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SSQA is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit
organization devoted to preserving our quilting heritage,
promoting quilting as an art, and providing a source of
education and information for quilters, those in the quilting
business, and the general public.
Formed in 1996, SSQA provides a
communication link and gathering place for quilters and guilds
to connect across the state. Through the quarterly
newsletter,
the weekly contact of eRays and the 24/7 abilities of the
website, quilt news and announcements are always available. At
meetings, at retreats and the biennial
Symposium members, friends
and families come together for education, networking, and just
plain fun, quilters’ style!
The
Grants program was
established in 2008 to assist Florida groups in hosting Quilt
Discovery Days, to record information about quilts currently
found in the state.
Meetings are held several times a
year, in different Florida cities where groups have
volunteered
to host the gathering.
These events usually feature a
morning of classes, lunch, business and an educational speaker.
There is often a “Stitch In” the evening before for quilters to
share together informally, trade guild news, and possibly work
on a charity project.
All quilters are welcome to attend SSQA meetings and other
events.
Besides the newsletter, email
postings and website mentioned above, SSQA publishes an annual
membership directory of individuals, guilds, and
merchants.
Membership is open to anyone who quilts or appreciates quilts.
SSQA is a member of the
National
Quilting Association (NQA FL #814) and the
American Quilt
Study Group.
Read "what
our founders were thinking" when they formed SSQA.
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More about SSQA membership
benefits: |
Membership is open at any time
of the year. After July 1 the fee is half for anyone joining
for the first time.
Members are able to register
before the general public for any Retreat, Symposium or meeting
event. When we’re having national teachers, you get first
choice!
Benefits include the
quarterly SunRays newsletter; e-mail of late-breaking news with
the e-Rays; a lower fee for educational meetings (and the excuse
to travel all over our beautiful state!); one free 75-word ad in
the SunRays and on the website Bulletin Board; opportunities to
promote your quilting services on our website; and getting
together with quilters from around FL to share ideas for
yourself & your guild!
SSQA Members-Only Forum: A
totally safe chat-room for SSQA members to share their quilting
news, promote their quilting events & business, and maybe even
exchange a few recipes. The Forum is password-protected for your
privacy.
If you are a teacher,
appraiser, judge or other quilting professional, you can
have a special listing and a Profile page on the website. The
newsletter also does a special issue annually to feature SSQA
professional members. Those benefits are worth many times
more than the membership fee!
Guilds and merchants have
the same benefits as individuals. Your website listing is a
great value, as many out-of-state quilters check the SSQA site
for Florida information. They are looking for your shop or show,
so help them find you! There is also a special newsletter issue
featuring merchant members (it’s like a Road Trip Guide!) and
another that spotlights great ideas from member guilds.
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