They secured a Grant from the Raleigh Arts Council, organized a committee to administer the conference, hired teachers, did national publicity, and held the Symposium in May 1979. It was a great success, with 97 full-time students, 87 day students, a quilt show, and national teachers (including Michael James, Jinny Beyer, and the Hamiltons). The closing ceremony was held outside, with a reception and folk singers (“Aunt Dinah’s Quilting Party”).

The group finished with a profit, which they attempted to give back to the Raleigh Arts Council. However, since the money had been in the form of a grant, it was not returnable. They were told they must either divide the money among the six participating groups, or incorporate into an organization. They chose to do the latter, with the express purpose of promoting an annual Quilt Symposium in North Carolina. The Charlotte Quilters Guild, with 12 members, offered to hold the next one, so two women from that guild were added to the existing board. There were 16 members in the original Charter, representing the initial organizing groups, the majority of whom were not quilters.

As non-quilters’ Board terms expired, quilters were appointed to the Board, representing different areas of the state. Greensboro was to host the third Symposium, so two members of that guild went on the Board. At some point in the first 4 or 5 years, it was apparent that the number of members of the Board was too small, so the Articles of Incorporation were rewritten to allow for 21 members.

The large guilds were always represented: Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville, and Fayetteville, often by two members. They were appointed, not elected by their guilds.

List of Symposia

When a group wishes to sponsor a symposium, application is made to the NCQSI board two years before the projected date. Once a contract is signed with the hosting guild, the Board provides start-up seed money, as well as general advice and counsel during the planning stages. The seed money is returned to NCQSI along with a percentage of the profits, and full committee reports from the hosting guild in August after the symposium.

NCQSI provides additional money to the hosting guild at the completion of symposium for community projects for which they have presented specific plans to the board for approval. The following gifts have been given by NCQSI to the communities of the hosting guilds: