MAFA began in 1980 after two nearby guilds scheduled workshops on the same weekend. A few members of the Princeton Weavers Guild decided to do something about that, and called together a group of guild presidents to form an association “to establish communication between guilds, and to maintain the communication with mutual exchange of ideas.” The MidAtlantic Fiber Association was born.
Sadly, the Princeton Guild is no longer in existence, but we thank those early organizers for getting us started and helping us to carry on with their ideas. Over the years, many volunteers have stepped up to keep the organization going.
We seem to have lost sight, though, of who some of those dedicated individuals were. If you can fill in any of the blanks on the chart below, please let us know, so we can recognize them for all the work they did….And think about it — the early pioneers did it all without computers!
Do you know who did these jobs? Do you have a brochure from any of these conferences prior to 2011? Send an email to president@mafafiber.org
Read more about the beginnings of MAFA here.
| Years | Conference Venue | President | Conference Coordinator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Millersville U, PA | Gigi Matthews | Patty Chrisman, Doran Trainer |
| 2024-25 | Millersville U, PA | Margaret Briggs | Margaret Briggs |
| 2022-23 | Millersville U, PA | Margaret Briggs | Margaret Briggs |
| 2020-21 | Virtual Conference | Helena Valentine | Margaret Briggs |
| 2018-19 | Millersville U, PA | Karen Miller | Theresa Hill |
| 2016-17 | Millersville U, PA | Elisa Eiger | Donna Mentzer |
| 2014-15 | Millersville U, PA | Ellen Dorosh/Ellen Turner | Ellen Turner |
| 2012-13 | U of Scranton, PA | Mickie Schneider | |
| 2010-11 | Gettysburg College, PA | Mickie Schneider | |
| 2008-09 | Gettysburg College, PA | Mickie Schneider | |
| 2006-07 | Marywood, Scranton PA | Mickie Schneider | |
| 2004-05 | National Conference Center, Leesburg, VA | Suanne Pasquarella | |
| 2002-03 | No Conference | ||
| 2000-01 | Towson, Towson, MD | ||
| 1998-99 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1996-97 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1994-95 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1992-93 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1990-91 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1988-89 | Bucknell U, Lewisburg PA | ||
| 1986-87 | Montclair State College, Upper Montclair, NJ | Alice Austin | |
| 1984-85 | Glassboro College, NJ | Jane Daniels | Mary Ellen Fanning |
| 1982-83 | Betsy Dillon | Kava Schafer | |
| 1980-81 | Rider College, Lawrenceville, NJ | Carlana Sargent | Pat White |