About Us
Northern Star Quilters’ Guild (NSQG) grew out of two successful Quilt Shows put on for fundraising purposes for the American Field Service of Somers, NY. The obvious interest shown led to the founding of NSQG in June of 1981. An annual Quilt Show became an integral part of our activities and it’s charitable contribution continues with the recipient changing each year by membership vote.
We are a not-for-profit(501c3) corporation whose purpose is to promote the art of quilting. Nationally known guest speakers and workshops are provided 5 months of the year; in-house educational programs are offered in the weather-problem months of winter and we create and provide quilts for numerous charitable organizations.
Our diverse membership of around 200 traditional, contemporary, and art quilters spans the ability range from novice to professional and comes from a wide geographical area that includes NYC, Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties in NY, Fairfield and Litchfield counties in CT as well as further afield.
We usually meet at 6:30 pm on the third Tuesday of each month (unless there is a schedule conflict) at Kennedy Catholic School, located at 54 Route 138, Somers, NY. There are no meetings in July or August; the first weekend in May is reserved for the Quilt Show.
We welcome new members to join us at any time with the promise of friendship and sharing for which quilters are known.
Member Benefits
Contact info: Membership@northernstarquilters.com.
Joining Northern Star Quilters’ Guild provides a number of benefits to its members including:
- Monthly meetings with informative and entertaining Speakers
- Informal social time (and refreshments) at meetings with a Welcome table for new members and a “show and tell” of members’ quilts
- Various Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
- Workshops featuring classes taught by well-known experts in a wide variety of quilting techniques
- Newsletter emails and updates monthly, sharing current Guild information
- Participation in our Annual Quilt Show
- The opportunity to sign up for special guild activities like Challenges, Trips and Sewing days
- Extensive up-to-date lending Library of books and magazines
- Charitable activities like Comfort Quilts to help those in need of a little ‘comfort’ and creating a Raffle Quilt in support of a charity chosen yearly.
Guests are always welcome, $5 fee, deducted from the annual dues if you choose to join the Guild. Annual membership dues are $48 per year. Register before September 1 each year and be eligible for a drawing for a $25 gift certificate good for all Guild classes, programs and trips!
History
The roots of NSQG start in 1980 with the first “A World of Quilts” show. It was the brainchild of one of our founding members, for the benefit of the American Field Service, a group at Somers High School that her children were very involved in. She teamed up with three other women, who together organized the show. It was a success so they repeated it the following year.
The popularity of the shows led the group to form a guild, called Northern Star Quilters’ Guild, holding its first meeting on May 19, 1981 at the Elephant Hotel in Somers. Within the first two months of its formation, NSQG had 40 members paying $15 in dues.
As the guild grew, its meetings were moved to the Somers Intermediate School starting in March 1982. Guild membership continued to increase with 305 members in 1985. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the guild initiated several activities that continue on to today. One of these was our first Super Saturday held in February 1989, as a day with classes taught by guild members. Another, the guild library, that today has over 450 books, magazines and DVD’s available for loan to members, started in the spring of 1992.
The new activities and increased membership made the guild realize that the Somers Intermediate School could no longer accommodate it. In January 1994, all meetings were moved to Kennedy Catholic High School using its cafeteria and auditorium. The arrangement with Kennedy Catholic High School hosting guild meetings has continued thru today.