Minutes of the SSQG Meeting August 1, 2026
Meeting was called to order by President Gail McLain who opened with prayer at 10:32 a.m.
Robyn Shreve and QOV committee members presented Quilts of Valor to the following servicemen/women and each recipient had a family member help drape the quilts around them.
SSG Jody Haid (Army 1989-2009)
Capt. Sue Hite (Navy 1990-2012)
SMSgt Gary Patterson (Air Force 1984-2006)
SFC Thomas Russell (Army 2011- Actively serving)
SN Kathy Skumautz (Navy 1978-1982)
Col Richard Thomas (Army 1984-2004)
LT Matthew Walsh (Navy 1986-1997)
SSgt John Ward (Marine Corps 2002-2018)
After presentations, recipients and their families & friends were invited to attend a reception.
Reports from each committee were given:
- Welcome Committee: Debbi Sutton introduced 6 first time visitors
- Membership Committee: There were no new members pinned today. Sherri Frickle presented Name Badge and Door Prizes. Kathy Bannister won prize for Name Badge and Charlene Mehlenbeck won door prize.
- Sunshine Committee: Syble Bailey recognized everyone who had August birthdays and led the guild in singing Happy Birthday to them.
- WIP Challenge 2026: Sandy Burnett reported that WIP #4 is due at the September meeting. If you cannot be at the Sept meeting or if you cannot bring your item, you may send a picture to Sandy. WIP #1 is due at the November meeting. 2027 WIP signup will begin at November meeting and be due by February 2027 meeting.
- Retreat Committee: Cathy Poyner said the October Retreat final payment is due at the October meeting. There will be an April 2027 Retreat in Covington and more information will be released in the coming days. The next mini retreat is scheduled for July 2027 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Pine Mountain. Charlene Mehlenbeck said the Retreat Committee is out of items for door prizes and asked for donations.
- Fundraising Committee: Karen Moore notified guild members that raffle tickets would be given out at the September meeting. The raffle will be held at the November meeting. Kerri Gonyou-Schelp gave an account of the preparation for the WAHA Festival: Quilt submission forms are due at the September meeting while quilts are due at the October meeting. ONE quilt per category per person will be allowed and must be accompanied by a WAHA submission form (can be found on our website & FB chat page). Each submission must have 2” quilt rings for handing.
- Block of the Month Committee: Brenda Bannister filled in for Becky Land. She showed a sample of the BOM for August and reminded everyone to use white as the background.
- Community Outreach Committee: Anita Rodger showed guild members the cute teddy bears that have been made thus far. She provided a sheet containing sizes of quilts needed. Anita also reminded everyone that 5 community quilts by February will get one a pin. August 29 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) will be a Community Sew Day at the public library on Macon Road. She invited everyone to come and sew!
- Program Committee: Jill Rains introduced Dana Brue Dr. Dana Brue presented several beautiful Kaleidoscope Quilts and demonstrated a process by which one can make the kaleidoscope blocks using squares rather than triangles. She has videos of her kaleidoscope quilts on YouTube. She spoke of her upcoming Quilt Auction, August 15, in Thomaston, GA from 10-12 at the Thomaston/Upson Civic Center in which the proceeds will go to her friend who is struggling to save the rainforest land from developers in Costa Rica. She is also putting together another trip to Paducah in April 2027 and will have details to be shared at a later date.
President Gail McLain thanked Dr. Brue for coming to speak and announced that she was the 100 th member of SSQG! She was surprised with a year’s dues paid for 2027, a t-shirt, and a flower arrangement among other gifts.
Show & Tell had 12 participants:
o Janet Calvert
o Shannon Hobbs
o Vickie Donovan
o Cheryl Bannister Brown
o Cathy Poyner
o Jill Rains
o Pat Mistretta
o Carla Stickles
o Janet Thomas
o Monica McCalla
o Karen Moore
o Kim Wiggins
Karen Moore announced the 50/50 Cash Drawing winner which was Drucye Cox. She won $105.00
Karen Moore led the Birthday Basket Drawing:
o Karen Moore’s basket was won by Vickie Donovan
o Christian Archers’ basket was won by Rhonda Haid (Guest)
o Kim Wiggins’ basket was won by Cheryl Bannister Brown
o Karen Friberg’s basket was won by Charlene Mehlenbeck
o Deborah Potts’ basket was won by Marsha Julian
o Marcia Julian’s basket was won by Shannon Hobbs
o Charlene Mehlenbeck’s basket was won by Rhonda Haid (Guest)
BEES ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Trips & Travel Bee will be going to Bear Ware Pottery on Saturday, August 8 from 5-8 pm.
Dosia O’Quinn will be offering a Bridge Bee that will meet on Fridays.
This is to learn the game and then the Bee will meet weekly.
Other announcements:
The September meeting will be our 5 th birthday celebration. More details will be coming soon.
At the September meeting, be sure to bring your completed pizza box quilt top for Show & Tell. It does not have to be quilted, but should be finished with the top.
At today’s meeting each member was given a large 2.5 gallon baggie.
Fill it with scraps and bring it to the September meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 12: 54 p.m. and the Kaleidoscope Quilt
Workshop began.