Many hands make light work. . . Join our team!
Here you’ll find the most current information about volunteer positions for the ’25 conference. Check back often; volunteer needs will evolve as we get closer to the conference. Contact co-chairs Bette Nordberg (bettenordberg@msn.com) or Deb Staehle (2025anwgvolunteers@seattleweaversguild.com) for more information.
Publicity: This chairperson will manage the conference publicity occurring outside normal ANWG communications. With access to the publicity chairman’s resources from the Bend ’23 conference, this chairperson will release publicity and information to local yarn stores, yarn suppliers, weavers, knitters, and fiber lovers wherever they may be found. Print, magazine, newspaper, public radio, and electronic resources for weavers would be included in the target audience. A passion for getting the word out is the only requirement. The chairperson may recruit his or her own co-chair and team. Grab a friend and join in!
Open Show: Every ANWG conference features space for guild members to show off their work. This chairperson will organize the request for woven work, correspond with and answer guild member questions, organize the appearance of the open show, and finally the “open show team” will receive the work, and set up the display area in Yakima. Again, the Bend ’23 group has records to guide the new chairperson through the tasks. A passion for sharing your ANWG friends’ great work is all that is required! Choose your own co-chair!
Juried Show: This chairperson will oversee the Juried Show for the conference. In this display, ANWG member entries will go through a selection process in order to be included. With the addition of a judging requirement, all of the open show steps will be repeated by this chairperson, including solicitation of entries, communication with members, receiving the entries, managing the jury team and setting up the display at the conference location.
Transportation: With so many instructors joining our conference, we need someone who will organize transportation for these folks – whether they are arriving at Sea Tac, Yakima airport, or perhaps need a ride from Western Washington. The instructor chair will work with the transportation chair to determine who needs help (Mary needs a ride from SeaTac to Yakima on Sunday, for instance) and how best to help them. In addition, this chairperson might research the possibility of a bus rental for guildmembers traveling to Yakima from Seattle or Portland, etc., determining the feasibility and costs of such an endeavor. This team will organize volunteers to help with the various needs. A very behind-the-scenes job, this is a position for someone who loves hospitality and has great organizational skills. Choose your co-chair, assemble a team and get those instructors to their hotel rooms!
Guild Sponsors: Many small items can make or break a conference budget. Since the Yakima Center requires all food to come from conference center vendors, we can’t bring our own food or drink for conference attendees. Would your guild like to sponsor a coffee pot for one of the classroom breaks? Or perhaps cookies for a mid-conference break? Sponsors will be gratefully acknowledged with signage at the break table. Show your guild enthusiasm by providing java for your fellow attendees! We’d be happy to provide more information about costs, options, etc.
Activities Chairperson: This committee will organize and execute all of the “extracurricular” activities at the Yakima conference. The best part of this job, (should you choose to take it) is that you, your co-chair and your committee get to decide what those activities are. Will you choose a visit to a winery? A local hike? A microbrewery? Will you organize demonstrations of looms, or wheels or unusual weaving tools? Maybe a bike ride on the river trail? It’s all up to you. Your job is to add a tincture of fun to an otherwise intense few days of weaving education. This committee should be filled with fun-loving individuals who like adding spice to a party!