Looking for ways to stay connected and stitch with others during this time? Our Keystone Chapter in Pennsylvania had a successful virtual stitch-in using Facebook Messenger. Read below to learn how your chapter can take advantage of this tool. Click here for more tools to stay connected.
Keystone Chapter (Mid-Eastern Region) has discovered a way to do virtual stitch-ins. A group of us had been brainstorming how we could get together since we missed the March and April meeting and already called off May just to be on the safe side.
Becky Yoho, Secretary of the group, and an essential worker, gave our problem to a co-worker who came up with a solution – create a Facebook Messenger Group. Below are the instructions on how we were able to have our stitch in.
For the Group Leader: Open Facebook and Messenger – you have to be a member of both Facebook and Messenger. Click on the icon in the upper right corner of the Messenger app (a paper and pen). This will open your list of friends. Click each friend that you want included into the group; send a test message to set up the group.
Once the group is set up, choose a phone number of one of the group members and call that number. This will simultaneously ring the phone of all group members. Once the member answers the call, there is a camera icon on the right-hand corner that can be checked for video or no video. Once the member answers the call, there is a camera icon on the right-hand corner that can be checked for video or no video. Of course, all members need a smart phone or iPad or tablet and have the full Messenger app installed, not the Lite version of the app.
For our test run, not everyone used video, we weren’t dressed for it. For our first virtual stitch-in, everyone chose to use the video. We sat in our living rooms, craft rooms, and basements, and stitched together and chatted together for two hours, like a regular meeting night, with no complaints about how cold it was, the chairs were uncomfortable, and “I forgot my…”
In all, seven members participated in our first stitch-in. Everyone worked on “Be Well” patterns that are currently available free from a Facebook group, some doing “Ewe Be Well” by Shepherd’s Bush, and others doing “Bee Kind” by Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher. “Bee Kind” is designed to be a scissors fob, which means there will be group instruction on finishing.
One of the highlights of the evening was Becky showing favorite stitching tools. Next Monday we are to each show off one of our favorite tools.
Being comfortable in our homes, we found that we got more stitching done than we normally do at a Guild meeting or stitch-in. We are reaching out to other members to see if they would like to be included in our next virtual stitch-in.
Of course, groups can use Zoom, or House Party to set up virtual stitch-ins or meetings. This is what worked for us. And, no, we are not putting in a picture because, after all, none of us have been to the hairdresser in over a month!
Joyce Shannon, President, Keystone Chapter
Parliamentary Procedures for Electronic Meetings
Many of our Chapters and Regions are having virtual meetings and we want to be sure
that we are following correct Parliamentary procedures. The main points to keep in mind are: Notice goes out to all regarding entering and participating in the meeting. The group has to establish a method for determining the presence of a quorum, how all can hear one another, methods for seeking recognition and obtaining the floor, means by which motions may be submitted, and methods for verifying votes.
