Community COVID-19 Update

It doesn't seem possible that it's been nearly two years since we had to cancel our March 2020 meeting, and then went virtual with a hastily arranged lecture in April. Andrea Tsang Jackson was brave enough to figure the whole Zoom thing out with us, and we've enjoyed the benefits of amazing lectures and classes ever since. But it seems like COVID rates are stabilizing and with last week's restriction relaxations, we know that many of you will want to know what our plan is.

We will keep the February, March, April and May meetings on Zoom, with digital programming and virtual show and tell. In order to get into the schedules of speakers who are in demand, we have to line up programming months in advance. We know that other programs and groups will be changing to in-person and this gives you a few months without a format change for the Calgary MQG. We'd love to see you and your quilts in person, though, and if you are willing to arrange a meet-up for members of the group, please let us know. From a handwork day at a brewpub to outdoor gatherings, all of the options are open. Any meet-ups offered are entirely optional based on your comfort level and there will still be an on-line option for meetings for the next four months.

We are looking to return to in-person meetings as summer approaches, either outside or in a rental facility. This will be informed by all of you as our members and by public health guidance. When we meet in person, it's unlikely that the meetings will be available on-line. Unfortunately, there's a limit to the technology we have access to. That being said, we know that there are so many opportunities available now that speakers and teachers are offering options via Zoom. If you were at David Owen Hastings workshop last week, you know that everyone of us got a front row seat for David's demos. On-line options may be outside of standard meeting times, similar to how classes and sew days are typically offered.

Finally, as we approach our AGM, please consider the ways that you can contribute to the guild. We've done a lot as a community over the last two years - continuous monthly meetings featuring speakers we could have only dreamed of pre-pandemic, a round robin, two QuiltCon community quilts, sew days, and some pretty great classes. We'd love to have you help build our guild in 2022.

Signed,

The 2022 MQG Exec - Chris, Ronnie, Barbara, Lisa, Philippa and Karin