About Country Road Quilters, Inc.
As a 501(c)(7) active nonprofit organization, the CRQ Guild offers many opportunities for involvement in guild activities and participation in a variety of community outreach projects, while expanding quilting talents and knowledge. There are committees, special interest groups, special projects, local and national speakers’ programs and classes, retreats, social events, newsletters, and the biennial quilt show. All are designed to grow the membership and to expand the scope of quilting.
CRQ Objectives
From our By-laws, Article II: Objectives, Section 1
- To promote the appreciation of, and to contribute to the knowledge of, the art of quilt making.
- To promote fellowship, mutual aid and common interest.
- To encourage quilt making and collecting.
- To encourage the growth of the knowledge of quilting techniques, textiles, the history of patterns and quilt makers.
- To sponsor and support quilting activities.
A 501(c)(7), as defined by the IRS, is a “Social Club” and an organization that exist for purposes that are either predominantly social or recreation in nature.
The guild has grown considerably since its’ early years and continues to be a format for education, encouragement and fellowship for all its members.
HISTORY
The guild was formed on May 8, 1986, with ten members. While looking through a quilting book, they came upon a block called “Country Roads” and thought it was very appropriate for the name of a guild in Ocala, with all the farms in the area. Thus the guild became known as Country Road Quilters. The block is also called “Buffalo Ridge.” Just think, we could have been “Buffalo Gals.”
Over the years the guild has met in various places, including members’ homes, “The Quilting Bee” (a shop owned by Edie Kirkland), a church, the City Conference Center, a building at McPherson Complex, the City Utilities Municipal Complex, the Hospice building, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and currently at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church building.
The first quilt show was held in 1988 at Koontz Furniture Store, when the guild had only 13 members. This was very unique in that an admission charge could not be made because it was held in a business which was trying to operate as usual. Mr. Koontz actually “paid” the admission. It was quite an undertaking for such a small group, and they surprised all, including themselves, that they were able to pull it off. The quilt show has been held every two years since in various locations.
