Welcome to the web site for the Mid-Atlantic Fiber Association (MAFA). MAFA is a non-profit organization whose objectives are to promote education in the fiber arts, to plan, organize, and conduct conferences, and to facilitate communication among member guilds.
MAFA represents nearly 60 guilds from 8 states and the District of Columbia in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our member guilds are located in NY, PA, MD, VA, NJ, DE, DC, NC, and WV. Individuals become automatic members through membership in a participating guild.
Associate membership is open to commercial enterprises, institutions, organizations, schools and individuals not in affiliated guilds.
Any organized guild of handweavers or related fiber activities located
in the Mid-Atlantic region may be considered for membership in
MAFA. Membership consists of timely payment of annual dues and
entitles members to participation in the biennial conference,
the MAFA newsletter, and the opportunity to apply for grants,
which support mini-conference venues.
Each guild is allowed one representative and one alternate representative to send to the two annual general meetings held in October and May.
Guilds, individuals, or organizations wishing to join MAFA should go to the Joining MAFA page for further information.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE -- May 2008
Dear Guilds:
Our last Reps’ Meeting was very interesting and very helpful.
We have long known that the membership dues in the off years (non Conference or Workshop Week End) do not come close to covering our expenses. In addition to professional financial audits necessary to maintain our standing as a tax-exempt not-for-profit our expenses in the “off” year include several types of insurance policies that are necessary to have for us to conduct business. (We have the same expenses in the other years but we can cover them.) If insurance policies lapse we would pay a hefty fee to be reinstated. Therefore we keep them for every year. Even in the “off” years, we have office and postage expenses. We continue to work to do as much as possible via email to keep those expenses down.
This problem was discussed at the Reps’ Meeting with the decision to have guild and associate membership on a 2 year basis. This will start in the next membership year. Dues will be double what each guild or associate now pays but will cover 2 years and not one. For a more complete report, ask your Reps for a copy of the minutes which were emailed shortly after the meeting.
Workshop Sharing: We have noticed that frequently a guild will announce at the last minute that they have several openings. Alas, this usually comes too late to take advantage of it. What we are proposing is that each guild accept applications from outside their guild but from those who are still within the MAFA membership. This would be strictly on a “space available” basis. Nonmembers would be put on a waiting list. The usual requirements would apply: check sent with application; if unable to attend that person would either find a replacement or forfeit the workshop fee.
We would like to stress that the host guild members have first chance at the workshop. Guilds would need to set date for the member applications after which the spaces would go to the “outside” registrants. Hopefully this will help to eliminate the need or even the chance to cancel a workshop.
July 31st and August 1 and 2, 2009 are the dates for our next Workshop Week End. As soon as all of the contracts have been signed and returned to us, we will announce our instructor list. I can assure you that you will say “WOW!!!” when you read it.
The big change in registration is that everything will be available via the web site. We will not be mailing any registration forms or packages. Guilds will need to make copies for those without internet access. Applications will continue to be via U.S. Postal Service.
Classes will be the same 3 day format as we had in MAFA 2007. While classes will continue to be small, we are planning to have more choices.
We are looking for some onsite volunteers. One area in particular that we need assistance is people to provide pick up and delivery service for the instructors between the airport and the university. This could be just the time to have a tiny bit of one on one with a wonderful instructor.
Speaking of volunteer opportunities, we are looking for a candidate for MAFA Vice President, with a two year term to begin in October 2008. This is a fantastic chance to really make a difference and help guild MAFA into the future.
Mickie Schneider President MAFA
Conference 2009--preparations have already begun!
See the Conference 2009 page!
2007 Conference Photos!
Here is a photo gallery of the classes offered at the conference -- courtesy of Elisa Eiger
And here are photos from the conference fashion show -- courtesy of Elisa Eiger
By popular demand, a gallery of the many items donated by guilds for the Goodie Bags given at the 2007 MAFA Conference!--courtesy of Lori Wall
