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History of the Ogallala Quilters' Society
The Ogallala Quilters Society began in February
1997, with eight "founding" board members and eighty
dollars. Each board member put in ten dollars for
dues and "start up" postage money.
What prompted these eight quilters to begin a
venture as interesting and as full of promise as
these past several years have been? Darlene Collins
had been in Portland, Oregon, with her husband on a
business meeting. While there she had the
opportunity to visit one of their museum bookstores
and was looking for a historical quilt book. The
book that she found was one that described quilters
from the Texas Panhandle, from Farwell and Clovis,
N.M. These towns were less than fifty miles away
from Dimmitt, Texas!
The idea began to grow that there must be many other
quilters "out there" and that we could find a way to
bring them together! She visited with Tina Hall, a
"go-getter" quilter from Canyon who was ready to
help. Then, she made contact with the owners of the
quilt shops in Amarillo (Millie Riggs) and Lubbock
(Sharon Newman). Both said that they were definitely
interested and knew several others who would be just
the ones to help put some ideas together. Darlene
talked to three other quilters from Dimmitt who said
they would help: Doris Lust, Joyce Davis and Cenci
Hardee. On the day set for a general meeting, Millie
brought June Long and Alice Grant and Sharon brought
Jean Dean. Together, these quilters decided that the
organization would become a reality.
Since the time that bi-laws were adopted and all the
other necessary legal papers have been completed,
the Society has grown into a viable organization.
Approximately two hundred eighty quilters have
become members since 1997. Ogallala Quilters Society
is now headquartered in Dimmitt, Texas, a small town
that has shared its hospitality with the Festival
each April. With "in-kind" donations and many
volunteer hours, the Society has provided money for
prizes for the quilt show, offered 13 to 19 classes
during each Festival, given free demonstrations,
gathered together unique antique quilts (such as
Civil War vintage), and entertained hundreds of
visitors each year. Feature teachers from around
Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas have shared quilting
skills with those ready to learn.
Area and regional quilting instructors and
quilt-makers have taught others and provided
superior quality trunk shows and displays. An
emphasis on improving skills and historical programs
has become eagerly awaited events.
Dedicated volunteers have made this dream come true.
Each April, hundreds of people from the town, area,
and region, very quietly begin to complete each
detail and prepare for the next Festival. Quilts are
completed, treasured antiques are gathered, and
teachers located. The volunteer prepared "Newspaper"
signals the upcoming Festival.
The Ogallala Quilters Society has been proud to be
allowed to promote and encourage the art of quilting
for the past years. |
