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Crochet Guild of America's
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Crochet Guild of America President Pam Oddi officially opened Chain Link '98 with words of welcome for conference participants. Pam also introduced CGOA Executive Board members and Chairpersons, including Chain Link '98 Conference Chair Brenda Yurgionas of the Creative Crochet Guild of Atlanta, plus the members of the local conference committee.
Attendees were asked to bring a gift for the "sharing and caring" gift exchange, a "show and tell" crochet project so that others could admire the handwork, and also a "work in progress" to crochet during the evening's festivities.
This was a dessert reception, with a selection of assorted cakes and pies and petit fours; a fondue station with fruit, pound cake, and caramel and chocolate fondue; regular, decaffeinated, and flavored coffees; and chilled fruit punch.
Richard Caron, marketing manager of Solutia, Inc. (formerly Monsanto Company) gave the keynote address on "The Evolution of Fiber." Rick talked about the fibers available today, then showed a video of the manufacturing process for acrylic fibers. He then fielded questions from the audience.
Solutia, Inc. is the manufacturer of the Bounce-Back® Fibers used in the production of a variety of yarns sold under different labels. Rick grew up in the yarn business: his grandfather started the Caron Spinning Co. in Rochelle, Illinois, which was sold in 1988. He has experience in all aspects of the yarn industry, including manufacturing, product development, marketing and sales, and is a leader in the promotion of crochet and knitting.
The Opening Reception was the first opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and also to win a raffle prize. There were fabulous raffle prizes (donated by various corporate sponsors) at all three evening programs.
Several participants brought a completed crochet project to show off and tell us all about it: their inspiration, the materials, what they learned by doing. Everyone who choose had a chance to introduce themselves and talk about their "show and tell" item. We then collected the non-wearable "show and tell" items for display on the "Show & Tell" table in the Vendor Market. The "show and tell" item were returned Saturday evening at the Fashion Show/Banquet.
One conference tradition is the bringing of a small, crocheted item for this "grab-bag" gift exhange. After we opened the gifts, we went around the room so that all could show what they received, and the gift-givers could stand up and be recognized and thanked.
Another conference tradition is CGOA's support of the Warm Up America!
program that is coordinated by the Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCA).
Warm Up America! has provided thousands of afghans for the homeless and
now also helps supply afghans to the American Red Cross, which distributes
to people who are homeless due to fire, flood or other natural disaster.
At Chain Link '98, we set a new conference record for the most completed
afghans donated. Conference participants were challenged to donate completed
afghans and CGOA awarded prizes for the individual and for the chapter that
donated the most completed adult-sized (49" by 63") afghans. And
the winners were: Diane Stiebel (Individual) with one afghan and
Central Ohio (Chapter) represented by Diana Howes with 20 afghans.
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