October 28, 2025

Meeting Agenda

Guild Meeting on Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Lake FarmPark

8800 Euclid Chardon Rd,

Kirtland, OH

6:00  Informal socializing

6:30  Intros and Show and Share

7:00 Program Persistent Threads: Maya Culture in Maya Weaving

8:00 Business Meeting & Announcements

• Note, it you wish to request that an 2026 demonstration event be eligible for RAAM points, the forms are due October 31st.

Zoom info

Meeting ID: 870 4481 7490
Passcode: WRSW

Topic: WRSW October Meeting
Time: Oct 28, 2025 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87044817490?pwd=lKpz8JWaFqYyrdiSTOCKM04iKvRqpO.1

Persistent Threads: Maya Culture in Maya Weaving

Laura Martin will draw on her vast knowledge of Mayan language, culture and art, both past and present, to acquaint us with the richness of Mayan textiles.

Laura plans to bring several wearable items and reference materials with her and will make those available for the audience to see up close.

She encourages members to attend the program in person to fully benefit from the experience of Mayan weavings.

Laura Martin holds a PhD in linguistics and retired in 2005 after more than three decades at Cleveland State University with appointments in Modern Languages, Anthropology, and Health Sciences. Her research and teaching have been focused primarily on language and culture in Maya communities, based on extensive field work in Guatemala and Mexico. Since 2007, she has been a volunteer docent at the Cleveland Museum of Art, has been making and exhibiting art as a member of Art Books Cleveland, and has continued to deepen her knowledge of the still thriving culture of Maya people.

Please also make every effort to attend the October business meeting either in person or via Zoom, in which we will elect our officers for 2026. The slate is follows: Karen Gerken and Quinton Dybo for Co-President, Sharon Baird for Vice President, Suzanne Paquin for Treasurer and Donna Mueller for Secretary.  Many thanks to all who have agreed to step up and guide the Guild through another year.

Updated 10/13/2025

WRSW SEPTEMBER 2025 Meeting Minutes Attendees, in person : Bob Breitzmann, Jean Breitzmann, Jennifer Luscher, Sheri Gittinger, Suzanne Paquin, Sharon Baird, Yvonne Harrold, Martha Whitmer ( new member), Ellen Morrison, Mo Doerner, Quinton Dybo, Sue Ingrassia, Kate Colbow, Laramie McEnaney, JoEllen Salkin, Donna Meuller, Terra Young, Cindy Kolacz, Lisa Davis, Nora Eason. Via Zoom: Rachel Wilson, Sally V., Joyce Fath, Linda Christopher, Cheryl Laufer

6:35 Welcome and Show and Tell Welcome to new member, Martha Whitmer, who is interested in joining small loom, spinning, dying and felting SIGS. Nora presented a “snake skin” patterned scarf, woven from her own hand spun silk, and some plated twill samples. Sharon presented samples of Summer-Winter woven placemats. 8/2 cotton warp, 8/2 tabby weft, 8/4 pattern weft. Bob presented 14 meters of a band woven on a countermarch loom, will be sewn around the edge of a smalandsvav piece already woven. Both Bob and Jean presented a piece of fine linen designed by Bob and woven on 50 pattern shaft draw loom by Jean. 40/2 linen for the warp and 28/1 linen for weft. Quinton and guest, Jean presented various samples of yarn dyed in indigo, using boiled banana to enhance the indigo dye. He also dyed four pounds of wool roving in second dip and finally a white tablecloth (unknown fiber) in third dip. Quinton also presented some wool locks dyed in cochineal and cream of tarter, plus cochineal and madder to produce “burnt orange” colored wool locks.

7:00 Program Yvonne introduced speaker, Gigi Matthews and her program FROM CLOTH TO PLANT. Her Bio is as follows..”Gigi Matthews, who has traveled to over 30 countries, has developed a deep appreciation for textiles and their history. Gigi is from Vancouver, Canada and has lived in Australia, the UK and now resides in NYC. She has taught hand spinning for guilds, MidAtlantic Fiber Association and the John C. Campbell Folk School. Her resume includes published articles in Ply Magazine and Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot. She is a member of the NY Guild of Handweavers and is on the board of directors of the Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) and the MidAtlantic Fiber Association (MAFA). She co-hosts the monthly ‘MAFA Movie Night’ via zoom with Kate O’Hara.” The program, From Plant to Cloth is described as follows…”for thousands of years, leaves, stems, and even bark have been made into various forms of cloth. Learn the how’s, why’s and when’s of plant fibers all over the world. Plus, discover what’s in the pipeline for new and sustainable fibers.” Gigi graciously answered questions and provided the guild with a handout of her references and recommendations for further reading. The PDF will be shared on our website.

7:56 Break

8:05 Business Meeting * Review of August meeting minutes and unanimous vote of approval taken. * Brief finance report given by Suzanne. Stash relocation proceeds were 189.00. Expenses were 200.00 for programming, 27.00 for web hosting. Total balance in acct 14,306.00 * Nominating Committee presented candidates for 2026 Exec, they are as follows: Karen Gerken and Quinton Dybo for Co-President, Sharon Baird for Vice President, Suzanne Paquin for Treasurer and Donna Meuller for Secretary. Votes will be taken at the October meeting. * Announcements: Jan Gibson passed away May 24, 2025. She was a passionate supporter of the arts and nature. Jan was a former member of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Textile Art Alliance, Painesville Art Gallery, Artful Hands Studio, Spinners and Weavers of the Western Reserve, Holden Arboretum, and the Mentor Senior Center. She was a proud member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. A tribute to her will take place at our 50th Anniversary party on November 18th. * Member, Amy Manko’s son passed away unexpectedly, a card was sent to Amy and her family from the guild. Mo is passing around a card to be signed personally by all present at this meeting and will be sent out the following day. * Reminder from the Website Committee to be on the look out for a Google permission form to allow your photos to be used on our new website. Share any photos of your work or guild activities with Rachel Wilson at (rwsunshine60@gmail.com). * Website Committee will be doing beta testing and survey to select members, look for the rollout to happen in November. Rachel and Suzanne were thanked for their tireless work on this matter. * Upcoming 50th Anniversary of WRSW party will be held November 18th (in place of our usual 4th Thursday of the month) IN PERSON and in the cafeteria. PLEASE send JoEllen a brief testimonial or vision for your work with fiber arts in the future, plus a photo or two. It will be included in the program she is creating for our celebration! * Lake Farm Park will be hosting their annual Autumn event, The Apple and Honey Bee Festival, September 27th and 28th. This a guild supported event, and we are asking members to participate in any fiber related demonstrations, weaving, spinning, felting, knitting. RAAM points can be earned for anyone volunteering their time and talent. Also, Small Looms will hold their meeting during this time on Saturday from 12-2:00. Back Strap weaving will be the topic. * From Katie Perry: “A Country Living Field Day” event is being held on October 3 and 4th in Salem, Ohio. It will include antique farm equipment, tractor displays and demonstrations by local farmers and artisans with locally made goods and interactive displays. A local beekeeping association will have a live bee display and a beeswax candle dipping demo. You are invited to demonstrate your weaving skills at the event and /or sell your goods.” NO RAAM POINTS will be offered for this event. * Terra stated that many people showed interest in our guild at the Honey Bee Festival in Burton. * Reminder that those who pay 2026 dues by November 30th will receive a RAAM point! * Joyce Fath gave reminder about Ohio Mart at Stan Hywet Hall will October 2-5 * Quinton offered to chair an ad hoc committee to explore community outreach/ fundraising opportunities to enhance guild membership and community awareness. Yvonne, as acting president in Karen’s absence approved the establishment of said committee. Quinton will write an outline for submission to the Newsletter. Anyone interested in joining this committee, please contact Quinton.

8:35 Meeting Adjourned Minutes submitted by Sharon Baird, Secretary