The Board Responds to Your Comments on MAQ 2008

As with any event such as this, we received positive and negative comments regarding just about everything. Below is a sampling of your comments and our responses. We hope this clarifies for you why we made the decisions we did and what things we have no control over.

“A 3-day intensive class or a good number of 2-day classes on Sat and Sun”
“I like classes you don't need many supplies and that can be completed during class.”
“More 2-day workshops so you can get in-depth on a project”
“A project you can truly start and finish in one day.”
“More 2-day classes”
“I would suggest doing only one-day classes”
“More Friday afternoon classes.”
“More ½ day classes Friday afternoon so people are not rushed to get there.”

We can’t please everyone, so we offer a variety of class formats.
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“Suggest that friends list all the group from a particular guild together so they can be placed close together in housing.”
“Better room match up of people who want to be together.”
“We wish we had been told there were 5-room suites. We would have taken the old building.”
“Since many suites sleep 4 or 5 people, can 4 or 5 sign up as a group?”

“Earlier check in would make getting settled in and ready easier for the 7 PM program.”
“Earlier check in of rooms.”
“Also would be good to get in the rooms earlier on Friday.”

Groups CAN signup together (and should if they want to ensure they are together). This year, members of a group did not always pick the same group members.

Earlier check-in is just not possible.

We want to clarify how housing assignments were made. We did not utilize the top floor of Horning and only a limited number of rooms on the third floor. Preference was given to people requiring private rooms or handicapped accessible rooms. There are a limited number of private rooms. There are no private rooms that will accommodate roommates. There is a very limited number handicapped accessible/stair-free rooms. There are not enough rooms to accommodate the many groups where a member requested no stairs or very close proximity to the classrooms.

We have shared all your comments about housing with MSM and are considering changes in the way housing is handled for 2009.
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“Stagger meal times with other groups convening here at the same time or a 2-hour lunch.”
“Lunch times need to be staggered.”
“Staggered meals so there are not such long lines.”
“Groups should be held to their dining room times. Lines too long at the different stations.”
“Asking all groups to stick to their times in the cafeteria; lines were ridiculously long.”

“I would strongly suggest a second salad station.”
“Good food. Perhaps offer more vegetarian/fishatarian food”
“The food was actually good!”
“Explain the food lines before we go to meals; if possible, indicate food selections. “
“I think it would be far more efficient if you had signs posted by the trays and cutlery saying what is being served at each station. Would improve traffic flow. Definitely need two salad stations!! There is always such a crowd around salad bar.”
“Post menu at cafeteria entrance.”
“Menu board in cafeteria to list main menu items.”

Groups are given specific times for dining. Although we asked our participants to stick to those times, many didn’t. The same is true for other groups. We cannot control the actions of other groups. We have passed on all your comments regarding food to MSM.
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“Vendors or field trips to local quilt shops.”
“Have midnight madness excursion to local quilt shop.”

Would you like to volunteer to organize this? If so, contact Patti.
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“At end of class each day (Fri and Sat), ask people not to move their items until next day’s classroom until that class is finished and members have put their items away and moved out.”
“No shifting of stuff until after evening program. Some rudeness ensued between 4 PM and dinner.”
“Keep people from moving until after dinner.”
“Tell people they cannot come into classroom to set up for next day until after 5:00 PM.”
“Restrict quilters from coming into the next day’s class and disturbing the present day quilters.”

We did ask people not to move until after classes were over. We will reiterate that next year.
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“The Show and Tell was way too fast and rushed.”
“Love the fact the evening programs didn’t drag on.”
“Thanks for shortening Saturday night program.”
“I really appreciated Friday and Saturday evening programs being short and sweet.”
“Longer evening programs. More to do in the evenings.”
“The evening programs were just the right length.”
“Loved the changes to Saturday night.”
“I missed teacher Show and Tell.”
“Really like the efficiency of Saturday night. Not having the teachers show proposed classes is good! Also like the idea of NOT giving the mikes to the Show and Tell people. Then it gets too long.”
“Loved the picture book of next year’s projects and the early dismissal of Saturday evening program.”
“Liked Show and Tell with Patti leading. It went faster.”
“The Show and Tell was fun but I prefer seeing what the teachers are preparing for next year.”
“I did feel the Show and Tell was rushed.”

Again, you can’t please everyone. We are considering all your suggestions.

2008 MAQ Attendees donated 10 pounds of unwanted cell phone and ink jet cartridges!

Not only are hazardous waste not going into landfills in the US, they are not shipped overseas to poison the land in other countries.

What happens to recycled phones?
The cell phones go in one of three directions, depending on condition, type and age:

1. They are either refurbished and resold back into the market
2. They are broken down in to metals and plastics and recycled
3. If we cannot use them, they are given to organizations like women's battered
   and homeless shelters 911 call program.
   
   Any profit goes to breast cancer research. Need more info? www.recycleforbreastcancer.org
   
   Thanks to all!
   
   Kay Campbell Anderson

View pictures from 2008

PowerPoint presentation

PDF file