A very happy new year to all of you and I hope that 2009 will see better times for our country. Our chapter certainly ended the year on a high note with the beautiful Holiday Luncheon Dec. 6th held in conjunction with ANG chapter Lightning Stitchers. Thank you to those who worked hard to make it a success.

Everyone is always welcome to come and stitch their own projects if they don't wish to participate in the scheduled program. Meetings can e a great time to work on those UFO's! We will be ocnitnuing with the first and third Wednesday stitching at the new location at the First Baptist Church in Windermere and fourth Wednesday stitching at Beardall in downtown Orlando. Margaret Kinsey, education chair, will be in charge of this education focus group with projects to be announced. Outreach chair, Ellen Hutchinson, is in charge of a number of projects including the military kissing pillows and hats and blankets for the babies in local hospitals.

A major undertaking for our chapter is organizing the 2010 Seminar/Retreat at Mission Inn. The committee is planning classes and activities that we hope you will find fun and exciting! Much more information will be coming out this spring.

In these hard economic times, your gift of time is worth morethan ever to EGA. We need volunteers to help in many areas and if you are able to donate just a few extra hours a month, it can make a tremendous difference to our chapter. An event coming up for our group soon is the Central Florida Fair. If youare able to volunteer a few hours, please let Shirley Pettit know.

Reminder that our meeting is Thursday evening, Feb. 12 and Friday morning, Feb. 13. In order to give more time for program and stitching time on Thursday evenings I wish to start meeting by 5:30pm. Friday mornings we plan to start at 9:30 am for the meeting and after program we have time to stay and stitch till 3:00. Bring a brown bag for lunch.

Also at these meetings we will pass out the chart for the Kissing Pillows. If you wish to start stitching on the pillows the following supplies will be needed: 14 ct. white Aida (6" x 6"), DMC 797, DMC 321 and DMC Blanc (white). I have some aida cloth to supply to members and if you have any, please bring.

I hope to see you all at our February and March meetings!

Have any questions? Please let me know!

Prospects - I hope you will come and see what we are all about, and learn of our upcoming programs. Want to learn to stitch? Please come and we'll help you. We do not want to lose you, but if you want to be taken off of our email list, please let me know.

Carol Raley

Updated Feb. 2, 2009