Guild History – Beginning to 2000
Lebanon Quilters Guild History
1984
From a handful of ladies who met weekly in a church classroom grew the idea for the Lebanon. Quilters Guild. Marlene Williams put a notice in the newspaper, and obtained the cafeteria of South Lebanon Elementary School for an organizational meeting, held on January 9, 1984, at 7 p.m. Between 40 and 50 ladies showed up, and we voted to establish the Lebanon Quilters Guild. In the next few. months, .committees were formed, by-laws were established, and dues were set at $10.00 a year. ‘We had to follow the school calendar, since we met at the school, so no summer meetings were considered. The first set of officers elected, who stayed in office for· all of 1984 through June of 1985, were as follows :
President – Marlene Williams Vice-President – Sandy Klingler
Treasurer – Cheryl Rhen Secretary – Carmen Westenberger
Committees were chaired by these volunteers: programs – Ruth Ross; membership- Pat Underkoffler ; publicity – Audrey Kneasel
We agreed to assemble monthly for the purpose of sharing ideas, bringing in outside speakers occasionally, showing our work, teaching each other quilt-making techniques, sharing with the community. In the first six months we had these programs : Kitty Rose Zackey showed her State Farm Show first-prize-winning quilt; some people from the Hmong community near Ephrata shared their technique; we viewed a film called “Quilting in a Woman’s Life”; several members gave a program on Patchwork & Piecing; and Ruth Ross arranged for us to tour Tulpehocken Manor and see the antique quilt collection there .
1984-1985
Under the same officers listed above, these were the programs for the year: Jim Woland from Palmyra and his framed mini-quilts; “Quilts for Today and Tomorrow” lecture by-Dr. Mary Saylor; Batik & Quilting by Miriam Hyter; Marking quilts, by several Amish ladies; “Color & Design” by Dr. Mary Saylor; a tour of the Hershey Museum’s quilt collection.
We participated in the Extension Service’s Holiday for Homemakers.
We also collected blocks, assembled them, quilted it together and gave the full-size sampler quilt to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey.
We decided to hold a quilt show, in Schaefferstown, at the Old Barn, the first Saturday in June. Then we made a full-size, appliqued cherry quilt, from kits we prepared, and we donated it to the Schaefferstown’ Historical Society, who raffled it off. The quilt show was lovely, judged and displayed in the Old Barn.
1985 – 1986
President – Sandy Klingler Treasurer – Cheryl Rhen
Vice-President – Hetty Wengert Secretary – Jo Lynn Gerber
Programs this year included ; Pat Zug Long, with a slide show of Lebanon County quilts; Myrl Kline & Verda Gibble, showing various quilts; a slide show from our first quilt show; Becky Johnson; Jo Lynn Gerber, who shared her experiences at a Jinny Beyer seminar on Hilton Head Island; . A display of quilting gadgets; a swap meet of UFO’s; and a vest contest.
We donated books to the Lebanon Library and the Myerstown Library.
We began work on a sampler quilt to Donate to the Lebanon Library. We took a bus trip to the Great American ‘Quilt Festival in New York City … A second quilt show was planned and held on May 31, 1986, at the Lebanon Fairgrounds (old building).
1986 – 1987
President – Hetty Wengert Treasurer – Lynn Trump
Vice-President – Betty Templin Secretary – Jo Lynn Gerber
Programs this year included: Effie Eshelman & her quilt collection; Sarah & Katie Lentz and Lizzie Stoltzfus, sharing their Amish techniques; Template-Free quilt making; a wall-hanging contest; a slide show of our May, 1986 quilt show. A workshop was herd, given by Pat Zug Long, on charm quilts. We planned another quilt show.
The quilt we donated to the Lebanon Community Library was finished and presented to them in November. A large wall hanging was planned, assembled, quilted, and presented to South .Lebanon Elementary School in April. Plans were begun for a quilt for the Agape Shelter~ we made a quilt to raffle at our quilt show.
Our third quilt show was held on May 30 and 31, 1987, at the Lebanon Fairgrounds (old’ building).
1987 – 1988
President – Jo Lynn Gerber. Vice-President – Claire Boyer
Treasurer – Patti Sheffey Secretary – Jennie Woodring
Librarian – Mary & Louise Weigley
This is the year we participated in a quilt documentation project, spearheaded by Jean Frick. During the third week of November, guild member volunteers helped Jean document some 800 antique quilts in Lebanon County. We are supposed to have a set of slides from this project.Programs this year included; a slide show from the May, 1987 show; Ann Stanaway & her quilt collection; Tina Gravatt & her miniature quilts; Bonnie Young “Decorating with Quilts”; and twice we held a series of mini-workshops in a round robin at the meetings. At the December meeting, all members were given four pieces of Santa’s Secret fabric, and challenged to make something of them by the June meeting. Tina Gravatt presented a workshop on how to make miniature quilts.
We finished and presented a large wall quilt to the Agape House’ Shelter. Another raffle quilt was completed for our show. A group friendship quilt was finished and given to Marlene Williams, who moved back to Minnesota.
Our 4th quilt show was held at the Lebanon Fairgrounds on May 22 and 23, 1988.
1988 – 1989
President – Claire Boyer Vice President – Pat Underkoffer
Treasurer – Patti Sheffy Secretary – Jennie Woodring
Membership – Louise Bell
In September, a block contest was initiated, for a block specific to Lebanon County. May was the deadline. Pat Underkoffler’s version, now called (by us) Lebanon County Tulip, was the winner.
Programs this year included: Dr. Yvonne Milspaw’s lecture “Quilts A Social & Cultural History of American Women;” Jean Frick’s talk on .Judging Quilts; Pat Underkoffler’s’ discussion of different types of batting; twice we held mini-workshops, one on cutting templates; Mary Weigley spoke on pattern design and adaptation; Jean Frick’s slide show on the Quilt Documentation project. Packets of fabric were again distributed at the December meeting, with the due date in March. A bus trip was taken to see quilts displayed at Woodlawn Plantation. Another trip was taken to New York City to the quilt ‘show there. In March, Mildred Snyder presented a workshop, creating a Patchwork Jumper. We planned another quilt show, and made two raffle quilts for it
1989-90
President – Pat Books Vice President – Lynn Trump
Treasurer – Patti Sheffey Secretary – Jennie Woodring
Newsletter – Louise and Mary Weigley
Our raffle quilts were displayed in (the old) Penney’s windows. Our 5th quilt show was held at the Lebanon Fairgrounds (old building) on October 28 and 29, 1989.
This year we started a block-of-the-month contest: whoever wanted to make a block that month, all blocks could be won by participants. These sets of blocks were won this year: blue blocks – Christenna Stamm; burgundy blocks -Betty Templin; green blocks – Mary Weigley; Amish blocks – Kitty Rose Zackey. Pins were ordered and clothing with our logo made available. Programs included: Pat Books – altering patterns; folded Christmas ornaments; Mary Ann Klossman – Judging Quilts; Marie Tallman – Drafting Your Own Patterns. Linda Salitrynski, from Country Keepsakes, presented a workshop on Quick-Piecing. In the summer, we held two workshops to work on the two raffle quilts planned for the next show, one applique and one pieced.
1990-91
President – Christenna Stamm Vice-President – Mary Ann Fritsch
Treasurer – Patti Sheffey Secretary – Jennie Woodring
This year we continued the block-of-the-month program, and these sets of blocks were won : fans – Lynn Trump; leaf blocks – Ciri Daigle; earth tone blocks – Rosemary Stieg; reds & whites – Lorraine Frattaroli; crazy quilt blocks – Beth Kapp; rose blocks – Jo Lynn Gerber; pastel blocks -: Harriet Fox; flower blocks – Emma Spitler; houses – Beth Kapp. All year, preparations were being made for the next quilt show. Programs at the meetings were: Millie Snyder, with a slide show from the Fairfield Fashion Show; Betta Peak Little, with a presentation of old quilt patterns assembled by the WPA; stenciling; Christmas projects; a video, “Sue Saves a Quilt;” Seminole Piecing. The Christmas challenge was an applique pattern, “Ribbons & Roses,” which made a small wall hanging. (These were displayed at the next quilt show, at least a dozen completed.) We took three bus trips, one to G Street, one to a show in Quakertown, and one to New York City’s Great American Quilt Show.
We made and donated two baby quilts to the families of two men in Greensburg, PA, who were killed in the Gulf War. We also made a friendship quilt for Sandy Klingler, while her husband was serving in the Gulf War.
1991-92
President – Kitty Rose Zackey Vice-President – Jo Lynn Gerber
Treasurer – Hetty Wengert Secretary – Jennie Woodring
Corresponding Secretary – Pauline Jeffcoat
Newsletter – Kitty, Claudia Lawrence, Louise Bell
Our meeting place was changed to Cornwall Manor starting this September (more comfortable), and the time was changed to 7:30, (after bingo.) The September meeting was very exciting, with a total upheaval of the quilt show planned for October. Our 6th quilt show was held on October 12 and 13, 1991, still in the old building at the Lebanon Fairgrounds.
We made 30 or 40 baby quilts, of pieced triangles, tied them, and donated them to the Hyman Kaplan Pavilion for AIDS or other ill babies. We started piecing them in October, and worked on them through the winter and presented them to the hospital in March. Minnie Woodward, a Manor resident, gave us a set of Dresden Plate blocks. We bought a set of old embroidered state blocks and some pansy blocks from her, too.
Programs included: E-l tools of quilt making, by Christenna Stamm; over-dying of fabric, by Marie Tallman and Christenna Stamm; Borders & Bindings, by Carol Blevins; Stunning Scrap Quilts by Paula Lederkramer, Color & Fabrics, by Hetty Wengert. Workshops included: quillows (Mary Ann Fritsch); Curved 2-Patch (Elaine Salvino); E-l Angles (Christenna Stamm); Stunning Scrap Quilts (Paula Lederkramer). Block-of-the month winners were: gold & brown – Carole Lott; red & green – Louise Bell; burgundy & pink – Mary Ann Fritsch; black & white – Emma- Spitler. In July, we took a bus trip to Frederick, MD, to see the play, “The Quilters.”
1992-93
President – Kitty Rose lackey Vice President – Kay Gallop
Treasurer – Hetty Wengert Secretary – Beth Kapp
Corresponding Secretary – Claudia Lawrence
Membership – Carole Lott; Librarian – Ruth Purdin; Publicity – Deb Reb
We made the Lebanon Quilt Guild banner. Throughout this year, we could make a Sampler Quilt, with assigned blocks. We started trading charm squares. We donated three large boxes of quilt fabric and supplies to Florida victims of Hurricane Andrew, made and donated a couple dozen lap quilts to Cornwall Manor residents, decided to make up Minnie Woodward’s Dresden Plates into a quilt to donate to the Manor. Programs included: Enlarging & Reducing blocks (C. Stamm); Charm Squares (Beth Kapp); 90 degree wedge (M.A. Fritsch); Marking Quilt Tops (Hetty Wengert); Miniature Quilts (Stephanie Brasky); “Tips, Tricks, & Tidbits” (Carol Blevins). Workshops: Christmas tree wall-hanging (C.Stamm); Christmas tree skirt (M.A. Fritsch); miniatures (Stephanie Brasky); Bargello (Carol Blevins); machine applique (Sherry Sunday).
1993 – 1994
President – Kitty Rose Zackey Vice-President – Claudia Lawrence
Treasurer – Dian Moore Secretary – Beth Kapp
Historian – Carol Ziegler Newsletter – Kitty Rose Zackey
Corresponding Secretary – Jan Gernsheimer
By way of Hetty Wengert, the guild donated a Q-Snap frame to the Manor. We planned, ordered and purchased a cabinet to house our library. In September, we completed and presented a quilt to the Lebanon Historical Society for raffle. Programs included: Sherry Sunday’s Trunk Show, Foundation Piecing by Edna Keown. Quick Flying Geese by Jan Gernsheimer, Quilt-As-You-Go by Carol Blevins and a quilter’s yard sale.
Workshops: Nativity Circular Wall Hanging (Edna Keown) marbleizing fabric (Christenna Stamm & Kitty Zackey)
1994 – 1995
President – Claudia Lawrence Vice-President – Connie Weigley
Treasurer – Dian Moore Secretary – Sue Batz
Librarian – Rosemary Stieg Corresponding Secretary – Jan Gernsheimer
This year we voted to increase the yearly dues to $15. We donated the Dresden Plate quilt we made from Minniw Woodward’s blocks to the Cornwall Manor. In October, we displayed quilts at the new HACC building. Programs included:
Karen Kay Buckley & her antique quilt collection; Kitty Zackey – off-center log cabins & pineapples; Brenda Watson – yo-yo’s; Mary Ann Fritch – English-piecing. Workshops were: log cabin Pineapple (Hetty Wengert); Machine Embroidery (Mary Ann Fritsch); Jaconbean Applique (Carol Blevins). 27 of us exchanged plaid blocks in March. Summer meetings were workshops to make lap quilts.
1995 – 1996
President – Claudia Lawrence Vice-President – Connie Yeagley
Treasurer – Dian Moore Secretary – Sue Batz
Librarian – Rosemary Stieg Corresponding Secretary – Mary Meyer
This year’s programs included a mystery challenge for the year and a vegetable block exchange. Formal programs were: Dr. Yvonne Milspaw, Quilts & Folklore; The Lebanon Embroider’s Guild; The Baltimore Applique Society; Tina Gravitt – Miniature Quilts; Betty Kaiser – Curved Piecing; Dian Moorwe – Foundation Paper-piecing. Workshops included: Foxy blocks (Christenna Stamm); Gypsy vest (Jan Gernsheimer); Miniatures (Tina Gravitt); and Curved Piecing (Betty Kaiser).
We donated 48 lap quilts to the Twin Spruce Hone in November.
1996 – 1997
President: Jodi Seibert Secretary: Cecelia
Vice-President: Kathy Shaheen Treasurer: Dian Moore
Program Chair: Louise Bell Librarian: Rosemary Stieg
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Meyer
Programs this year included workshops by Louise Bell (Snowman wall hanging), Pauline Charles (Folded Foundation Piecing), and Susan McCaffrey (Ribbon Embroidery). Additionally there were all-day workshops by Dian Moore and Carol Blevins. Some members of the guild participated in a Cabin Fever Caravan to several fabric stores in January.
Optional on-going activities included charm square exchange, block-of-the-month drawings, birthday club blocks, and secret pals. A new activity this year was the making and exchange of blocks with quilters in other countries. Jodi Seibert used the Internet to make these contacts. Blocks were exchanged with quilters in Australia, Israel, Norway, and Austria. Quilters displayed their works at the annual Lebanon HACC display of small quilts in October, at Holiday for Homemakers in November, and at the Farm City Week banquet in December, where large quilts were hung for display.
We set up a display and a quilt-in-progress at the Lebanon Plaza Mall for National Quilting Day on March IS, 1997. The challenge this year was to make a “Quilt About Me.” It was judged in June.
Winners were: 1st – Louise Bell – 3 years membership in the guild
2nd – Beth Kapp – 2 years membership in the guild
3rd – Cecilia Putt – I-year membership in the guild
Community service projects included making 85 crib and 34 children’s quilts for the Domestic Violence Intervention shelter and 21 children’s quilts for the Women in Crisis “Blankets, Booties, and Bibs” drive for Mother’s Day.
Throughout the year we sold raffle tickets for the Pansy quilt.
1997 – 1998
President: Jody Seibert Secretary: Mary Meyer
Vice-President: Kathy Shaheen Treasurer: Dian Moore
Program Chair: Louise Bell Librarian: Rosemary Stieg
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Meyer
This year’s programs featured guest speaker Rachel Pellman of Lancaster County who spoke on Amish quilts, and programs by members Beth Kapp (charm squares), Cleata Akins (crazy quilt embroidery) and Claudia Lawrence (quilt basting and also template making). Carol Ziegler conducted an all-day workshop on quilted baseball caps. Dian Moore conducted a paper piecing class. The guild participated in Holiday for Homemakers, the annual Lebanon HACC display of small quilts, and the Farm City Week banquet display of large quilts. National Quilting Day was observed at the Lebanon Valley Mall on March 21, 1998. We also set up a display and demonstration at Union Canal Day on May 16, 1998. Optional activities included charm square exchange, secret pals, and national/international block exchanges with quilters in Canada, New Zealand, and California. A highlight of the year’s events was a dinner, show-and-tell, and gift exchange with a group of quilters from Denmark. This event was held at Cornwall Manor in October. The Pansy Quilt was raffled in December and the winner was Emma Cooper of Laurel, MD. A Cabin Fever fabric-shopping caravan was held in late February.
Community service this year included learning how to stencil fabric blocks. These will be used in children’s quilts.
The guild donated 10 Gideon Bibles in memory of teacher Carol Blevins’ late husband and made a donation to the Richland Library in memory of member Nancy Marks. The guild also made a quilt for member Karen Ziegler in memory of her two children, killed in a car accident in August 1997.
The challenge this year was to make something using the fat quarter of “ugly” fabric received in the Christmas exchange. Specific cutting instructions were given, but many variations in settings would be possible. These quilts were displayed in June.
1998 – 1999
President: Christenna Stamm Vice-President: Gilda Capice Jennings
Secretary: Beth Kapp Treasurer: Dian Moore
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Meyer Program Chair: Brenda Watson
Membership Theresa Chasko
Librarian: Rosemary Stieg
Newsletter: Kathy Chickey, Rosemary Stieg
The guild gained quite a few new members this year. We began the year meeting in the Gateway building’s dining room at Cornwall Manor but by November were able to return to the newly renovated Freeman Auditorium. The guild participated in Holiday for Homemakers, the annual Lebanon HACC display, and Farm City Week banquet. Optional activities included charm square exchange, secret pals, birthday month fat quarter exchanges, block-of-the-month and national/international block exchanges with quilters. A bus trip to the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. and fabric shopping at G Street Fabrics in Maryland occurred in March 1999.
The challenge quilt was “celebrate a holiday.” Winners were:
1 t – Claudia Lawrence – 3 years free membership in guild 2nd – Donna Pozorski – 2 years free membership in guild 3rd – Pauline Charles – 1 year free membership in guild
Members who presented programs included Kathy Chickey (name tags); Christenna Stamm, Rosemary Stieg, Linda Beiler, and Brenda Watson (Christmas ornaments); and Claudia Lawrence (Young Man’s Fancy wall hanging). Guest speakers included Herb Schrivener, a fabric company representative, and Rose Hahn who spoke on floral applique.
Our community service project this year was to make 21 baby and child quilts for the Domestic Violence Intervention shelter. As in previous years, we continued to supply basted tops to Cornwall Manor resident Mae Line, who quilts them to sell at the manor bazaar.
We began quilting our next raffle quilt, the plaid sampler made with blocks donated by members several years ago.
1999 – 2000
President: Christenna Stamm Vice-President: Theresa Chasko
Secretary: Beth Kapp Treasurer: Claudia Lawrence
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Meyer Program Chair: Brenda Watson
Membership: Kathy Foltz Librarian: Rosemary Stieg
Newsletter: Kathy Chickey, Rosemary Stieg
Ongoing optional activities this year included charm square exchanges, birthday month fat quarter swaps, and secret pals. We continued to quilt our next raffle quilt, the plaid sampler and also started making blocks for the raffle quilt to follow that one, called Windblown Tulips.
Programs this year were conducted by members Kathy Chickey and Claudia Lawrence (applique techniques); Linda Beiler and Terri Nixon (make and take Christmas ornaments); and Dian Moore (photo transfer). Guest speakers included Dan Boltz, Hoffman fabric representative, Jean Clark Staple, president of the Feedsack Club, Carol Blevins, whose talk was on needles and threads, and Barbara Lennox, who spoke on using plaids. Mrs. Lennox also led an all-day workshop on plaids. Some members of the guild traveled to the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster to see the musical, ” The Quilters”, in April.
Our community service project this year was to make quilted tote bags and stuff them with personal items (such as night shirts and slippers) for Domestic Violence Intervention shelter and SARCC (Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center).
The challenge this year was to make a quilted piece using animal fabric in such a way that you could not recognize the animal. Winners were: 1st – Christenna Stamm; 2nd – Lily Sayson; 3rd – Kitty Zackey; Honorable mention – Marilyn Kreider-Konolas. Winners received bundles of fabric.