News & Events

Visit this page for news and information from the SAGA Board.

The SAGA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that SAGA’s 34^th annual convention will be held October 23-27, 2013 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, Frisco Texas.

This hotel is offering our attendees the fabulous rate of $135 per night, double occupancy for the two room suites.  Each suite includes a refrigerator and microwave, and a living room with a sofa bed.  The rate includes a complimentary buffet breakfast, with hot items and cooked to order omlets, as well as an evening manager’s reception with light snacks and beverages.

Frisco, TX  is one of America's fastest growing cities . The Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco hotel is just 23 miles North East of the DFW International Airport and 22 miles North from Dallas Love Field.   The Stonebrier Center mall is just across the street, and a variety of restaurants are within walking distance.

Most classroom spaces have natural light, and the conference center has a variety of comfortable spaces for attendees to gather to stitch and visit.

We are looking forward to being back in the heart of Texas!  Detailed plans for the convention will be announced in the fall.

The Board is pleased to announce a new opportunity for friends to support SAGA: Supporting Membership.  Supporting membership is for those who wish to support SAGA’s mission to preserve and foster the art of smocking and related needlearts through our educational programs,  as well as those who wish to support our service project, Wee Care.  Chapters may wish to offer the option of Supporting Membership to NCIU personnel and members who have left SAGA because they no longer do fine needlework.  For $15 a year, Supporting Members receive a membership card and select electronic member communications.  Supporting members are not eligible for chapter membership, and do not receive SAGANews or access to the members only portions of the website.

The winner of the doll and wardrobe raffled by SAGA to promote the 2012 Atlanta convention is Barbara Watson of Covington , Georgia. Barbara purchased 12 tickets at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, and  said that this is the first Sewing Expo she has attended. She was overwhelmed to see so many sewing products, as she has no resources where she lives. Barbara has two American Girl dolls which she displays in her home, and is thrilled to acquire such a beautiful wardrobe.  Leslie Langford, Atlanta chapter President, presented Barbara her prize on Friday, March 16, along with Carol Evans, SAGA Board member. Barbara was invited to attend a chapter meeting and given  a convention brochure, as she smocked several years ago.

Thanks to the creative talent of Region IV Represetnative Kristen Benjamin, SAGA and our SAGA Stitches program Aimee's Dolly Apron was featured on February 29 on the blog Sew, Mama, Sew!.  What a great way to celebrate an extra day of National Smocking Month.

SAGANews, Vol. 33 No. 1 is in the mail (and online here.)  Members will read in that issue that it was to be bundled with a copy of The Laundry Room, a gift from author and founding SAGA member Sandy Hunter.  Unfortunately, our printer/mail house made an error, and forgot to bundle the magazine and book.  The books are being mailed separately this week.  There is no additional cost to SAGA.  The SAGA Board, the SAGANews Editor, and the printer apologize for any confusion.  Members should have their books soon.  Thanks for your patience.

The SAGA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the faculty for the 2012 convention in Atlanta, Georgia, October 10-14.  Judith Adams, Carol Ahles, Debbie Ambrose, Kathy Awender, Jeannie Baumeister, Phyliss Brown, Maggie Bunch, Roberta Chase, Cindy Foose, Susie Gay, Judith Marquis, Lily McAnge, Barbara Meger, Claudia Newton, Susan O’Connor, Margaret Pierce, Nona Pontiff, Laura Jenkins Thompson and Lyn Weeks will be teaching classes in smocking, fine hand and machine sewing, embroidery, and construction.  

This year the board will introduce a new pricing structure that will allow attendees more flexibility in choosing how many hours of classes to take.  Simply put, registrants will pay only for the number of hours of classes they want, from three hours (just Friday or Sunday morning) to the full 18 hours (6 hours on Thursday and Saturday; 3 each on Friday and Sunday.)  We hope this will accommodate members who can only attend for the weekend, and those who want to build a little more free time into their schedules.  With all the new classes and different teachers, we know it will still be difficult to choose what you want to take, though.

Market will be Friday afternoon, October 12.  We’ll have Show and Share, a teacher showcase, raffle baskets, and Design Show, along with opportunities to stitch, times to socialize with old friends and new, and some special surprises

Additional classes and activities are being planned for Tuesday, October 9 and Wednesday, October 10.  Announcements will be made on the website as details are finalized.   
 

Since Convention, the Board has been hard at work transitioning to new roles, planning the 2012 convention, and following up on issues from 2011.  We have introduced a Sustaining Member option, and about 10% of the members who have renewed to date have chosen this membership level.

At the 2011 SAGA Convention in Anaheim, the Bylaws Committee proposed changing the Bylaws to eliminate the Finance Committee.  That proposal was not adopted.  The Board clearly understood that the Finance Committee is important and that the membership sees a need for such a committee.

After consulting an attorney with non-profit experience, the Board decided that it was appropriate (and consistent with the Bylaws) for  the Finance Committee be chaired by a Board member.  Work on the details of the SAGA budget is one of the primary duties of the Board of Directors, relying heavily on the work of the Finance Committee. Susanne Brisach, our President Elect and past Treasurer, was appointed Chair of the Finance Committee.

The Bylaws specify that the members of the Executive Board are members of the Finance Committee, and the Board of Directors is now working on how to include one or two SAGA non-Board members on the committee, particularly to serve as liaisons to the membership at large.  Members who are interested in this committee, or any other volunteer assignments, are encouraged to fill out a volunteer form or contact any board member.
 

The Nominating Committee is dedicated to finding the most qualified candidates for the 2012-2013 SAGA board. SAGA has several positions to be filled with energetic, dedicated volunteers wanting to support the national organization with their creative talent and valuable time. You can help the process in two ways; run for a position in which you are interested and feel suited or nominate someone whom you feel is an excellent candidate.

What sets our organization apart from other non-profit organizations is the talented members who are willing to serve in so many different capacities. Do you like to set goals, solve problems and see results? Do you prefer to interact one on one, meet new people, and use your influence to impact outcome? Or are you able to think long-term, see strategies that will generate success and perform tasks that take advantage of your experience and skills? Then we have a perfect place for you!

The following positions will be open for the 2012-2013 SAGA board:
President Elect – 1year term in progression to President
Vice President – 1 year term, but not limited
Secretary – 2 year term
Region Representative I – 2 year term
Region Representative III -2 year term
Region Representative IV – 2 year term

The qualifications, responsibilities and duties of each of these positions are available from the Nominating Comittee and may be found here.  By serving on the board, you will have the opportunity to meet others who share your interest in the needle arts and your commitment to the future success of SAGA. You will develop leadership skills of running a non-profit organization, cultivate talents to use in future endeavors, build friendship that will last a lifetime and discover something new about yourself.

If you have any questions, contact nominating@smocking.org or any board member, we are ready to assist you. Come be an integral part of this friendly and multitalented organization.

Commit to make a difference…
 

Sustaining Membership is a new opportunity for those who wish to increase their commitment to SAGA’s future.  Sustaining Members express an increased loyalty to SAGA.  The added revenue will support new and enhanced programs, particularly educational opportunities available to more members in more affordable ways.


A Sustaining Member will receive a special additional membership pin, and a bar will be added for each year the member continues at the Sustaining Membership level.  In addition one Sustaining Member will be selected by a random drawing each year to register early for convention.  Furthermore, $30 of your sustaining membership fee is tax deductible in the United States.



Sustaining Members will be available for new members and with existing member renewal for 2012, at $65.  Sustaining Membership for those outside the US is $70.  Renewal notices will be emailed (or sent by postal mail for those without email) in November.