What is a leather Guild

 

A leather Guild (Club) is an organization of people who are interested in sharing with each other the ideas and knowledge of the art of leathercraft.

 

What does the organization consist of?

 

There are three general types of memberships, Individual, Family, people living in the same house, and Junior, anyone under 18. Some guilds have senior, and lifetime memberships.

The members elect officers to govern the organization. As a general rule a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer.

One of the most important people in a new guild is the Recording Secretary.

The members set dues, some guilds charge as little as $5.00 for an individual membership some up to $20.00. You may want to start out low then raise the dues as your expenses grow

A family membership cost is more with a junior less than an individual cost.

 

How to get Prospects

 

If you have a local leather store, this is a good place to get prospective members. Place a poster in the store, with a place for names and addresses.

Talk with the owner, or manager of the store and try to get them involved in you plans.

Trying doing leathercraft at a local County fair, craft fair, Hobby show, etc. 

Work with the Boy Scouts and the local 4H. Teach them and their family’s basic leathercraft.

 Advertise in your local paper, or set up a meeting time and pass out flyers.

 

What do you do at meetings?

 

Meeting are usually divided into three basic sections:

1^st. Business Meeting,

2^nd. Work Projects,

3^rd. Social Time.

 

The business section is usually at the start of the meeting. Try to keep this to a minimum; your officers should have most of the business finished before the meeting.

The work section is time for teaching, doing demonstrations, sharing knowledge trading patterns, and asking advice on projects that you are working. Just learning the art of Leathercraft.

 

 

The social time a get acquainted time with coffee and cookies or is what ever you wish it to be, and usually includes the cleaning up and leaving time.

 

The meeting time and place varies from guild to guild. But as a general rule is held once a month. The day can be any day of the week and should be voted on by the members as to the best time that most of the most members can attend.

 

The length of the meeting is determined by the amount of business and the work period. Most guilds meet for between 2 and 5 hours.

 

Where to meet?

Most guilds find a facility that does not charge a fee. A local leather store is the best, a church, VFW post, Community building, Library, etc.

Try to find a place that has tables you can tool on.

 

What else does a guild do?

Some of the activities outside of the regular meeting are.

Entering your work in the local county fair, The State Fair, Craft shows, and compete against each other.

Have you guild members doing demonstrations at public events

Have a summer picnic, and a Christmas party

Do garage sales to build up you treasurer, and buy tools.

Teaching leather classes to scouts and 4H.

Just getting together for a good time.

 

Can my club join an International Group?

 

After you have your guild established, the next thing to do is join the International Federation of Leather Guilds.

This organization is for guilds only; no one person can join this Federation. You must belong to a member guild to compete in the annual show and competition. This Show and Exhibition is held once a year and attracts leathercrafter from around the world.

 

For more information contact The membership chairman of the International Federation of Leather Guilds, visit our website at ifolg.org  The IFoLG can help you with writing your by-laws and other problems you may have organizing your guild.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled by the member Guilds of

The International Federation Of Leather Guilds

 

Ernie Wayman, Executive Director