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CGOA Professional Development |
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Purpose of the Crochet Guild of America's Professional Development Committee:
As the membership of CGOA expanded it was natural that a growing number of members were crochet professionals: individuals who earn an income from crochet as designers, teachers, editors, producers, etc. It was also recognized that the ranks of aspiring professionals were growing as well. The Professional Development Committee was established to provide continuing education and information on job opportunities for these members, to nurture aspiring professionals, and to provide a forum for corporate members to connect with the crochet professionals necessary to meet their needs.
CGOA has established Professional Membership and Associate Professional Membership categories. Any interested CGOA member in good standing is eligible to apply for Professional Membership at no additional charge. Those individuals who are established in a crochet career and can provide supporting documentation and credentials are admitted as Professional Members. We realize that not everyone who is interested in a crochet career has acquired the necessary business experience to provide these documents. The Associate Professional category was established for those members who are beginning their crochet career. This category recognizes their initiative in working toward a crochet career and identifies them so the Committee can provide extra mentoring and encouragement.
The Committee maintains a Professional Member Directory in the Members Only section of the website. The Directory lists the professional categories, areas of specialty and contact information for each Professional Member who desires to be included.
The Committee oversees a private e-mail discussion list for Professional and Associate Professional Members. This discussion list provides a forum for discussion on any crochet rela ted business topic as well as providing a method to quickly disperse information to the group on items of interest such as design and teaching opportunities.
The Committee organizes Professional Development Day, a one-day educational seminar occurring prior to CGOA’s yearly Chain Link Conference, providing education on various business aspects of crochet.
The Committee maintains a Contract Crocheter/Pattern Tester Listing in the Members Only section of the website. Although Contract Crocheters are encouraged to apply for Professional or Associate Professional status this is not a requirement in order to be listed. In order to be listed they must be members in good standing of CGOA.
