We welcome new members. Learn about the benefits of membership, join us by purchasing your membership, or come to our next meeting.
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Develop and encourage the art of modern quilting.
Work with other guilds and groups with a similar purpose.
Encourage new quilters and other fiber artists interested in non-traditional and non-a fiber project
Offer educational opportunities through classes, workshops, and sharing of information.
Support and provide the opportunity for “charity” or other works that provide back to the community through the use of modern quilting skills.
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ARTICLE I: NAME, PURPOSE, GENERAL MATTERS
1.1 NAME
The name of this guild is LAKE SUPERIOR MODERN QUILT GUILD also referred to as “the LAKE SUPERIOR MQG” and “the Guild.”
1.2 PURPOSES
The Guild is organized and will be operated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
This Guild is additionally organized to do any and all lawful acts that may be necessary, useful, suitable, or proper for the furtherance of accomplishment of the purposes of this Guild.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
The Guild is an affiliate member of the Modern Quilt Guild Inc. Through a group exemption with the Modern Quilt Guild Inc., the Guild is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Within the scope of these purposes, the Guild is organized and operated to
● Develop and encourage the art of modern quilting.
● Work with other guilds and groups with a similar purpose.
● Encourage new quilters and other fiber artists interested in non-traditional and non-a fiber project
● Offer educational opportunities through classes, workshops, and sharing of information.
● Support and provide the opportunity for “charity” or other works that provide back to the community through the use of modern quilting skills.
The assets and property of the Guild are hereby pledged for use in performing its exempt purpose.
1.3 LOCATION
Duluth, Minnesota & Superior, Wisconsin area
1.4 MISSION
To inspire, educate, and connect modern quilters and fiber artists. LSMQG exists to promote the artistry of modern quilting, mentor new members, provide collaborative learning opportunities, and strengthen our community through charitable sewing initiatives and partnerships with like-minded organizations.
1.5 NO PRIVATE INUREMENT
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this document.
1.6 FISCAL YEAR/ANNUAL MEETING
The fiscal year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year. The January meeting of The Guild will be considered the Annual Meeting where new Officers take office, the Budget is presented for approval of members and the outgoing President(s) and Treasurer deliver reports.
1.7 PRIVACY
Member information is for the purpose of The Guild business only and every
effort will be made to protect the privacy of individual members. Personal information
of members will never be offered for sale or otherwise to non-authorized parties.
1.8 ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
All general meetings and Guild Council will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order unless specifically excluded by these Bylaws.
1.9 NON-DISCRIMINATION
No person may be denied membership to The Guild or be denied participation in any Guild events or activities because of the person's sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERS
2.1 MEMBERSHIP
Membership is granted to persons 15 years or older upon completion of membership application and payment of dues. Paid members in good standing receive a single vote in Guild matters. Members must adhere to the code of conduct to remain in good standing and maintain membership.
2.2 DUES
The annual dues amount will be set by the Guild Council. If a member withdraws from The Guild, dues will not be prorated or refunded. Dues must be received by the January 31 to remain in good standing. The Guild Council has the authority to authorize payment arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
2.3 MEETINGS
The Guild will hold a monthly meeting. The timing of the meeting will be
determined by the Guild Council. The time of the meeting will not change in a fiscal year unless special circumstances are determined by the Guild Council. Members may attend meetings free of charge. Non-members may attend one time free of charge within a fiscal year.
2.4 VOTING
Each member in good standing receives one vote towards Guild matters. Absentee voting is allowed by proxy voting only.
2.5 REVOKING MEMBERSHIP
Membership may be revoked in cases of actions that threatens the non-profit status of The Guild. Membership may also be revoked for violating policies set by the hosting meeting space or by participating in any activity related to The Guild that is blatantly criminal.
ARTICLE III: GUILD COUNCIL OFFICERS
3.1 OFFICERS
The Guild Council shall consist of President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each officer must be a member in good standing for the entire term.
Candidates must understand and adhere to The Guild’s purpose and have been an active member for six months to be considered with an exception of the first year of elections within The Guild. Officers must committed to attending the general and Guild Council Meetings.
3.2 NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Nominations will be solicited 60 days prior to elections.
3.3 ELECTION OFFICER:
Officers will be elected to a one year term by a majority of the members present. Absentee voting is allowed only by proxy. Voting is by paper ballot and will be tallied by 2 members in good standing who are not in consideration for an officer position.
3.4 INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
Officers will be installed in January following the election for the term of one year unless they resign or are removed from office or membership. All books and papers regarding The Guild shall be delivered to the new Officer by the next Guild meeting.
3.5 FILLING VACANCIES
An Officer may resign at any time. Any Officer position with the exception of President can be appointed by the Guild Council. A Vice President will fill in for President until Elections can be held.
3.6 POWERS AND DUTIES
The Officers are listed below. Each Officer is responsible for committees as needed.
a. President
b. Vice President of Membership
c. Vice President of Programming
d. Secretary/Webmaster
e. Treasurer
ARTICLE IV: GUILD COUNCIL
4.1 MEMBERS
The Guild Council shall consist of the Officers of The Guild.
4.2 POWERS
As directed by these Bylaws, the Guild Council will be responsible for managing the business and affairs of The Guild.
4.3 MEETINGS
The Guild Council shall meet regularly on a schedule as agreed upon by the Officers. Changes to the meeting time or place must be announced in advance by either electronic communication or oral communication with the exception of emergencies. The Guild Council may invite other persons as guests to these meetings.
4.4 QUORUM
At all meetings of the Guild Council, 50% of the members must be present
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If the quorum is not met, business decisions will not be made and voting will need to be rescheduled.
4.5 VOTING
A majority of the Guild Council members present at a meeting where the Quorum is met will constitute an affirmative vote.
4.6 ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE
Guild Council members are allowed to electronically attend meetings.
ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
5.1 COMMITTEES
Committees are created to assist the Guild Council in carrying out activities and responsibilities to The Guild. Committees can be suggested by any member and the Guild Council may officially create or dissolve a committee.
5.2 CHAIRPERSONS AND MEMBERS
Any member of The Guild in good standing can belong to one or more committees at any one time. Chairpersons will be appointed by a member of the Guild Council.
5.3 CHAIRPERSONS RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee Chairperson is responsible for the general supervision of the committee and its membership. The Committee Chairperson reports to its respective Guild Council officer. The Committee Chairperson is responsible for providing the President monthly reports of pertinent information and for notifying the Guild Council immediately of any concerns or issues.
5.4 TERM
The Guild Council will determine the term for the Committee and Committee Chairperson.
5.5 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
The Guild Council may remove a Committee Chairperson no longer in good member standing. In the event of removal or resignation, the Guild Council may appoint a replacement Committee Chairperson.
5.6 MEETINGS
Each Committee may meet as needed and set its own rules for quorums and voting.
5.7 FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Each committee will work with the Treasurer. At no time should the committee be considered to be independent of The Guild nor fail to submit money or expenses to the Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI: EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS
6.1 GENERAL
The Guild Council will be responsible for maintaining the good standing
of The Guild in all matters regarding legal documents and contracts.
6.2 CONTRACTS
The Guild Council has the power to execute contracts on behalf of the
Guild and to delegate such power to others on a case-by-case basis.
ARTICLE VII: GUILD FUNDS
7.1 All funds delivered to The Guild will be deposited in The Guild bank account. The Treasurer will oversee the bank account and will deliver any check or other payment of monies on behalf of The Guild. A member of the Guild Council will be designated as the back up to the Treasurer.
7.2 TREASURER REVIEW COMMITTEE
A Treasurer report will be given at every meeting.
7.3 BUDGET ADOPTION
Guild Council will approve a budget every 6 months for the first year of The Guild operation and on a yearly basis after that.
ARTICLE VIII: INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
8.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS
The Guild may purchase indemnity insurance as needed for Guild business.
8.2 INSURANCE
The Guild may purchase and maintain D&O insurance for any member of the Guild Council.
8.3 FIDELITY BOND
The Guild may purchase and maintain a Fidelity Bond when non-profit status is achieved.
ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION
9.1 In the event the Guild is dissolved, the money in the Guild’s bank accounts will be
donated to museums and historical societies and/or given to charity.
9.2 Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENT
10.1 AMENDING BYLAWS
The Guild Council may propose an amendment to these Bylaws at any time. The proposed amendment must be electronically proposed via The Guild’s website 2 weeks prior to a regular meeting. Voting will occur at that meeting with the majority of members attending constituting an affirmative response.
We’re quilters that love to learn, share, and sew with each other. We’ve been a local guild of The Modern Quilt Guild since 2013. Our hybrid meetings (in-person and online) meet on the second Thursday. LSMQG also offers smaller group opportunities with monthly online Sew-Ins, in-person Color Club, as well as a variety of other learning and collaborative opportunities throughout the year.
QUILT WALK
The quilt walk is currently planned for Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:30am.
Meeting at the Lift Bridge parking lot, bring ice cleats, friends and bright quilts to walk around with in Canal Park and over the bridge.
Join us afterwards for lunch with friends (likely at Grandmas Restaurant).
Why are we doing this? You may ask! LSMQG goal with the walk is to bring joy and color to a cold and grey time of the year. We are spreading some joy! Come join us, won’t you!?!
LSMQG’s 2026 Sew Along is the Modern Block Sampler Quilt by the MQG!
Login to the MQG website and search in the resources section for the Modern Block Sampler Quilt to join in the fun. We will be sewing along together throughout the year!
As the modern quilting movement started to gain broader recognition, quilters began to expand their knowledge and practice in this craft. Now, with more experienced and curious modern quilters than ever, the boundaries of what can be created with fabric and thread continues to evolve.
Thus, modern quilters often define for themselves what modern quilting is.
The MQG is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community. In order to serve that mission, we have outlined several characteristics often seen in modern quilting. This definition provides a foundation from which we can begin to educate about modern quilting. While these characteristics can be a common thread among many modern quilts, this list is not comprehensive of every attribute in modern quilting, nor is it a constraint to what can be in a modern quilt.
Bold use of color
High contrast & graphic areas of color
Minimalism
Maximalism
Improvisational piecing
Expansive negative space
Alternate grid work
Modern traditionalism
In modern traditionalism, traditional patchwork quilt blocks, such as a log cabin block, and traditional styles, such as boro and kantha, are often reimagined using modern quilting elements, such as asymmetry, color, and scale.
Similarly, various themes that appeared decades and centuries ago in quilts continue to evolve in quilting today. Pictorial quilts and quilts featuring text tell the stories of what is happening or has happened within society, or one’s own life. These quilts, also referred to as social commentary quilts, are present in modern, traditional, and art quilting styles. In a similar way, the utilization of recycled or upcycled materials, once done out of necessity, is more recently being used for broader environmental impact. This creates an interesting bridge between generations of quilters, with many modern quilters taking the various themes, techniques, and materials of earlier generations and applying different characteristics of modern, traditional, and other styles to create their own unique quilts.
A quilt is typically recognized as multiple layers of fabric threaded together with a finished edge. We have often used the word “functional” when describing modern quilts. This may mean different things to different people: a modern quilt may function as a bed covering, a comfort object, or a piece for visual reflection. In all cases, the use of the quilt does not push it under or pull it out from the umbrella of being a modern quilt, as long as it is perceived by its maker to be useful.
Some quilters yearn for a finite definition of a modern quilt – and some rebel against the idea. We use the above list as our definition, knowing it may be malleable. Art, craft, and quilts are subjective, and modern quilting will always continue to evolve. We look forward to seeing where it goes next!