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. Associate members have the same status as guilds, with the exception of voting.
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.
MAFA NEWS UPDATE!
At the suggestion of Sally Orgren, we are planning to post
any updates to changes in our schedule or plans at our MAFA
Workshop Weekend on the Weavolution website so that
attendees can quickly access the MAFA 2013 Workshop Weekend
thread to see if anything is new. We will have more
information on that posted at the registration table next
Thursday. We will also be posting any announcements on an
easel at the registration table, which should be there the
entire weekend.
But, since we have not gotten there yet and since this
impacts everyone who will be coming, I wanted to pass along
our first change so that everyone can help get the word out
to our attendees.
It appears that the parking garage at University of Scranton
is being renovated and all of our MAFA Workshop Weekend
attendees will need to park in either the Rock Hall or
Madison parking lots as designated on the attached map.
Directions to each of the lots are also included with this
email.
2012 Parking map
Directions to Madison Parking Lot
Directions to Rock Hall Parking Lot
We will endeavor to get this information posted out on
Weavolution (if possible) as well, but in the meantime,
please pass along to any of your guild members who will be
attending the workshop weekend.
Regards,
Lori
President's Message
MAFA is this month! I hope you have something to bring for the Fashion Show. Remember, all you ned to being is a 3x5 card for the Emcee to read describing your item. One item per person though.
Saturday is Open Studio night. At the instructors suggestion we have moved it to Saturday evening so that the work is more finished. The instructors will have something saying what else they teach just in case your guild would like to have them present a program/ workshop for you.
We expect to have students to assist us in getting our loom/ wheels from the car to the classroom building. Note that they will be taking things from your car to the building only and not to your class room. They will do the same in reverse on Sunday. This is something new for us so let us know how it works out. MAFA is paying the students so you do not need to.
We also will have a critique sheet for you to fill out. If you think of something we should be doing or not doing, you need to let us know. We can’t think of everything.
It is suggested but not required to bring your own bed linens and towel and maybe a mattress cover. The University of Scranton ill provide these things but they are “dorm quality”. This is a personal choice. There else nothing else provided in the dorms. If you want coffee in the morning you need to bring everything. The only things there are is a stove top, a refrigerator and a (hopefully) a microwave. You bring the rest.
I am looking forward to seeing you at Scranton!
Mickie Schneider
President
MAFA
MAFA Conference 2013 Catalog is now online
HERE (corrected version)
Class Availability Information--final availability list.
Late Registration closes Monday May 20!
MAFA Membership Renewal Forms and Dues are now due for 2012-2014. Go to the Joining MAFA page to download your form!
The mini-Grant program is now active and ready for applications. Click HERE for complete information.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+)
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) was founded on a single simple premise: people caring for one another during tough times. Building upon the grassroots gesture of passing the hat at craft shows for artists dealing with emergency situations, CERF+ created an ongoing pool of funds that are available to professional craft artists when they suffer career-threatening emergencies. In addition to the financial assistance, they help acquire donated goods and services for beneficiaries from individuals, organizations and businesses. CERF+ also provides resources for artists, including a new tool just announced: The Business Insurance Guidebook for Artists distills the key points of business property, liability, and disaster insurance into a pocket-sized booklet.
Why share this with MAFA? The Harmony Weavers Guild (Delaware) has had some surplus funds the last several years, mainly from the sale of our library, but also from some successful workshops and inexpensive programs. As a result, we have made modest donations to various non-profits such as Mayan Hands, The Textile Museum, and this year, CERF+. We had wanted to designate our gift specifically for fiber artists, but were told that a minimum of $2000 was needed to establish a restricted fund. We made our donation unrestricted, but thought we'd reach out to MAFA, in case other guilds were motivated to help support fellow fiber aritsts who might find themselves faced with a career-threatening emergency.
If your guild, or you personally, would like to make a donation towards a CERF+ Fiber Arts Fund, please contact Carol Ireland (302-995-9658 or spinningbiker "at" comcast.net -- replace "at" with @ when sending an email).
Just for your information, an anonymous donor has agreed to match any donation from a MAFA guild/individual, dollar for dollar, to ensure the $2000 goal is met. I was planning to send an email out to the MAFA reps around now, with essentially the information below, and send a followup late summer, mentioning the matching donor info. I assume most guilds are less active during the summer, so this is something that could be on guild agendas in the fall.
This comes from Carol Ireland of the Fiber Guild of Delaware. It is a project that is near and dear to this guild. Each guild and individual should discuss this and do what they wish.
Mickie Schneider
MAFA By-Laws May 2012 (pdf version)
