EAC Seminar.

Thanks Jim - LOL! That ought to hold me for a little while longer until someone can catch their breath and post a recap. Jeanine in Canada

F.James Cripwell wrote:

I am a member and I know my view, particularly of the seminar, is unwelcome. The EAC state they are there to promote stitching but then costs for attending a seminar, their main yearly event, are out of the reach of many, so it becomes very elitist.

When the seminar was in Moncton I could have attended a gold work course. That course would have cost me more than the one I later took at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. I have subsequently seen the piece done in Moncton and it would teach a person very little about goldwork.

I realize not everyone happens to be in the UK to do what I did, but five others who went specifically for it also felt with trips into the V&A etc. they were far better off. So why was it costing so much in Moncton?

I asked about this when I was President of my Guild and attended the Regional Meetings, also abetted by the member from Newfoundland. They really wanted to sweep that under the carpet and more or less said "Because". The because I find, on closer examination is that prices are heavily inflated and half of that goes to the EAC and half to the hosting Guild. Chickadees in Moncton is a very large Guild so they were able to spread the labour around so that no one person had an undue load. I believe they registered a profit from the seminar of $40,000 which tells me the profit was actually $80,000

I am not sure why the Chickadees need that sort of bank roll, we operate on less than a $1,000 and still bring in people like Tanja Berlin and Meridie Fjarlie for courses with no difficulty. The EAC of course needs the funds to support the tail trying to wag the dog.

I feel the EAC does NOT promote stitching properly. Worse yet, most of the courses are done by those in the ring, rather than newer, more vibrant teachers. Even the correspondence courses offered by the EAC are pricey.

Occasionally we discuss as a Guild, cutting our tie to the EAC. We have had people enquire about joining who back away when we have to tell them it will be $34 per year. $34 buys quite a bit of stash! However, on they go and now I see they intend to pay someone to edit that magazine, so watch the price rise further. An association for the well heeled.

As you can see, this is something I feel very strongly about and as recently as that online poll they did, I reiterated it. Never hear back from them though, bet they wish they could shoot the messenger!

Sheena

I had just written a very long soapbox post about my guild and then got scared and deleted it.

Don't want to burn my bridges... if I even have any...

But if anyone's interested (which you wouldn't be!) you're welcome to email me and I'll happily vent my spleen. :-)

But Sheena, I commiserate. Different issues, but my goodness it sounds similarly political.

Yvette

Sheena,

I share your thoughts on EAC. Ten years or so ago, I was involved in a very messy EAC situation, and was totally disgusted with the way the executive of EAC handled it. They caved to a group of mean spirited women, who weren't even on the executive of our local guild. These women actually threatened to withdraw the guild they belonged to from EAC. They had no authority to do this, yet the EAC executive took them at their word. What a bunch of hooey! Oh, and the most interesting part is 'those women' aren't even involved in the guild any more...

I did attend two EAC Seminars and enjoyed the classes a great deal, and yes, they were definitely pricey. Guess I wasn't as savy as I am now.

I honestly see very little benefit in belonging to EAC.

...Linda