NYC Crochet Guild
I am Barbara Hillery. I have been crocheting most of my life, starting when I was 11 and was just struck by the inherent logic and magic of pulling one loop through another in sequence until you had made something. I crocheted through high school and college, earning spending money by keeping my friends properly granny-squared in the 70's. I took a break while my children were small, but came back to crocheting with a vengeance in 2000, when I discovered the plethora of patterns and information available on the web and the great variety of affordable fibers available on eBay! That made me thirsty for a good class, for the company of other crocheters. But no matter how hard I looked, they were nowhere to be found. I could not believe that in NYC, where anyone can do anything anytime, crocheters were the exception to the rule. So after long thought, I decided to do something about it.
I founded the NYC Crochet Guild (with the invaluable help of Alma Stoller) and became its first President. My personal situation (which has since been resolved) caused me to turn the presidency over to Willena, then Vice President, in January 2002. I continued functioning as treasurer and membership coordinator until the following June when we held our first elections and happily turned those jobs over to Jo Ann and Yvonne. I remained on the Executive Board as immediate past president.
I have always edited (and written much of) the newsletter and programmed our workshops. My idea was that beginner crochet classes were available and so the Guild should focus on those of us who wanted more and could not find it. To that end I concentrated on finding accomplished, interesting and varied workshop teachers, and coordinated that with good communications: newsletter, Yahoo group and general networking. I feel I have been very lucky every step of the way-from those who have volunteered their time, expertise and ideas to the Guild, to the number of incredible workshop teachers who have come our way.
It is thrilling to see how we have thrived. My original concept has expanded to the point where we are now conducting our own beginner classes, donating to charities, holding joint activities with other guilds and participating in outreach of many types.
I believe the President's job is basically one of diplomacy and coordination, of keeping track of what is going on in the Guild and on the Board, of finding out where to go next and gently guiding all towards that. I think I have shown in the past that I have these qualities and would welcome the opportunity to be your President again.