Sierra Mountain Quilters Association
Guild Meetings, Programs
and
Workshops
Guild meetings, programs and workshops are held at the Oakhurst Community Center*
Retreats are held at ECCO*
For guild meetings, April-September,
doors open at 5:30 with meeting starting at 6pm.*
For guild meetings, October-March, doors open at 12:30 with meeting starting at 1pm.*
For workshops, doors open at 8:30 am and workshops start at 9 am, end at 3 pm.*
*unless otherwise announced.
2025 Program Schedule
Jan 9 - (Daytime) Gameday
February 6 - (Daytime) Pamela Alexander - Slideshow of quilts
February 7 - Bohemian Quilt As You Go Wall Hanging. Click here to sign up online. Click here for the class details and supply list
February 19 - Cuddle Quilts 9am-1pm at the Oakhurst Library. Bring your sewing machines
March 6 - (Daytime) Guild Meeting - Cuddle Quilts
March 26 - Cuddle Quilt Workday 9am - 1pm at the Oakhurst Library
April 3 - Guild Meeting - Hidden Gems - Sue Johnson
April 4 - Rope Bowls with Sue Johnson
April 22-25 - Spring Retreat
May 1 — Guild Meeting
Pat Robertson Trunk Show
Featured Artist of the 2023 Kings River Quilt Festival
May 17–18 — Quilt Show
June 5 — Guild Meeting
Ice Cream Social
July 10 — Guild Meeting
Lecture: "Painting with Fabric" by Cindy Thompson
July 11 — Workshop
Wacky Faces with Cindy Thompson
August 7 — Guild Meeting
Hidden Gem: Janet Morita
August 8 — Workshop
Fabric Dyeing in a New Way
September 4 — Guild Meeting
Self-Defense Presentation by Denis Ciccarelli
September 5 — Workshop
The Padded Folding Chair with Lynn G. & Joanie M.
September 22–25 — Fall Retreat at ECCO
October 2 — (Daytime) Guild Meeting
Hidden Gem: Cindy Young
October 3 — Workshop
Bag Class with Nani Johnson
November 6 — (Daytime) Guild Meeting
Kim Brownell, the Wacky-Doodle Quilter
December 4 — (Daytime)
Annual Winter Luncheon
Let's Get Wacky Together!!!
About Wacky Faces
The playful and improvisational Wacky Faces quilt concept was inspired by the vibrant style of Freddy Moran and brought to life in workshops by both Freddy and her creative collaborator Jean Impey. Known for their fearless use of color and love of quirky, expressive design, the duo encouraged quilters to let go of perfection and have fun. Our workshop teacher, Cindy Thompson, learned this joyful technique directly from Freddy Moran and now shares it in her own fun and inspiring way. These small quilts celebrate imagination, individuality, and the joy of creating without rules—one whimsical face at a time!
Workshop: Wacky Faces with Cindy Thompson
Date: Friday, July 11, 2025
Get ready for a fun and creative day! Cindy Thompson will guide us through her playful Wacky Faces fabric art workshop.
👉 Click here for the supply list
👉 Click here to sign up online
Event Details:
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Location: Oakhurst Community Center Pavilion
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Time: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (Doors open at 8:30 AM)
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Pricing:
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Guild Members: $62.50 (online) or $60 (cash/check discount)
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Non-Members: $72.75 (online) or $70 (cash/check discount)
(Includes a $5 coupon toward a $35 SMQA annual membership if you choose to join.)
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While the cost is a bit higher than some of our other workshops (Cindy’s rate is simply higher), there’s no expensive pattern, ruler or specialty materials to buy—just bring your creativity and the supplies listed. Class size is limited, so sign up today!
Dyeing Fabric - A New Way
Workshop Details
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Oakhurst Community Center Patio
Set-up starts at 8:30, Workshop starts at 9am
Instructor: Janet Morita
Class Fee:
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Members: $35.00 (cash/check) | $37.00 (credit card)
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Non-members: $45.00 (cash/check) | $47.50 (credit card)
Payment Information:
To pay by cash or check, please mail to:
SMQA
PO Box 1359
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Or bring payment to our next guild meeting.
Checks payable to SMQA.
Click here to sign up and pay online
Padded Folding Chair
Quilted (Padded) Folding Chair Workshop
The long-awaited Padded Folding Chair workshop is finally happening! These chairs first made their debut as raffle prizes at our 2019 Quilt Show, made by our Footloose group. They were such a hit that members immediately asked Chris Hudson to teach a workshop. Chris went to work drafting the pattern and planning the class.
Then came COVID, which delayed the class—and sadly, we lost Chris in 2023 before she could teach it. Now, with much love and care, Lynn G. and Joanie M. are bringing Chris’s project to life and sharing it with the guild.
Workshop Details:
📅 Friday, September 5, 2025
📍 Oakhurst Community Center Pavilion
🕰 Set-up at 8:30 AM, Workshop begins at 9:00 AM, ends at 3PM
👩🏫 Instructors: Lynn G. & Joanie M.
Class Fee:
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Members: $35 (cash/check) | $37 (credit card)
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Non-members: $45 (cash/check) | $47.50 (credit card)
Payment:
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Mail checks to: SMQA, PO Box 1359, Oakhurst, CA 93644
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Bring payment to the next guild meeting.
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Checks payable to SMQA.
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Online payment option will be available soon.
Check back later to sign up and pay online.
Contact us
For information about any of our programs or to sign up for a workshop, please contact Joan E. using this form.
2024 SMQA Program Schedule
January 4, at 6pm - Guild Meeting - 2023 Rd2CA recap by Lynn Gray. Cuddle quilt fabric giveaway.
February 1, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Madera County DA, Sally Moreno. Topic: Cyber Security. After our refreshment break Dr Hannah Kaplan from Oakhurst Physical Therapy will speak on ways to improve our posture and discomfort from hunching over our machines and a request to make dresses for little girls in Africa.
March 7, at 6pm - Guild Meeting - Cuddle Quilt Program - 1pm - 5pm. Please note daytime hours.
March 9 - Saturday Workshop - Bev Gulley teaching Celtic Knot 9am-3pm. Click here for the class supply download. Click here for class description.
April 4, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Pat Robertson’s Trunk Show. She was the 2023 Kings River Quilt Festival featured artist. Cancelled due to snow.
April 10-13 - Spring Retreat
May 2, at 6pm - Guild Meeting - How to… stations hosted by guild members to show how to do bindings,quilt hanging sleeve, quilt label ideas….
June 6, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Julia McLeod. Lecture: Everything But Cotton
June 7, 9am-3pm - Workshop: Starting with Silk
July 11, at 6pm - Guild Meeting - Ice Cream Social
August 1, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Susan Nash. Lecture: Learn to Collage Quilt the Laura Heine Way
August 2, 9am-3pm - Workshop - A Laura Heine Collage, choose between the pin cushion and sewing machine mini
September 5, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Scarlett Rose. Lecture: A View from Both Sides
September 6, 9am-3pm - Stool Workshop taught by Wendy Holt
Sept 9-12 - Fall Retreat
October 3, at 6pm - Guild Meeting with Jane Haworth. Lecture: Journey as a Quilt Artist
October 4, 9am-3pm - Workshop: Cats & Dogs Fabric Collage Workshop
November 7, at 1pm - Guild Meeting with Claire Marks’ Trunk Show
November 8, 9am-3pm - Workshop - Foundation Pieced Table Topper
December 5 at 2pm, doors open at 1:30 - Guild Meeting - Annual Winter Year End Luncheon
2023 Guild Meetings, Programs and Workshops
January 5th, 2023 at 6pm - Due to weather and the connected concern for the safety of our members' travel, the meeting was cancelled.
February 2nd, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Cuddle Quilt Program
March 16th 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Game Night
April 6th, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Karen Brow-Meier lecture on The SMUGGLE Principles - Seven design elements which make a quilt “sing"
April 7th, 2023 9am-3pm - Karen Brow-Meier teaching Newly Hatched Wall Hanging Workshop
May 4th, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Colleen Pelfrey lecture "Life With A Border Around It"
May 5th, 2023 9am-3pm - Colleen Pelfrey teaching "Taking Out the Dye" Workshop.
Click here for supply list.
May 20 & 21, 2023 - Quilt Show
June 1st, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Ice Cream Social. We will honor our volunteers and celebrate the successes. Please be sure to bring along any family members or friends who volunteered to help at our Quilt Show. Ribbon recipients, we will have a special Show and
tell just for you. There will also be our normal Show and Tell.
June 30, 2023 noon - 1pm. Zoom meeting - Jeanette Walton will cover fabric and pattern preparation for the paper-pieced Starbaby Quilt.
June 30, 2023 1:30-5pm - Meet at Bear Paw to cut out purse kits in preparation of our Sew Powerful Purse Project.
July 6th, 2023 at 6 pm - Guild Meeting and Sew Powerful Purse Project
Linking seamstresses from around the world to combat extreme poverty by providing re-usable feminine hygiene supplies and health training to girls in Zambia. This enables them to attend school all month and improve their academic performance.
July 7th, 2023 9am-3pm Sew Powerful Purse Workshop.
August 3rd, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Jeanette Walton “Inspiration” Trunk Show
August 4th, 2023 9am-3pm -Jeanette Walton teaching paper pieced Starbaby Quilt Workshop
September 7th, 2023 at 6 pm - Guild Meeting and Trunk Show with our own Betsy Blum, one of our founding SMQA members and current SMQA Co-President.
October 5th, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Sandra Mollon's Trunk Show
October 6th, 2023 9am-3pm - Sandra Mollon teaching "Thread Painting" Workshop
November 2nd, 2023 at 6pm - Guild Meeting and Veterans Program
December 7th, 2023 at noon, doors open at 11:30 for our Annual Winter Luncheon and Installation of Officers
2022 Guild Meetings and Programs
January 6, 2022 - Cancelled
February 3-4, 2022 - Cuddle Quilts
March 3, 2022 - Guild Meeting and a Sew-N-Tell Trunk Show by our own Penni S., Faith M., and Diane M.
March 9-12, 2022 - Quilt Retreat
April 14, 2022 - Guild Meeting and Presentation by John Egbert
April 15, 2022 - Chrysanthemum Quilt from the book: Not Your Grandmother's Log Cabin with John Egbert
May 5, 2022 - Guild Meeting and Presentation by Anelie Belden
May 6, 2022 - Split Blade Dresden Workshop with Anelie Belden
June 2, 2022 - Ice Cream Social
July 7, 2022 - Buy a Table and Sell Your Treasures
August 4, 2022 - Trunk Show with Heidi from Authorized Vac and Sew
September 1, 2022 - Guild Meeting and Presentation by fiber artist Linda Schmidt.
September 2, 2022 - Mini Landscape Quilt Workshop with Linda Schmidt
October 6, 2022 - Guild Meeting and Presentation by Karen Bolan - Collaboration is Fun
October 7, 2022 - Workshop with Karen Bolan
Pieced Curves and Play with Transparency
November 3, 2022 - Guild Meeting and Trunk Show with our own member, Bev Gulley
November 4, 2022 - String Star Workshop with Bev Gulley
December 1, 2022 - Annual Winter Dinner
2021 Programs
January 7, 2021- Because our January Zoom meeting does not accommodate our usual cuddle quilt sewing, Patty Cramer and Maria Ciccarelli have developed a project we can do without the noise of sewing machines in the background as we meet. These heart pillows are for distribution to post-operative patients at St. Agnes Hospital. Click here for instructions.
February 4, 2021 - Twin sisters Lora and Lisa of Material Girlfriends (and designers of our last two mystery quilts) will present:
Overcoming Quilting Disasters - Horror movies are less scary than when you have a HUGE problem with a quilt! Bleeding and shredding and tears, oh my! Chin up, my quilting friend; help has arrived. Enjoy twin sisters, Lora Zmak and Lisa Norton of MaterialGirlfriends.com as they provide you with numerous solutions to Quilting Disasters. Have a particular problem? Bring your quilt and questions and enjoy their humor and expertise. Click link for "Quilting Disasters and How to Fix Them" print-out.
February 5, 2021 - 9am to noon
February 6, 2021 - 9am to noon
Confetti Hunter Star Workshop
March 4, 2021 - Presentation - “Edgy” by Linda Wagner
April 1, 2021- We will play a version of a scavenger hunt following the business meeting portion of the evening.
May 6, 2021 - Guild meeting via zoom. Two of our guild members will give information about how to chose a quilt design as a final finish to a perfect quilt.
June 3, 2021 - Guild meeting via zoom. Can you identify the quilting acronyms? ST. FQ. and certainly a few more obscure ones. Join us on Zoom, get the most correct answers, and win a prize. For the general meeting, you will receive an invitation by email from SMQA which includes instructions on how to sign into the meeting. Remember that the sign in information is for the June 3rd meeting only, and you can begin signing in at 5:30 p.m
July 8, 2021- Guild meeting and Ice Cream Social. This is our first in person meeting since Covid restrictions have been relaxed. Please see the July newsletter (to be sent on Thursday, July 1st) for details.
August 5, 2021 - Guild meeting with Janet Morita as presenter.
August 6, 2021 - Workshop on Ice dyeing with Janet Morita as instructor.
September 9, 2021 - Guild meeting with a game of "Strip Poker".
September 13-16, 2021 - Fall Retreat
October 7, 2021- Guild meeting with Rachel Clark as presenter
October 7, 2021 - Workshop with Rachel Clark
November 4, 2021 - Guild meeting John Egbert
November 5, 2021 - Grand Convergence workshop with John Egbert. Click here for supply list.
December 2, 2021- Annual Christmas party and swearing in of new SMQA officers.
2020 Programs
January 9, 2020 - Cuddle Quilts
February 6, 2020 - Game night - a word game and strip poker, so start putting aside your 2-1/2 inch strips.
February 7,020 - Workshop will be the byAnnie "A Place for Everything" bag. Patterns will be available at Bear Paw. Penny Simily will be teaching the class. Click here for the class supply list. Bear Paw has offered their instruction room on Saturday, February 8th, and Penni will be available, if you need more time and instruction to complete the bag.
March 5, 2020 - This is Your SMQA
March 12-15 - Spring Retreat
April 2, 2020 - The April 2020 meetings will be cancelled. This is because of the recent directives from the CDC for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
April 3, 2020 - The April 2020 meetings will be cancelled. This is because of the recent directives from the CDC for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
May 7, 2020 - The May 2020 meetings was cancelled. This is because of the recent directives from the CDC for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
May 8, 2020 - The May 2020 meetings was cancelled. This is because of the recent directives from the CDC for the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
June 4, 2020 - California Public Health and CDC guidance continue to advise against gathering in groups, so there will be no SMQA general meeting in June.
July 2, 2020 - Cancelled- California Public Health and CDC guidance continue to advise against gathering in groups, so there will be no SMQA general meeting in July.
August 6, 2020 - Zoom virtual meeting
September 3, 2020 - We will have our first virtual presentation. Heather Kojan is an experienced quilter and teacher on the east coast. Her designs for a variety of scrap quilts along with her interest in improvisation, curves, and modern quilts, make her a great choice for our first virtual presentation.
September 14-17, 2020 - Fall Retreat - cancelled
October 1, 2020 - Sue Pelland will present a virtual trunk show featuring applique quilts made with Rotary Cut Applique techniques. We will see first-hand how each of the shapes are cut, fused, and stitched.
November 5, 2020 - We will welcome back, Jenny Lyon for both a presentation and a virtual two part workshop.
Presentation: “The Beauty of the Imperfect” The imperfect is beautiful! I’ll show you inspiring and encouraging examples of my work as well as the work of others that are beautiful in their imperfection and I’ll share my journey to imperfection.
November 7 & 14 -
We have also scheduled Jenny Lyon for the workshop, "Yes You CAN Free Motion Quilt". The six hour Zoom workshop will be presented over two days, three hours each day: Saturday, November 7th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Friday, November 13th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
We will work on 5 beautiful and fun motifs that you can put on your own quilts using your home sewing machine! 6-hr workshop
Those of you who participated in Jenny's workshop last year will remember how enthusiastic a teacher she is, and how attentive to individual requests for guidance. She provides a supportive and fun atmosphere while you learn on your own machine.
The class fee is $35.00 for the six hours. There is a limit of 20, so that Jenny can provide individual attention, support and encouragement, just like she does in person.
In order to reserve a spot in the workshop, please contact Betsy Anne Youngholm.
December 3, 2020 - “Celebrating 12 Months of Quilting”, will be on Zoom. The December general meeting will include the swearing in of the 2021 Board Members, a vote on the proposed budget for 2021, the unveiling of the mystery quilts, and show and tell. We will also hold a drawing for the table toppers we would have had on the tables if we were able to meet as a group.
2019 Programs
January 3, 2019 - Cuddle Quilts
February 7, 2019 - Cancelled due to weather and road conditions
February 8, 2019 - Cancelled due to weather and road conditions
March 7, 2019 - Panel Discussion
March 7 through 10 - Spring Retreat
April 4, 2019 - Guild meeting with Fern Royce as presenter: "How I Found the Liberated Pathway"
April 5, 2019 - Workshop "String Quilts" with Fern Royce
May 2, 2019 - Country Store for the guild members.
June 6, 2019 - Ice Cream Social
July 11, 2019 - Guild meeting - Paper Piecing and English Paper Piecing Demonstrations
July 12, 2019 - Free Sew
August 1, 2019 - Guild Meeting with Dora Cary as presenter: "My Path to Fearless Quilting"
August 2, 2019 - Workshop "Make it Modern"
September 5, 2019 - Guild meeting with Laurel Anderson as presenter.
September 6, 2019 - Workshop - Wild Roses. For supply list click here.
October 3, 2019 - Quilts of Valor
November 7, 2019 - Guild meeting with Jenny Lyon as presenter: "Quilting is a Contact Sport"
November 8, 2019 - Workshop "Fearless Fills and Frills" with Jenny Lyon. For supply list click here.
December 5, 2019 - Annual Christmas Party
Past Programs- 2018
January 4, 2018 - Cuddle Quilts
February 1, 2018 - Guild Meeting with Truck Show presented by one of our newest circles: Sew Crafty Quilters
February 2, 2018 - Wacky Divine Nine Quilt Workshop with Mary Platz
March 1, 2018 - Meeting cancelled "due to the expected winter weather forecast (maybe rain and/or snow). We do not want our wonderful quilting friends out on the wet/icy roads" to quote our president, Rhonda Lloyd.
March 2, 2018 - Rescheduled for August 3, 2018
March 8-11, 2018 - Spring Retreat
April 5, 2018 Guild Meeting with Cindy Wiens - Solids Showcase
April 6, 2018 - My Swedish Ex Workshop with Cindy Wiens. Click here for supply list.
May 10, 2018 - Guild Meeting with our own Jeri Carney - How to prepare a quilt for the longarm quilter
May 11, 2018 - Stash and Dash Workshop taught by our own Lissa Metzger, pattern byannie.com
June 7, 2018 - Ice Cream Social
July 5, 2018 - Guild Meeting - Popcorn and Movie Night
August 2, 2018 - Guild Meeting and lecture with Cathie Hoover - Accept The Challenge!
August 3, 2018 - Workshop with Cathie Hoover - Wild and Crazy Quilt.
September 6, 2018 - Guild Meeting with Lisa McKissick - Tool Time Two
September 7, 2018 - Workshop with Lisa McKissick. Click here for supply list.
Fall Retreat- September 17-20, 2018
October 4, 2018 - Guild Meeting - Free Motion Quilting - demos by members
November 1, 2018 - Guild Meeting with Claire Witherspoon - Confessions of an Eclectic Quilter
November 2, 2018 - Workshop with Claire Witherspoon - Scrap Strategies
December 6, 2018 - Annual Christmas Dinner
Past Programs - 2017
January 5, 2017 - Cuddle Quilts
January 6, 2017 - Free Sew Day 9 am - 3 pm
February 2, 2017 - It is 2017 and the weather is perfect for sewing and quilting and time to think about our quilt
show in May. The February program will be “Finishing Touch”. This is to assist in completing quilts for the quilt show. There will be stations set up to watch a short demo on binding, piping and sleeves
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February 21, 2017 - Betsy Anne will be at Bear Paw Quilts and More, from 10:30 to noon, working on Cuddle Quilts. Please come, join in the fun!
March 2, 2017 - Sheila Collins from Sunnyvale, CA
Lecture and Trunk Show: Sheila Collins of Sunnyvale will join us in January to talk about her creative journey from fashion design to quilting
March 3, 2017 - Mandala Blossom, 20” x 20"
"I’m a big fan of mandalas and have been wanting to create one of my own, so I’m very happy to share this with you. I created the piece with layers to add dimension and covered buttons were the perfect finishing touch. The background fabric has been stretched over a canvas. Finished size, 20” x 20”".
April 6, 2017 - Doors will open early, at 5pm for a fabric sale. We will have the opportunity to work on small projects that will be sold at the Quilt Show
Country Store.
April 7, 2017 - Free Sew Day, from 9 am to 3 pm. SMQA members and their guest are welcome to sew and socialize without a structured program or educational activity.
May 4, 2017 - We will have the opportunity to meet some of the recipients of our Cuddle Quilts
May 20 -21, 2017 - Our Quilt Show - A Stitch in Time
June 1, 2017 - In June, with a successful Quilt Show behind us, we can relax. We will have a trunk show by Cindy Wiens. Cindy writes a blog called “Live a Colorful Life”.
July 6, 2017 - Ice Cream Social - In July we will enjoy ice cream and all the toppings. No calorie counting allowed! We will also play "Strip Poker". Each of you will need to bring 25 2-1/2 inch strips cut the width of fabric (selvage to selvage).
August 3, 2017 - Patsy Carpenter lecture and trunk-show
August 4,2017 - Paper Piecing with Patsy Carpenter workshop. Mini Stars Table Runner:
Mini stars is a perfect beginner class to enter the world of Judy Niemeyer paper piecing. It's fun and can be made in a day as you perfect the technique. All work is done in class. The only pre-class work is getting the perfect fabrics together along with the pattern and supplies, and you are on your way. The instructor will have plenty of patterns available for purchase. The supply list can be found here.
September 7, 2017 - CANCELLED! Due to the numerous fires, the excessive smoke and the unavailability of the Community Center, our September general meeting has been cancelled. Lynn Mann, our scheduled speaker, is available to attend our October general meeting on 10/5 and will teach the class on 10/6.
September 8, 2017 - Workshop - CANCELLED
October 5, 2017 - Lyn Mann lecture and truck-show
October 6, 2017 - Lyn Mann workshop. THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN UGLY FABRIC: In this this class, students will each bring squares of an ugly (or hard to use) fabric to share. We will construct a simple scrap quilt while learning how to make any fabric great, depending on what you put with it. A really fun day!!! Many say this is the best class they ever had. The supply list can be found here.
November 2, 2017 - A program to honor veterans
December 7, 2017 - Annual Christmas party including installation of officers
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