Rug Braiders International
formerly known as the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild
RBI COMMITTEES
The work of running Rug Braiders International is done by volunteers. Each of our committees is run by a Chairperson or set of Co-Chairs, often with several assistants and a group of volunteers. Committee Chairs are selected by the President. The committees often meet several times a year over Zoom for planning purposes.
If you are interested in helping with any of our committees, click on the buttons below each committee and it will help you send an email to the Committee Chair.
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
2027 COMMITTEE Co-CHAIRS: Sherry Chilcutt & Rose Robertson-Smith
TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR: Janet OConnell
REGISTRATION COORDINATOR: Gail Stephens
The Conference Committee plans the conference in the spring of each year. We make arrangements for the conference such as: finding a venue, arranging registration, working with the Education Committee to decide classes and room space, working with the Fundraising/Scholarship Committee for fundraising needs, recruiting volunteers to help in various areas. We make the conference fun... and we make it run smoothly!
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Christine Manges
The Education Committee educates both new and existing rug braiders in the skills of rug braiding. We also work to encourage braiders to become teachers within their communities. We have teachers for online classes at all levels, from beginner to advanced. We also recruit teachers for the spring conference.
Our free "Braid Help" sessions occur twice a month and are staffed by at least one teacher to answer questions; we also have a "Teachers Forum" once a month to help foster teaching both online and in the community.
EXHIBIT COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Pam Rowan
The Exhibit Committee informs members of the guild of new and upcoming opportunities to exhibit our rugs. Each year we encourage members to show rugs for a week at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio, in August. Other exhibit opportunities are local, county, and state fairs -- share your work!!
An important aspect of this committee is to offer assistance (monetary or other) to help members get rugs to and from the exhibits; an application is available to pay for half the cost (up to $100) of shipping a braided rug to and from an exhibit opportunity.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Rhonda Beaupre
This committee serves as an advisory committee to the Executive Board. We also support the Treasurer by reviewing income, expenses, bank statements and budget variances. We offer help with tax information and filings. Assessing risk management in terms of insurance, documentation and internal controls is also part of the Finance Committee's duties. Members should be able to understand financial statements and communicate the information clearly.
FUNDRAISING / SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Kris McDermet
This committee coordinates fundraising activities for guild member scholarships. We make rugs to raffle off for raising money by sending them around to members for additional rows, round-robin style! We plan fund-raising events such as the "Tea Cup Auction," which happens every other year at the Spring Conference. The funds that are raised directly help with: scholarships for beginner and intermediate classes online, and grants for reducing the cost of attending conferences,
MEDIA COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIR: Christine Manges
INSTAGRAM COORDINATOR: Judy Fahnestock
WEBSITE ASSISTANTS: Lisa Kilgo, Janet OConnell, Emma Lishness, Susie Weber
The Media Committee covers our website, Facebook page, Instagram site, private YouTube channel for our videos, and emailed newsletters. The website and newsletter are updated with calendar of events, class schedules, exhibit information, and educational videos and instructions. The social media sites are used to post members' rugs, braiding events, and upcoming classes.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS: Marlene Breitenbach & Mary Ragno
The Membership Committee keeps monthly attendance records to events and programs. We compile a membership list for publication on the website with updates as needed. We contact new members to welcome them. We handle the data on the registration form to provide insights on our membership's characteristics and needs.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
CONTACT: Mary Hibbard
The Nominating Committee presents a slate of nominees for offices to the membership at the April meeting. Other nominations can be taken from the floor at the April meeting and prior to voting at the May meeting. The slate of officers are voted on and installed at the May meeting. Transition from old to new occurs during the month of June.
The Nominating Committee seeks capable individuals who are enthusiastic about our rug braiding community to serve in offices for the guild!
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
CONTACT: Rose Robertson-Smith
ZOOM COORDINATOR: Judy Fahnestock
ASSISTANTS: Jamie Ledford, Mary Hibbard
The Program Committee works on creating fantastic special events online each month that are of particular interest to rug braiders! We also work on providing Demonstrations of rug braiding skills for each of the monthly meetings, which take place Jan - June and Sept - Dec. We make the schedule for the guild's events. We are always looking for new speakers and demonstrators on topics of interest to rug braiders -- contact us below to suggest people or topics!
