2009 Sonoma
This year’s conference in Sonoma, “From Hand to Hand: passing on our fiber traditions” was a great sucess. Enjoy the photos and read a message from the conference chair below.
Click on the thumbnail picture to see these great photos from conference. (and then click again on the first thumbnail to start the show). Thank you Judith and Gary Sorgen for the pictures!
33 Photos
Message from the CNCH 2009 Conference Chair
If we hold CNCH 2009 in Sonoma, will they come? Yes, 199 conferees came representing 26 guilds. There were 25 non-CNCH registrants. The youngest registrant was 15 years old and the registrant traveling the greatest distance came from Sitka, Alaska. The CNCH Banner hanging above the portal to the Sonoma Community Center welcomed all to the conference. Smiling registrars from Yokayo Textile Guild greeted the participants and distributed silk-screened name tags and plaited lanyards made by members of the Mendocino Coast Handweavers and a welcome packet of cookies baked by members of the Tamalpais Weavers’ Guild. Many came early to explore and enjoy the town center. Meanwhile, the instructors’ orientation provided a much valued opportunity for the workshop leaders to visit with each other. They were gifted with items from the local area, including hand woven wine bags to make their stay more enjoyable. Workshop Angels provided transportation for the instructors and workshop support throughout the conference. Thank you angels!
Members of Redwood Empire Handweavers & Spinners had readied each of the workshop rooms with the necessary equipment and assisted instructors in setting up their supplies. On Saturday morning the workshops began seamlessly at the 3 locations surrounding the Sonoma Plaza. The wonderful weather invited participants to lunch around the square or to eat their bountiful and delicious box lunches al fresco. The Saturday reception was a highlight of the weekend and featured an on-going display of Outreach images submitted by CNCH Guilds. Delicious local hors d’ouevres and sparkling wine were served by members of Silverado Handweavers & Spinners which greatly added to the festivities. Nearly 130 amazing beverage bags, created by CNCH members, decorated the banquet room. The Scholarship Fundraiser response was so overwhelming that all of the tickets were sold. Members of Humboldt Handweavers & Spinners tallied the votes and distributed the beverage bags to the winners of the drawing. The creators of the prize winning bags were: Lorraine Oller, Linda Hartshorn and Linda Cannefax. Thanks to everyone for supporting the Scholarship Fundraiser which raised $1,000.
The Open Studios on Sunday evening afforded the conferees, instructors and the general public an opportunity to visit each of the workshops. It was truly amazing and inspiring to see what had been accomplished in only 2 days. Carol deBoer, the 2008 Convergence Scholarship recipient, gave an interactive presentation of her project as well.
Having four workshop hours on Monday provided more class time, and many projects were able to be completed within the workshop timeframe. The early evening events made it possible for local registrants to drive daily from home and for others to dine at the many wonderful Sonoma restaurants.
The overwhelmingly positive survey responses were heartening to read. Examples :
- “This has been wonderful! From the first greeting with a bag of cookies to the last minutes of the workshop.”
- “I felt cared for and nourished.”
- “Happiness is the Valley of the Moon.”
Your survey suggestions for improvement were much appreciated and will be passed on to future conference planners. Thanks to so many for responding to the survey; it is your conference and we want to make it the best it can be.
A successful conference takes a creative, supportive, dedicated planning committee; talented and sharing instructors; eager, enthusiastic participants. And yes, they all came together in Sonoma to enjoy themselves and share their fiber traditions. Someone said, “It takes a village……” The 6 villages within Area 5 collaborated to provide a wonderful experience for all. I applaud the planning committee for their generous and tireless contribution to the success of CNCH 2009 and also to everyone who came to be enriched by the workshop experience; I thank you all.
Judith Sorgen
CNCH 2009, Chair
Note: If you left a black zip-up sweater jacket at the conference, contact Judith at jgsorgen (at) aol.com
