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BETWEEN FRIENDS

ONE COMMON THREAD
The regular newsletter of the Friendship Spinners - Winter 2008

Between Friends is the quarterly newsletter of the Friendship Spinners. We meet on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at various locations around Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Lunch is usually potluck. Dues are $20 per calendar year. For more information about meetings or to place and ad, contact the newsletter editor Linda Donahoe. To join, contact treasurer/membership chair Nancy Reid.

Upcoming Spin Ins

Feb. 9	Shelbyville Extension Office, Shelbyville KY
Mar. 8	Franklin County Co-op, Frankfort KY
April 5	Sandy Duffy's House, Georgetown IN
May 10	Bernheim Forest

Click on the location for driving directions.

From The Program Chair

Welcome Spinners to the first newsletter of 2008!

Our retreat at Shakertown was a wonderful way to top off 2007, everything went smoothly this year, which made for a very relaxing weekend for all. In contrast to some other years when the staff at Shakertown was a little less than helpful, this year they went out of their way to be gracious, generous, and accommodating. Two of our members had family or medical emergencies and could not attend as they had reserved for Friday night's stay. Their deposits were still refunded! One member was pleasantly surprised when she was not charged for her young daughter, as children stay for free. The staff also agreed to count lodging rooms rented on both Friday AND Saturday nights to come up with the required total of 20 rooms, in order to comp us the meeting room, a $125 value. Above and beyond all else, once again they looked the other way as we engaged in our usual habit of bringing in lots of food. They surely "made us kindly welcome." At our January meeting we decided to wait until the February meeting to do the Weaver’s Exchange, so bring your Heirloom Towels to the next meeting. We were all saddened to here of the death of Martha Richard’s father, our thoughts and prayers are with here in this time of grief. I know she would appreciate any cards you send her to let her know she is in your thoughts.

Sandy Duffy

Treasurer’s Report and New Members (among other things)

There is $903 in the checking account, of which $190 is earmarked for subsidizing the retreat, proceeds from Shakertown’s raffle. Petty cash has $20. Please do not forget your 2008 dues are now due, the cost is $20 for single memberships and $30 for families. Make checks out to Friendship Spinners and mail to me.

Between Shakertown and the January meeting we have 4 new members. Addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers will be in the next newsletter, which includes the directory, but for now, the names are:
Brenda Orthober
Denise Coonley
Anita Bolen
Mary Heil

If you need details, call or e-mail me. We are in need of a new treasurer/membership chair for the club. We just passed term limits of 5 years for serving officers, to guard against burnout and encourage wider participation, but I was feeling the need to change anyway. Keeping track of the checking account is no big deal, but the data entry to keep the membership rolls current and get newsletters and announcements out can be challenging. We need a volunteer, and I will of course train a replacement, but the job could be done by two people working in tandem if they were close friends. Please consider this a great volunteer opportunity!

A very pleasurable part of this job is paying out the premiums and subscriptions to the winners in the various State Fair classes that we sponsor. It doesn’t amount to a whole lot of money, but bragging rights are involved when one of us wins a class at the State Fair. Please consider entering your creations this year; it’s nice to see our sponsorship go back to our own members. If you are unfamiliar with the process, ask anyone of the officers and we can point you in the right direction, or Google Kentucky State Fair, but in brief, it’s cheap to enter a class, and you can win back cash and/or a Spin Off magazine subscription!

The automated self-serve member renewal at Shakertown was wonderful, and really freed me up to enjoy the gathering. Many thanks to all who took advantage of it. We’ll keep doing it!

Nancy Reid

Rent-A-Loom

Don’t forget, the club owns a lovely little 4 harness floor loom that rents out for only $25 a month, with a $100 deposit. If you’ve been wanting to try weaving and have hesitated at the high initial capital outlay, try it first to see if you like it! The library also has the books to get you started, and there are several qualified teachers in the club as well. Contact Nancy Reid to reserve the loom.

News from the Library

Our library is in fantastic shape and I hope all enjoyed using it at Shakertown. I will be bringing the entire library to as many as meetings as possible, but if you need a book or a few on one subject just email tori. Also, please send titles of any books you would like to see purchased for our library!

Tori Kleinert

Shakertown Report

At the Shakertown Retreat this year, it was discussed whether to continue holding our winter retreats there. A vote was taken, after some discussion concerning alternate sites, and it was decided that we will continue to go to Shakertown. The primary reason was that any other site, such as a state park, might have greater restrictions than Shakertown.

There was a reminder that we will be charged for the meeting room if we don't meet the minimum of 20 room reservations.

The steering committee recommended, and it was voted in, that there be a five year limit on officer terms. Everyone to this point has agreed to maintain their position for another year, with the exception of Linda Donahoe. Ken Linfield will be assuming the newsletter duties, and Linda will be training him on the procedure and format. Thank you, Ken, for volunteering this important position.

Debbie Longwith

Want Ads

Felting needles: 38 RBI, $1 ea

Angora Blend Yarns: 85 angora/15 Superwash merino; or sock yarn in 50 Angora/30 nylon/20 s.w. merino. Both sport weight in white, $9.50/oz. Contact Nancy Reid.

Barn Loom, at least 100 years old – 5’ by 5’ by 5’. A few pieces missing. Picture of it assembled available. Price: negotiable. Contact Ken Linfield.

Summer Retreat

Save the dates of June 13,14,and 15 for our summer retreat. What a treat it will be with two wonderful fiber teachers coming to inspire and educate us. Ann Brown from Winchester Kentucky will be teaching a class in braided rugs made from roving. After her two day class, you will go home with a beautiful rug to call your own. The knitters in our group will have the opportunity to learn knitting from Katharine Cobey of Cushing Maine. Check out her web site. She is featured in the book "Knitting in America" if you have a copy. The retreat will be at Shakertown and registration forms will be going out in February as a separate mailing. Consider coming up on Friday afternoon and taking a boat ride on the paddle wheeler through the beautiful Kentucky River Palisades. The classes will be held on Saturday and Sunday. We also will find room for spinning if you want to join us and are not interested in taking a class. Room registration will be handled by Shakertown who is holding a block of rooms just for us. The cost of class registration will be $100.00. More details will be forth coming in the registration form. If you have any questions please call Betty Beshoar and I will be more than happy to talk to you into coming.

Betty Beshoar

Friendship Spinners Bylaws

The following addendum has been made to the bylaws:
Article 7: Term Limits
Members may serve a maximum of five years as officers on the steering committee of Friendship Spinners.

Read the bylaws.

2008 Friendship Spinners Officers

Carol Wixom / Sandy Duffy	Co-Chairpersons
Nancy Reid	Treasurer / Membership Chair
Tori Kleinert	Librarian
Jean Covert	Archivist
Linda Donahoe / Ken Linfield	Newsletter Editors

Upcoming Events

Greencastle Fiber Festival
April 11, 1pm - 7pm
April 12, 9am - 5pm

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
May 3-4
Room reservations are on your own. Some members are staying at the Red Horse Inn in Frederick MD.

Stock Dog Show
May 17-18, Masterson Station Park, Lexington KY
They need spinning demos, free booth set up. Contact person Leigh Ann Tucker 859-375-2089 TTT_BC@BELLSOUTH.NET
Website: bluegrassclassicsdt.com

2008 Spin In Schedule

Feb. 9	Shelbyville Extension Office, Shelbyville KY
Mar. 8	Franklin County Co-op, Frankfort KY
April 5	Sandy Duffy's House, Georgetown IN
May 10	Bernheim Forest
June 14-15	Shakertown	Summer Retreat
July 12	Shelby County Extension Office, Shelbyville KY
Aug. 9	Bernheim Forest
Sept. 13	Tori Kleinert's House	Annual Spinners Dye-In
Oct. 18-19	Bernheim Forest	Colorfest
Nov. 8	Franklin County Extension Office, Frankfort KY	Annual Spinners Market
Dec. 5-6	Shakertown	Winter Retreat

Driving Directions to Spin-Ins

Franklin County Extension Office

From Louisville and Lexington:
From I-64 take Exit #58 to US 60 W. Travel about three miles to a large intersection with overhead green signs. Turn right onto Georgetown Road (US 460 E) travel eight tenths of a mile to the next light and turn left onto KY 2822 (Steadmontown Rd). The extension office is the second left on the corner of Lakeview Court behind Lakeview Park.

Shelby County Extension Office

in east Shelbyville:
Take interstate 64 to exit 35. Turn north toward Shelbyville and go about a mile to US 60 and take a right. You will see a McDonalds on the left at this intersection. Go about a mile and the Shelby County Extension Office, which is new, is on the left. The Shelbyville address is listed as 117 Frankfort Road 40065 and the number is 502-633-4593. Contact person: Tori Kleinert.

Sandy Duffy's Home

Take I-64 west into Southern Indiana. Take Exit 119 (Greenville – Paoli). Turn left onto Old Vincennes Road at first stop light. Go past Floyd Central and Galena Elementary, you will come to a three way stop. Take the left fork and then take the next left fork, this will put you onto John Pectol Rd. Turn left at the first road this is Alonzo Smith Rd. Go up the hill and turn left at the second subdivision. This is Brazil Lake Estates, turn right at the T-intersection, this puts you onto Brazil Lake Parkway. Go around the lake, you will come to a 4-way stop. Go straight, my house is the 4th on the right after the stop sign.
3124 Brazil Lake Pkwy.

Bernheim Forest

From Louisville:
Take I-65 south to exit 112. Turn left, go east for 1 mile. Entrance sign on the right.

From Lexington:
Take I-64 west to I-265 (Gene Snyder). Go south and west toward I-65. Go south on I-65 to exit 112. Go east (left) about 1 mile. Entrance is on the right.

Contact person is Betty Beshoar.

2007 Members Survey Results

Here are the summarized results, showing the number of votes in bold and a summary of comments, noted as Comments:. Printed copies will be available at monthly meetings (please ask).

1. At the 2008 Summer Retreat, do you want: 2, one day classes (15) or, 1, two day class (12).
2. Feedback regarding the 2007 summer Retreat at St. Meinrad:
   Comments: A vast majority of comments were very positive about a wide range of elements. A couple of concerns regarded cost of courses and details of timing.
3. Continue Summer Retreats? Yes (28) No (0).
   Every year? (12) Every other year (11)
   Presenters: In-house (2) Outside (4) Comb. (21)
   Where? St. Meinrad (12) Shakertown (7) Other (2)
   Comments: There were a few suggestions of details like considering State Parks.
4. Additions to the Newsletter? Yes (6) No (19).
   Comments: A few suggestions of additional information, and a similar number specifically asking for no change.
5. Maintain and build a library of books and periodicals? Yes (17) No (4)
   Comments: Comments regarding appreciation of the library, desire for careful use of funds, and elements of accessibility such as having a list of all library items.
6. Smaller, regional monthly meetings with 4 general meetings a year (3) or the way they are (24)
   Comments: Many in support of the structure as it is.
7. New Crone Crowning: every year (7) every other year (3) as needed (19)
   One new Crone (8) two new Crones (0) depends on the vote (12)
   Comments: A few comments noting that there are limits based on our numbers (too few to elect many crones).
8. Should the Crowned Crones handle the Crone nomination and voting? Yes (26) No (1)
9. We should work on: increasing our outreach (7) more in-house projects (14)
   Comments: Many comments, mostly suggesting for a balance between the two.
10. Should we raise dues to $20.00 a year (18) Maintain dues at $15.00 a year (11) Comments: Comments across the full range – from $20 being a bargain to concern that the increase may lead to drop outs.
11. Send flowers to ill members? $160.00 / yr: Yes (9) No (19)
    Comments: Comments about alternatives.
12. Continue funding State Fair entries? $175.00 /yr. Yes (20) No (5)
    Comments: A few comments on either side.
13. Continue to budget for library? (Current budget is $200.00) Yes (15) No (9)
    Comments: A number of comments about using the funds wisely or reducing the amount.
14. Cakes & other treats for special meetings? $100.00 / yr. Yes (10) No (11)
    Comments: Suggestions for alternatives.
15. Proceeds from the raffle at Shakertown: internal needs (11) donated to outside fiber related orgs (2) alternate internal & outside (12)
    Comments: Several comments suggesting flexibility, such as “use as needed” or split 50/50.
16. Needs of new spinners: Paid lessons 4 times a year (8) All share knowledge (20)
    Comments: Many comments either supporting current patterns or encouraging ways to structure the sharing.

The other items about suggestions generated many useful comments that cannot be briefly summarized in the newsletter – see the website or printed copies (available at Spin-ins).