How to find a meeting place..... that's an ongoing problem. I belong to four lace groups and a sewing group. Over the years we have faced this problem several times. The largest lace group has met in a classroom in a fabric store and in a community center since I joined it. I think they met in a church before the fabric store. Lace Days had to be held in various churches while meeting in the fabric store. There was a rental fee for the room and the churches. Usually we had a member who belonged to the church used. The fabric store kicked us out when they decided they wanted the space themselves. We were fortunate that a member was a volunteer at the community center and got us on the schedule. There is supposed to be a small rental fee, but they never ask us for it. At the end of each year, we give them a lump sum donation check, as generous as possible. We do pay a rental fee for the Lace Day use of the whole building.
The second group started out in a fabric store, moved to a senior retirement center (one member lived there), and then to a corner of a local weaving store. When the store was closed, we got approved at a local bank for their Community Room as a non-profit group... a large room with no fee. The only rules are no food, and pick up dropped pins. The 'no fee' was great since this group has no treasury. (We had to fill out an application, explain about our group, and be vetted by the bank president. It was worth it.) Two other lace groups meet in private homes, sometimes rotating the location. One met in a local bookstore/deli for a while. These two groups are smaller. My sewing group has met in fabric stores, retirement centers and churches. Church use fees vary a lot. You have to inquire at each church. My own church has a different fee schedule for non-profit groups, or church members. Also, different rooms have different rates. I use my church once a year when the bank's room is taken over by the auditors. If all the members of a group are willing to pay for food, some restaurants have separate rooms available. A very small group might be able to use a fast food restaurant. I used to tutor a lady in a fast food place. We could stay as long as we wished because we bought our lunch there each time. Get all members involved... looking wherever they go. Ask people if they know of a space. You never know where or who might give you the lead to a meeting place. Alice in Oregon .. where the POD container arrived and we've started moving boxes and things into it. I don't look forward to unloading it after the new kitchen is done. <G> And there's lots more to pack up. It will be two months of mass confusion. Thankfully, the living room is not involved, and that's where my lace things are. ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] Speaking of meeting rooms, how does one go about finding one? I was put off by my church, which evidently charges $75 for the use of a room for a meeting, which is certainly very high. Is it a matter of canvassing the churches in the area? Have people had luck with other venues, such as libraries? - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
