I find it hard to believe that Mary and I have been your co presidents for a year! While I must admit that I was unsure of how I would fill the shoes of past presidents of this wonderful guild, I have really enjoyed every minute of it!
We’ve had some ups and downs this year such as the decision to cancel our annual quilt show in May, but we put together a task force that has provided us with options which include our first Festival of Quilts, to be held October 9th and 10th, 2026. In addition, we have been presented with 2 viable locations for our next World of Quilts in 2027. All we need to proceed with the details is a Quilt Show Chairperson!
As you all know, we cannot move forward with our plans without the FULL participation of our guild members. There are many ways to help – some big and some small- so I ask you all to review the options that will be presented to you in detail in the near future. As a long time member, I have always enjoyed the satisfaction that comes with hosting a show that displays the creative talents of this guild and I hope you will join in as well!
Thank you to all of our Committee Heads for your hard work this past year and for providing us with so many options to travel to the AQS show, quilt together, learn from an amazing slate of instructors, present our Raffle recipient with a generous donation, and shop for the prettiest ugly fabrics we have ever had!
The voting for next year’s elected officers will be at our June Salad Supper meeting and I look forward to seeing you all there!
President - JoAnne Hochstein and Mary Rossetti
JoAnne Hochstein
Mary Rossetti:
I first joined the Guild in September 1990 when we met at the Somers Intermediate School. I have held a number of positions…show and guild treasurer and hospitality co-chair. I am a traditional quilter who still likes to hand quilt, but am planning to do some machine quilting.
Treasurer - Kathy Vanacoro
Kathy Vanacoro
Secretary - Patricia Loquet
Patricia Loquet
As a new mom I did some sewing but it never really interested me, but whenever I went to the library I always took out quilting books to pore over. It wasn’t until a neighbor who was a guild member told me about “Country Quilter” a shop in Somers that I finally found my “forever craft”. I joined the guild in 2001 as a beginning quilter and immediately signed up to go on the Lancaster trip which was a great way to meet my fellow guild members. I was able to join Comfort Quilts in 2004 and have been making quilts for people in need since then. I have worked on the quilt show committee a number of times, I’ve been on the Board (very early on) and have done many ‘One Offs” including Row By Row, Square Robins, Mystery Quilts, and Orphan Blocks which many members have participated in. At the current time I run the monthly raffle table, another great way to meet and chat with my quilting sisters and brothers. I wish to continue working for the guild and the secretary position is a perfect fit.
Membership - Shelley Lounsbury and Jeanne Hinrichs
Jeanne Hinrichs
Jeanne Hinrichs: I was so pleased to be asked to help with membership. I look forward to working with Shelley Lounsbury as we meet and greet new members. Joanne Visovsky and Carol Sterk did amazing work organizing all the backroom systems needed for membership. They have made our job easy, and I appreciate their support as we transition into our new roles. I have been quilting for over 40 years. I joined the Guild many years ago when my children were young. I had too much on my plate at the time to do the Guild justice. I rejoined 3 years ago and have enjoyed participating in Comfort Quilts and guest workshops. I try all types of quilting and like learning new techniques, but my love is hand applique and hand quilting. I look forward to meeting more and more guild members in my new role.
Shelley Lounsbury
Shelley Lounsbury began quilting 30 years ago at the Country Quilter in Somers, NY, and has attended many of the quilt shows sponsored by the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild. Prior to joining the NSQG in 2021, her understanding of quilting was mostly book-based. She joins the membership team appreciating how being in this community has opened the world of quilting to her and enriched her life in many ways: providing opportunities to learn from others, make friends, and grow as a quilter. She is a member of Comfort Quilts and has worked on the quilt show’s “Take a Chance” raffle baskets team for three years.
Programs - Kathy Tuttle and Betty Moulton
Kathy Tuttle
Kathy Tuttle: In the fall I will be starting my eighth year in the Guild.During that time I have chaired Super Saturday and ran programs and workshops . During those years I was able. to meet several talented speakers and workshops presenters. Super Saturday is always exciting as the talented members of the Guild share their skills with members. Recently I took over Programs once again. I have booked great speakers and workshops for the new Guild year starting in September. I hope to see many of you at the meetings and workshops during the 2026/27 calendar year.
Betty Moulton
Betty Moulton had a great career teaching acting, voice, speech and text for actors, professionally and at the University of Alberta in Alberta, Canada. She emigrated with her husband Paul to be closer to her son and his young family. She currently loves visiting her three young grandchildren, who live in Saratoga Springs. While enjoying sharing the programming tasks for NSQG, she especially likes the warm sisterhood of Comfort Quilts. Touring the Modern quilts at QuiltCon this past February was a highlight!
Communications - Debra Oaks
Debra Oaks
I come to quilting through my mother who has been a very accomplished quilter for my entire life. As a kid I used to “help” her when she hand quilted all the pieces she made. For myself, I really started sewing during the pandemic. As my daughter says, it was the hobby I was looking for. I love learning all the techniques and intricacies of piecing and, as a longarm quilter, the finishes. I’ve met some great people and look forward to deepening my relationships in the community.
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