In April of 1985, it became an official NQA Chapter, #295-PA#17, of the
National Quilting Association, Inc.
The meetings were held at the American Legion Hall off of Manheim
Pike. Some notes of interest for 1985 were: Member Doris Riexinger's
Double Wedding Ring quilt was used in the production of the play
"Quilters" at the Fulton Theater. Effie Eshelman won Best of Show
at Town Fair with her Lone Star Quilt.
Our logo was designed by charter member Marge Gearhart's Artist sister,
Emily Nendza about the same time period (1986-1987) that Marge was president
of the guild. Marge sat poised while her sister Emily sketched her.
Emily donated the drawing to the guild and it is now a registered
trademark of the guild.
In 1987 the RRQG was preparing for their first Quilt Show. Members donated
items to be sold at craft show at Park City. By this year the
Guild had 79 members.
In 1988 was the year of the First Quilt Show. The show was held
at the old Lititz Recreation Center on August 11-13, 1988. Sixty-
one Quilter, of which 38 were Guild members, exhibited over 108
quilts. Allison Goss was the featured quilter at the show.
WGAL TV featured the show on the evening news. The show was
not judged but viewer's choice selections from attendees.
Marion Sachs and Betty Croll's quilts were chosen as viewer's choice.
Donna Luicidi and her quilting were featured in the Lancaster Farming
paper.
Effie Eshelman's Lancaster Rose quilt went to the Houston Quilt
Festival as the Pennsylvania representative to an exhibit called "America Makes Quilts."
Several members Christmas quilts went to the city of Lancaster for an
"Old Fashioned Holidays Downtown" exhibition held in an empty storefront.
In the meantime - Quilters from all over began coming to Lancaster
County for what was to become an annual event - Quilters Heritage
Celebration Quilt Show and conference - organized by Illinois resident
Rita Barber.
1989 notes: The guild was selected to make a banner to represent
Pennsylvania in the exhibit called "Flags over the Hudson - A Colorful Welcome" sponsored by the Great American Quilt Festival.
Marge Gearhart taught her first infamous pineapple jacket class to
many guild members. (she's been having one ever since and every
year she says the same thing "This is possibly my last class for
this jacket" Now in the 2008 - she still says the same thing!)
The guild's first pot-luck dinner was held in February. (This is
now a tradition)
The Library was established in the summer of this year. It
first started with 13 books and 3 videos and this year
(1989) has over 115 books.
This was also the year the guild started to make and donate
quilts to the Shelter for Abused Women. "We began to hold
charity workshops to make the quilts and soon found out that these
workshops provided an excellent opportunity for us to get to
know each other better as well as brush up on our
quilt making techniques. "
Guild members donated a total of 7 wall hangings to the Lancaster
Day Care Center auction that year.
1991 - The Guild moved to Calvary Church for their meetings.
Membership for that year = 104 members
1994 - First Annual Retreat at Camp Swatara - 15 members attended
********These notes were taken from the Guild's History written
by Patti Stone*********
™