online form - decided to abandon for the time beingItem 3 AV instructions – Brenda has taken photos which are to be added to the notes – needs chasing. Action: Christine Item 3 Workshop cancellation policy – moved to programme discussionItem 3 W&W guidelines – Lyn is writing brief guidelines for inclusion in Feb W&W. Action: LynItem 3 Copy dates for advertisers – publication dates for February issue given to advertisers by Karen, copy dates to be agreed and sent. Action: Lyn and Karen.Item 3 Workshops – moved to programme discussionItem 3 Archive – moved to archive discussionItem 3 VP Position – to be included on AGM agenda. Action: Christine Item 3 Keys – Roberto has lost his set, will pay for another to be cut if needed. Agreed to continue with 3 keys for the time being: one with each of Interest Groups (Elite, Jean) and one with ChairItem 4 Membership tracing – moved to treasurers discussionItem 4 Raising fees – moved to treasurers discussionItem 4 Constitution change – moved to AGM discussionItem 6 2015 programme - completedItem 6 New start for interest groups - completed

Item 6 Poster for colleges etc. – completedItem 7 Enable editing note on renewal form – in abeyance for nowItem 7 Calendar on website – completedItem 8 B/W vs colour print costs – moved to W&W discussionItem 8 Christmas competitions reminder in Nov W&W – completedItem 8 Notices – completedItem 8 Dropbox – created but not circulated – people will be given link on request to LynItem 9 Library catalogue – moved to library discussionItem 11 workshops – moved to programme discussionItem 11 Visits – moved to visits discussionItem 13 Promotional items – programme and social media completed, other items moved to publicity discussionItem 13 Leaflet for guests on advantages of joining the Guild - Jane to draft information for leaflet. Action: JaneItem 17 feedback form – completedItem 17 Noticeboards – completedItem 17 Spinning groups – spinners group progressing evening meet up plans

4. Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer’s Report is in the Appendix.

Report shows final figures for 2014 financial year. Having reviewed membership payments, appear to be missing only 2, so propose leaving the

issue as finished (this was agreed). Have set up a better system for accounting for 2015 onwards.

We currently work on a 2 year cycle for finances – exhibition year followed by non exhibition year. Ideally should break even across each cycle, not currently doing this.

Hall costs haven’t gone up for 2 years, likely to go up later in year. Speaker costs are also likely to go up, following current trends (especially for travel). Association fee has been at £4 for several years . The new door fees for 2015 should help towards covering the deficit for the monthly

meetings. Looked at membership costs of surrounding guilds, some are more expensive, most are not

(however most do not have regular monthly speakers etc). Based on overall increased prices and annual figures for past few years, recommend

increase in membership to £25/26, with potential increase every 2 years of up to £3. Action: Christine and Karen to write proposal for AGM on membership cost increases.

Independent examiner – Christine has been in touch with Pauline Watts, will forward contact details to Karen. Action: Karen to contact and have year end accounts examined.

5. Membership Secretary’s Report

The Membership Secretary’s Report is in the Appendix.

Problem with people paying by bank transfer not completing a form – need to revisit the system later in year to ensure record of renewals for all forms of payment. Action: Jane and Karen

Will send a reminder to renew with February W&W. Action: Jane.

6. Programme Secretary’s Report

Programme Secretary’s Report is in the Appendix.

2015 programme is complete. Received Association speakers list, will see if anything suitable for 2016. Suggestions welcome for speakers/workshops. Workshop policy – Karen has written draft, which was discussed. Action: Karen to revise and

recirculate to committee. This includes checking cancellation requirements, including for hall. Action: Karen to check hall cancellation policy

June workshop option – possibly finger weaving, need to investigate options further including Carol James (Karen has contact details). Action: Joan

7. Webmaster’s Report

Webmaster’s Report is in the Appendix.

More images needed for website gallery Planning to add extended web version of W&W to top of Member’s Area on website, and

update Hot News. Action: Lyn and Eve to produce and upload web version. Twitter/Facebook – slow but steady progress on followers, mostly non-members however.

Use to update with information from monthly round robin (speaker this month etc), encourage comments from members. Unsure if RSS is displaying and updating correctly for hot news items. Action: Helena to check RSS, and include updates as required.

8. Warp and Weft Editor’s Report

The Editor’s Report is in the Appendix.

Agreed to maintain advertising costs at £100 for 4 issues for black and white copy, but increase to £150 for colour, effective 1 January this year.

Added the new meeting costs on the programme calendar page – agreed to keep there as reference.

Feb W&W will need to have membership renewal reminder and AGM paperwork included in mailout.

Copydates for advertisers should be 1 month before publication date .

9. Librarian’s Report

The Librarian’s Report is in the Appendix.

Alison Clark will be taking over the library at some point this year. Jan, Jean and Val to continue helping for time being

Archive W&Ws –last few to be scanned, then keep for guild archive Archive Journals – agreed to continue with the Guild’s annual subscription but to sell past

year’s guild copies on guild table at stash sale the following year. Archive books – Wendy’s update was much appreciated. It was agreed that Eve will offer

some to a tutor friend and/or local guild, then offer the collection to the Association library, and anything left Christine will take to Oxfam books for sale or responsible disposal. Action: Eve, Christine to organise.

10. (11) Exhibition Update

Poster has been made, in line with venue requirements, and approved. Advertising – will do paid adverts in same 2 titles as previously, and all other adverts will be

in publications with free listings.

11. (10) AGM

Motions to be put to the AGM:o Membership fee increaseo Vice President position for Daphne Ratcliffeo Constitution change

Proposals and reports to be ready for inclusion with February W&W/meeting/round robin. Action: Helena, Christine and Karen to prepare

Committee members o Eve Alexander will be standing down, although continuing as webmaster.o Need to request new members and re-joiners (people who’ve already been on the

committee) Reports to prepare and circulate to rest of committee in advance :

o Treasurer Action: Kareno Chair (including overview of all other functions – other committee members will be

available to provide more detail if necessary or answer questions on any of these aspects) Action: Christine

o Membership Secretary Action: Janeo W&W Editor Action: Lyno Webmaster: Action: Eve

12. Christmas Competitions

Suggestions from Wendy for Gwen Shaw and Lore Youngmark were discussed and agreed Kennedy Cup: waiting on spinners groups to finalise Agreed not to make changes to current format as problems noted are ongoing and don’t

want to discourage participation by changing rules etc

13. Coordinators

April – Susan Dye May – Lyn Duffus June – Melanie Venes (Christine to ask) (Note: she can’t make it, Brenda Gibson has said she

can do it) July – Jan Slater August – in house workshops, not needed September – Ann Willitts (Christine to ask) (Note: she has declined, another to be sought) October – Penny Penton (Joan to ask) November – Christine Eborall December – not needed Action: ask speakers and remind about write up (Joan?)

14. Visits

British Wool Marketing Board – visit to Ashford, Kent sorting depot on Friday 17th July at 1pm. Up to 20 people.

V&A store – possibly April, but will need to find our own speaker. Possibly can do 2 sessions, morning and afternoon.

Gainsborough Silk Mill – Monday 15th June, approx 12 people. Spitalfields Huguenot festival – unsure if going ahead, TBC. London Cloth co – possibly October. Action: Roberto to put together email agenda for interest, and to follow up on TBCs.

15. Publicity

Publicity Report is in the Appendix.

Publicity group to work on a 3-fold leaflet with Jane’s new wording and to produce a draft text plus suggestions of accompanying photos , plus cost estimates Action: Helena, Lyn, Jane, Elite (NB: can be postponed as there appear to be 1,700 copies of the old leaflet still available, being in storage at Brenda’s house)

Additional suggestions other and above those listed in Elite’s report of places to advertise guild and place leaflets: libraries, City Lit, Fashion & Textile Museum, Shops (I Knit, Loop, Prick Your Finger), 6th Form colleges, WI and other craft guilds. Action: publicity team (above) to progress

A list of contacts with emails / addresses to be put together for press releases (including those about the Exhibition) to be sent to – these to include the above but also media, other organisations and individuals where paid advertising would not be relevant or possible. Action: Elite

16. Guild Documentation - Held until next meeting due to time constraints

17. Guild Archive - Held until next meeting due to time constraints

18. Association Matters

AGM is April 18th. Karen to go as delegate, Helena as observer. Action: Karen and Helena to confirm.

2018 conference will most likely be in Milton Keynes, venue TBC.

19. AOB

Wheel and Loom from Rosemary – decision to offer both within guild, after researching appropriate price, and then sell on Ebay if no takers. Action: Elite to liaise with Daphne and manage the Ebay aspect if required

Sales Tables at Meetings – can be added to meetings (not AGM), no charge for table, just commission for sales. Members own work only. Action: Jane and Eve to publicise details and date of first sale.

20. Date of next meeting – April 11th 2015.

Appendices

I. Treasurer’s Report:

Committee Meeting January 2015 - Treasurers Report.

End of Year figures.I have again broken our income and expenditure down into the principle functions and activities of The Guild.

Function/Activity Income (to date)

Expenditure (to date)

Balance (to date)

Membership2014 Payments (72 members) 1676.502013 early payments (53 members) 1235.00 2911.50ASWSD Association Fees (136 members) 544.00 2367.502014/2015 Insurance 216.00 2151.50

Monthly MeetingsJan Door 136.50Jan Hall + Speaker 320.00Feb Door 275.68Feb Hall 140.00Mar Door 103.27Mar Hall 75.00Apr Door 137.50Apr Hall + Speaker 240.00May Door 201.00May Hall + Speaker 300.00Jun Door 139.00Jun Hall + Speaker 240.00Jul Door 135.00Jul Hall 140.00 Aug Door 206.95Aug Hall 140.00Sep Door 125.20Sep Hall + Speaker 284.50Oct Door 161.00Oct Hall 140.00Nov Door 179.00Nov Hall + Speaker 352.54Dec Door 148.20Dec Hall + Speaker 75.00 -548.96

WorkshopsApril – Dyeing @ Spitalfields 550.00 460.00 90.00

Warp & WeftExpenditure to date: 4 issues; programme inserts; admin costs

1311.31

Advertiser income 400.00 -911.31Library

Income to date 44.90Expenditure to date 35.50 9.40

Sales + CommissionIncome to date: Journals + yarn principally + Xmas raffle

370.36 370.36

Admin, Equipment + Publicity

Expenditure to date: incs new sound system + notice board

621.19 -621.19

MiscellaneousIncome to date: primarily donations 243.00Expenditure from Float to date + Xmas competition

126.95 116.05

Equipment HireIncome to date: Hire £25; deposit £50 90.00 90.00

Exhibitions + EventsExhibition 2015 598.00 -598.00

WebsiteExpenditure to date: hosting and email admin

100.00 -100.00

Start of year £5191.00 End of Year position £5836.85

- Matters arising.

1. Membership.I have still not been able to reconcile the 2014 membership numbers discrepancy between the bank statements and Membership secretary numbers but I am only 2 out. Membership income 2014 125 paying members £2911.50

(+9 Hon Members)ASWSD Affiliation fees 2015 136 members @ £4 each £544

2. Monthly meetingsMeetings expenditure continues to exceed door income but thanks to the generosity of member speakers not invoicing for their time we only had to pay for 6 speakers this year.Year-end deficit of £548.96The Hall has been booked for next year and as yet we have not had any notification of rental cost rises.The Speaker programme for this year indicates there will be 8 meetings where charges will be anticipated – an increase from this year

3. Warp & Weft and Advertising.Year-end deficit of £911.31All 2013 and 2014 advertising revenue has now been collected.

4. Guild exhibitionSo far expenditure is £598.00This sum will not show in 2014 expenditure accounts. Instead they will be carried over to the 2015 Accounting year.Likewise the cost of 2015 Speaker cards and anticipated expenditure on publicity material for the Guild and exhibition.

II. Membership Secretary’s Report:

Membership Secretary’s report to Committee 10 January 2015

1. Statistics

At the time of writing the current number of Guild members is 153, this breaks down into: 9 Honorary members 49 Renewals (1 Student renewal) for 2015. 11New members 11 (2 new Student members) 84 non-renewed members

New members mainly give the Internet, Handweavers and Knitting and Stitching show as their introduction to the Guild. There was one Wonderwool and “word of mouth”.

2. Methods of payment

Since the introduction of Direct Bank transfer this renewal year 15 people have used this method, sometimes not sending me details or completing a renewal form, but Karen and 1 keep up-to-date.

3 Renewal Reminders

An insert will go into W&W in February and I have mentioned renewal in Membership News in W&W, reminding people that they will no longer receive W&W or have access to the internet.

Jane Rutt6 January 2014

III. Programme Secretary’s Report

The programme card for 2015 was printed and thanks are due to Lyn and everyone who worked so hard on it.

Thanks too for all the work on the Poster; this is being distributed to Colleges by Jennifer Shellard.

Feedback and attendances will help the in the choice of speakers for 2016 but as ever, thanks for suggestions and more are always welcome.

Workshops

1. 28th March with Matty SmithIntroduction to Tapestry Weaving.10.00 to 4.00

Cost £50 to include all materials.The list is open. Max numbers =10 (min =6)After today’s meeting we can take deposits.

2. In House workshops at the August Meeting (8th Aug)Leonore will teach needle feltingShahnaz will teach Sprang. Michael Leroyd is making frames for this.We need a co-ordinator for this meeting as I am away.

3. 12th September with Gill ChapmanFelting workshop on the morning of her talk. (10.30 to 1.00)Details to follow. Deposits from ?June.

Joan Scriven - Jan 2015

IV. Workshop Policy

Workshop/Event Organisation Policy - January 2015

For the sake of clarity and ease of implementation the London Guild should have a Best Practice Guide on ‘How to run a Workshop’ which includes a policy on cancellations and refunds for paid events.

Draft Proposal:

First get as much information as possible from the Tutor about date, workshop content, fee, cost of travel, material cost, maximum class size (bearing in mind the space available at the venue), and their cancelation time requirement.

Find a venue and from this information and costings work out the minimum number of attendees required to make the workshop practically viable and financially affordable.

Advertise the workshop and give a range within which you expect the costs to fall if a viable number of people wish to attend.

Make a list of people who want to attend and take a non-refundable deposit of 25% at the time.

Make sure people are aware this deposit is non-refundable. Suggest deposits are not paid into the Guild Account until the workshop is confirmed.

Book up to the maximum number the tutor/space will take and create a ‘Reserve List’ if oversubscribed. No deposit is taken from those on the ‘Reserve List’.

If there are insufficient people who wish to attend 2-3 months out (this depends upon tutor and venue cancellation policies) then:

o Advertise to other Guilds and plug on the website to boost numberso If this fails, cancel with the tutor according to their schedule; cancel the venue

booking and notify depositors. Once a person has signed up for a paid event/workshop and has paid a deposit they are

deemed to be committed to the event and liable to pay the full fee upon request regardless of whether they can attend or not, unless there is a Reserve List or the workshop is cancelled.

Work out the final cost (which may depend on the number of attendees), remembering that a small profit is necessary to ensure that no loss is incurred.

Request final payment a month before the event with the proviso that any material costs will be payable on the day of the workshop.

As a general rule no refunds can be given unless the workshop/event is cancelled. However, if a person is unable to attend and gives notice more than two weeks before the

event, a refund (minus an administration fee of £10) will be permitted under the following conditions:

a) The workshop/event is fully subscribed, or b) Someone on the Reserve List is offered and takes the place, orc) The attendee finds someone to take their place.d) Exceptionally, if after the event it is found costs have been covered (+ small profit for

contingencies) then a refund may be offered. If there are several qualifying cancellations then any refund allowance should be divided equally between them. In all cases the refund sum will be determined by the amount of profit made and as a rule should not exceed ‘amount paid minus £10 admin fee’.

One week prior to workshop send a reminder email to everyone confirming arrangements, giving contact details; information on how to find the venue; any tools/materials they should bring; catering arrangements and anything else you can think of.

V. Webmaster’s Report

Webmaster’s Report January 2015

The main news is that there is now a calendar for Hot News so members can search in the month relevant to them for items. New items will continue to be in the main area of the site (as well as in the relevant months), but they will be removed after a couple of weeks to keep the number of items there more manageable. The image of the new poster for the programme in 2015 is also up now.

The change in time for the Interest Groups is on the site. The members of those groups need to decide what 10.30 means, for instance if it is, ‘arrive at 10.30 for 11.00 start’, and let all group members know about that.

The gentle rise in hits on the website continues and the figures for those who do not stop on the site once found, ie bounce rate, continues at a similar rate, around 60%. Visitors in October 1,119, November 919 , December 962, with fluctuations from time to time – amazingly 103 on 8th December for no apparent reason.

I’m still not receiving any further images for The Gallery so if any of you can send me some and/or encourage others to do so, that would be good. Helena included my item in the monthly email prior to January’s meeting so that may bring forth some.

I do get the occasional encouraging remark about the site in general and Hot News in particular.

Twitter and Facebook

Current Status:

Twitter - 26 followers (no background image)Facebook - 14 Likes (background image from Eve’s photos for the postcard)

Not a huge amount of interest so far, but generally an extra one or 2 per month. Hopefully the inclusion of the links on the new poster and postcard will help generate more.

At the moment the only updates to these are auto generated from the hot news. Unfortunately I don’t think it puts everything on there, only the most recent new story (so if multiple are loaded at once it misses some, and it won’t repeat any that have already been posted). If I can figure out the issue I will try and fix it, but otherwise it still at least has regular updates.

Suggestions for what else to post would be welcomed. Ideas:

a. reminders about upcoming meetings with speaker info (as per round robin email)b. other guild updates that aren’t in hot newsc. retweeting other items of interest from other twitter accounts

There is a lot more that could be done, but I am unsure what the best use is at the moment.

Also others are welcome to update and administrate the accounts if they would like as you can have multiple admin users for both.

VI. W&W Editor’s Report

Committee report – Warp & Weft editor

Warp & Weft

November issue was delivered to Jan for distribution – including 3 complimentary copies to Caron Penney, who allowed us to use her tapestry as an illustration. The print run was 180 - how many were left over? As Jane's reported current (renewed and non-renewed) membership is 153, that is only 27 above this number. Query – I suggest keeping it at least this and using any leftovers at the exhibition as give-aways to anyone who asks seriously about membership? Possibly also any leftovers from last year could be given away to visiting students who come to meetings or interest groups?

February issue being compiled – waiting the write-up of January's talk. There was confusion about writing up the November talk so it may be a very brief note. Brief information on writing for W&W and copy dates will be included in the issue – do we want this also on the website?I hope to circulate to committee members for comment on 27 January – Christine plus one other to be decided at meeting. We should then receive copies from the printer on 11 Feb for distribution at the meeting on 14 Feb. There will be a flyer for membership renewal inside the February issue. Query – Is Jane taking distribution from now, and is this date OK?

Advertising – Karen contacted Texere for a new advert, and it also includes a 10% discount. I think we should review advertising charge for colour ads as these constrain where we place them and reduce colour pages for members' photos.

Karen took delivery of the speaker cards for the December meeting, and Jennifer Shellard has very kindly been sending out the meeting posters to colleges, emphasising that they are free lectures for students.

Leaflets – no action on leaflets – need a clear definition what we want and the text to be included.

Lyn Duffus

January 2015

VII. Librarian and Exhibition Report

Exhibition & Library – notes for Committee meeting on 10 January, 2015-01-04

Exhibition:

Penny Brazier is currently in France. But she has asked me to let you know the current state of play.

The poster has been done but needs to be approved by St Martins.

We will be having a meeting in February and plan to confirm wording for the advertising postcard/leaflet and get this printed as soon as possible, using the same image as the poster.

We will also be arranging diary/advertising in The Journal and other magazines. Last time we only paid for two – Craft Magazine and Selvedge. If the Committee agree I think these latter two magazines are worth paying for.

Re a catalogue of the exhibition. In view of the Guild’s state of finances we wonder if this would be an unnecessary expense. It would need a dedicated person to coordinate it and to date no-one springs to mind.

Library:

A new member – Alison Clark – has volunteered to join the library team. Being very new she is not quite sure what is involved. I have suggested she come along to the next few meetings and take over later in the year if she is happy.

If Alison can take over the running of the Library I can start going through the books and getting a valuation.

Re Wendy’s mention of copies of Warp & Weft and The Journal in the archives and no-one showing any interest. I currently subscribe to The Journal for the library (and this copy goes into the Archives). Very, very rarely does anyone look at it. I suggest, after this year, we cancel this.

If Wendy wants to get rid of back copies of The Journal from the Archives I am sure they would sell well at Guild meetings.

VIII. Library catalogue update

Library catalogue and unwanted titles update

Following the sale of the rarely if ever borrowed library titles last year, I brought the items that didn’t sell (even at 2 for £1) home with me. I have now:

- updated the library database to take account of all the changes- given a security copy in spreadsheet form to Karen (the main database is in Access 2000 which

few people now will have)- failed to sell the unwanted items- printed off indexes by author, title and subject (which I will bring to the January afternoon

meeting)

- made pdf files of the indexes for Eve to consider how she would like to present the library information on the website

Disposing of the unwanted titles

Felicity Warnes found “nothing to tempt” her and was somewhat sniffy about the list overall, which I have to say I’m not at all surprised about – most of the items are elderly, old-fashioned, and/or pamphlets. Unless anyone has any strong objections I suggest recycling as the realistic option.

I will circulate a spreadsheet of the titles so the committee can reassure yourselves there are no hidden gems.

W&W and Journal archive copies

These are now all that is left of the library archive. I think we should keep them, even though Karen has now scanned all the W&W issues., although it has been years since anyone asked to borrow them. Some time later this year we will be having extensive refurbishment work done on our home which will mean they would have to go into storage for the duration – probably six to nine months. Given the lack of interest in borrowing them I doubt their inaccessibility would seriously inconvenience members, but if the committee would like to consolidate all Guild archive property in one place, this would be a good time to incorporate W&W and the Journal.

Wendy Morris2 January 2015

IX. Christmas Competitions

Suggestions for the 2015 competitions

Gwen Shaw

2015 is the International Year of Light, marking the centenary of Einstein’s theory of general relativity which showed how light was at the centre of the very structure of space and time. Light plays a vital role in our crafts too, not least in its connection with colour and value. So our theme for the Gwen Shaw competition in 2015 is “Light”.

If you find this dauntingly vague, you could use Turner’s painting “Light & Colour” as a more specific design source. You can view it by following this link: http://www.william-turner.org/Light-and-Colou.html or there will be a print of it on the Guild noticeboard.

You should present a finished item that is handwoven, tapestry-woven, handspun, hand-dyed, or any combination of those. As the Gwen Shaw competition is essentially a design competition, you should also present something that shows how your design was developed from the initial concept or visual source to the finished item.

Note: This keeps the design focus of the competition and enables people to use a conceptual design source if they wish, while giving a visual source for those who find that less daunting. It’s easy to see that it could be translated by weavers, spinners and dyers alike. One could imagine the theme of “Light” being reworked in some way to be acceptable to a gallery, including St Martin’s in the Fields if we were lucky enough to get in there again.

Lore Youngmark

“It isn’t finished until it’s wet-finished” is the handweaver’s mantra. The finishing process changes the web of interlaced threads into cloth. Sometimes, depending on materials and methods, that process is truly transformational and the cloth no longer looks similar to the web that was on the loom. So the topic for this year’s Lore Youngmark competition – the technical handweaving competition – is “Transformations”.

You should present a swatch that is still loom-state, and a swatch (or swatches, if you want to show more than one finishing technique) of the finished fabric. (Finished items are also acceptable, but it is the finishing of the cloth that is important, not the item itself.) You should also include enough technical information about your yarn, weave structure and finishing methods for the cloth to be recreated.

Note: The weave interest group has been looking at woven shibori, which would be covered by this topic whether it is shibori for texture or for dyeing. There are many other options too – collapse, felting, fulling, brushing – and results aren’t generally superior the more shafts you have, so it’s a leveller in terms of equipment.

X. Publicity Report

7.1.15

Publicity report

Unpaid advertising:Potential places to advertise using the Guild card (hard copies):Related courses and classes( Surbiton Surrey, Chesham, Handweavers Studio and Gallery, WeaversUnlimited Wandsworth Town, Morley College, Janet Phillips, Light House Studio – Ali Holloway)Wetland spinning group? Any other ideas?Places to advertise by emailing the Guild card : colleges ( will be supported by Wendy Morris)

Regular papers and supplements – free listings:Advertising events and activities in magazines (Timeout) and free local papers.

Paid advertising:Craft related Magazines CraftsCouncil, Craft& Design, Selvedge.They are all costly and here are some of their advertising rates:

Craft & Design:Eighth page: (60x90mm)1issue £235 3 issues £205 6 issues £180 Quarter page (130x90mm):1 issue £450 3 issues £385 6 issues £325

Craft & Design News letter (online and email to subscribers) alternate month pdf 200 words with 2images and links £75 +VAT.Web single size banner advertisement that will appear in rotation with other advertisements everypage on the site.

Crafts Magazine, Crafts Council:Eighth page: (61x96mm)colour £240 mono £195 Quarter page: (126x96mm) colour £405 mono £335 On line adv. Service as well.

Selvedge Magazine:Size 10 1/27 (70mmx20mm) Horizontal1 issue £75 3 issues £67.50 6 issues £60 Size 1/9 (70x72mm) Square:1 issue £150 3 issues £135 6 issues £120 News letter :”What's on” calendar.

Last but not least- regarding the new Guild leaflets I strongly believe that it will be beneficial toseek advice from professional graphic designers who have the knowledge, experience and creativeideas in this area.

Elite Bernet

XI. Archive update

London Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers: Committee meeting 10 January 2015Storing London Guild’s historic archive materials: update

Karen Firmin-Cooper and Christine Eborall met on 2 December 2014 to go through the London Guild’s paper archive previously stored in Ann Brooks’s garage, and made the following progress:

Files and contents (after inspection) Progress and proposed next steps

London Guild files

File of London Guild AGMs from inception in February 1950 to March 2001

Reviewed and considered OK to give to London Metropolitan Archive (no personal information or any other inappropriate information detected)

File containing copies of Guild constitutions

Duplicates and drafts removed; considered OK to give to London Metropolitan Archive

Files of London Guild committee meeting minutes from 1983 to 2008

Karen will scan the more recent ones (say from 2000 onwards) and they can then be put on the website to join the more recent minutes already there.Karen will check all for any personal information and then

return them to Christine. They should then be given to London Metropolitan Archive as we felt they are a good insight into what the Guild was doing in that period.Christine to see if anyone knows what happened to pre-1983 minutes (people I’ve contacted so far don’t know).

File of Newscuttings plus 2 files about past Guild exhibitions including catalogues, posters etc. (one of these files from Mary Smith)

Karen will scan so that we can have a section on 20th century Guild exhibitions on the website, then to return them to Christine. They should then be given to London Metropolitan Archive as we felt they are good historical information.

One file of correspondence, and one of secretary’s notes from 2000.

Christine to weed and produce a core version of historical material relevant to current and future committee members, i.e. so corporate memory is not lost.Might also be the basis of another composite historical document for the website, in addition to the formal Guild history of the first 50 years (Karen is re-scanning the paper copy so the pages are in a better order).

3 Visitors books showing attendance at Guild meetings and other events October 1973 – August 1983; December 1981 – end 1996; June 1997 – June 2010.

Some contain addresses as well as names, i.e. personal information. All to go to confidential scrap (shredding and recycling)

Non-Guild files

Association files with Minutes from November 1995 to 1999; another with oddments etc from 1999 to 2004

No need to keep ( paper recycling)

18 copies Federation of British Craft Societies January 1976 to Spring 1980

No need to keep ( paper recycling)

If the committee is happy with this, we will proceed with a view to making the deposit to the London Metropolitan Archive during the next few months.

Before finalising, Christine will re-contact Melanie Venes, Brenda Gibson, Mary Smith and Claude Delmas to double check whether they have any other material that should be included in the deposit.

XII. Sales Table Proposal

Jane Rutt and Eve Alexander

Proposal for Sales Table/s at Guild Meetings

Following the “Stash Sale” which appeared to be quite successful for both members selling and buying it was agreed to consider more regular sales, as the current occasional sales table is not much used or managed and I’m not sure if the Guild get any commission from these sales?

Christine identified a number of points to consider if we proposed more regular Sales and Eve and I have produced the following proposal.

Items to be sold

All items should be SWD related, either raw materials, equipment, finished articles woven, knitted or dyed. We could stipulate that items should have been made by members Members purchasing items have the usual ‘caveat emptor’ situation, they have to accept that they have paid for them and it is between themselves and the seller if things go wrong.

Commission:

10% seems fair and should not be seen as a burden to sellers. For example, if someone sells a hank of yarn for £5 they would only be expected to give say 50p commission but a spinning wheel at £50 would be expected to give £5.

Managing the Money:

Eve suggests a system of numbered boxes (which she has experienced at other guilds) and a list of these. Anyone wanting to sell on their own behalf has to see that day’s organiser (could be the treasurer) for a box. Their name is listed alongside its number and they are invited to give their commission to the treasurer at the completion of the sale time. Honesty expected.

How to set it up

Perhaps sound out people such as Brenda Gibson, Ann Dixon, Anne Brooks and others who??? If they would be interested in the proposal. Ask for a show of hands at next Guild meeting.Announce at meetings and in W&W. Need to give people affair amount of notice. Have a printed sheet(Card?) for sellers together with their “moneybox” which outlines key points such as pricing, sharing a table, suitability of items, commission rate, security issues.

When and Where to sell

Propose we try it 2 or 3 times a year for a trial period2015/2016. Perhaps at the AGM, a Summer Sale in June, and an Autumn /Christmas sale in September/November.

A few tables to be set up at the meeting, probably along the right hand side of the room (opposite library). Suggest that 2 members (if available) share a table (but have their individual boxes). This means that they can take turns to circulate, look at the notice board, library etc. Also for security, so that items and money cannot go missing. (Hard to control/manage but this point could be made to sellers)

Review and Monitoring

If we introduce it as a trial we can see how it goes and get feedback from members who have sold items because we will know who they are from the list and ask for feedback from members generally. It will probably be clear enough whether it’s a success or not