2020 NBG Spring Gathering

 

The 2020 Gathering has been Cancelled.

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
Hartford-Bradley Airport
Windsor Locks, CT

Welcome

Hello NBG member!

We are excited to share with you the wonderful line-up of classes we are offering at the Gathering for 2020. We would like to provide you with an overview of some of the events and happenings for the 2020 Gathering.

• Class Times: We’ve changed these from last year, so please take note.
  • Friday: 1 pm to 5 pm or 1 pm to 8 pm, with a break for dinner
  • Saturday: 8 am to 5 pm, with a break for lunch
  • Sunday: 8 am to noon
• Choosing your classes: Carefully consider your level of experience, the measurements of the baskets, and any options provided by the teacher. We suggest that you measure out your basket selection on a table for a better understanding of the size of the basket.
• Meals:
  • Dinners are included in the Friday and Saturday registration packages.
  • You have the option to buy lunch on Saturday.
  • Please be aware that no outside food can be ordered to be brought into the hotel (such as pizza delivery or catering).

What you can expect to see at the 2020 Gathering – in addition to great teachers, wonderful baskets, and fun weaving companions both new and old are:

• Members’ Exhibits
• Raffle
• Marketplace
• End of Day Break
• Buddy Plan
• NBG’s Annual Meeting

and so much more.

We’re committed to providing our members a fun, fulfilling, and memorable event each spring. If you have any questions, ideas or comments, please contact us at nbggathering20@gmail.com.

Bev Shafner
Marsha Leavitt
Kimberley Harding
2020 Gathering Coordinators

Index

Choose your classes from these great options

Click here to see the classes

See pictures of the fun we had at the 2019 Gathering

 

Accommodations

Northeast Basketmakers Guild “NBG” 2020 Gathering will be held on April 24, 25, and 26, 2020

Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Hartford-Bradley Airport
16 Ella T. Grasso Turnpike
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Hotel Reservations
1-860-627-5171

The Doubletree’s rate for overnight accommodations for the NBG 2020 Gathering is $114 per night, plus room tax. This rate includes a breakfast buffet. If you wish to register for the overnight stay at the Doubletree, you may contact them online or call them. Be sure to mention Northeast Basketmakers Guild (code BAS) for the special rate. The deadline for registering and receiving the special NBG rate is March 27, 2020. The Hotel will continue to accept reservations from NBG attendees after that date at the prevailing room rate, subject to availability.

 

Meals

The meal options have been chosen based on cost, nutrition, and comments from past Gathering surveys. You are more than welcome to make your own meal arrangements. You may also purchase meal options for other members of your party. The cost reflects the meal price, Connecticut sales tax (6.35%), and the required 21% gratuity. As in the past, the meals are substantial, quality offerings, and the service is excellent. Friday and Saturday dinners are included in the package prices for those days. You may also buy Saturday lunch separately. When completing the meal portion of the registration, please indicate the meals that you are purchasing and the meals that you are purchasing for guests. If you are not attending dinner(s) that are part of your weekend package, please let us know. This will give us a more accurate count for planning and financial purposes.

 

Registration

Registration is open to all members of NBG whose membership is current;  nonmember registration begins November 1, 2019.  Membership will need to be renewed by January 1, 2020.

• Registrations with your $50 nonrefundable deposit may be mailed or completed online at your convenience, but they need to be received by October 15, 2019, to be treated as first-day registration. Classes will be filled by random selection from registrations received by October 15. Registrations received after October 15 will be assigned space on a first come, first serve basis. If you send in a check for your deposit, please make it out to NBG.
• Classes are assigned according to their codes.
• Please list your choices in order of preferences. Listing multiple choices for each day helps insure your initial placement.
• Weekend registration packages are:

• $50 nonrefundable deposit is required at time of registration.
• Nonmembers may register for classes after November 1, 2019. Nonmembers add $25 to the package price for which you register.
• Packages that include Friday and/or Saturday include dinner. The registration form includes an option for purchasing lunch on Saturday, as well as options for purchasing meals for others in your party.
• Every effort will be made to give you the class(es) of your choice, but there is no guarantee of placement in your requested class(es). If your desired classes are not available, you may choose to be placed on a waiting list or you may cancel.
• You may register online or Download a paper registration form. There are two steps to submitting your registration and payment online. When processing your online registration, please complete the registration form and submit it, then choose the payment option, complete the payment information, and submit it. We try to monitor submissions, but if you do not receive a payment confirmation or hear from the coordinators confirming your registration in a couple of days, contact us at nbggathering20@gmail.com. First-time or returning nonmembers may register after November 1, 2019. Mailed registrations and/or your $50 nonrefundable deposit check made out to NBG should be sent to:

Kimberley Harding
NBG 2020 Gathering Coordinator
56 Florence Ave.
Arlington, MA 02476

• You will receive email notifications when you submit your registration, when class assignment(s) are finalized by December 1, 2019, and when remaining payment for registration packages and teachers’ material fees are due by February 1, 2020.
• Payment of teachers’ material fees and remaining registration fees are due by February 1, 2020; otherwise you will forfeit your place in class(es) and your $50 nonrefundable deposit. There are no refunds of the registration payment or material fees after March 24, 2020. The attendee must make arrangements with another member or attendee (or, as a last resort, the event coordinators) to get the kit(s) from the teacher(s).
• If you want a printed notification of class assignments, please send a #10 SASE with your printed registration. You will receive your class assignment sheet by email before printed notifications are sent.
• The registration form is at the end of gathering web page, print and online. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Beverly Shafner, Marsha Leavitt, or Kimberley Harding, NBG 2020 Gathering Coordinators at nbggathering20@gmail.com.

 

Non-Members

NBG is committed to increasing our membership. Therefore, we offer specials to nonmembers as a way of introducing basket weaving and NBG. If you or a friend are not an NBG member, this offer is for you. A nonmember can sign up for the one-time-only special of attending a class at any NBG weaving event and pay no registration fee—you pay only the teacher’s materials fee.

Nonmembers can attend NBG events, but they pay a higher registration fee than members. For the 2020 Gathering, that fee is an additional $25 added to the cost of any weekend registration package. Nonmembers may register for open classes after November 1, 2019. Youth who attend weaving events with an NBG member also waive the registration fee and pay only the teacher’s materials fee. These offerings give people, youth and older, the opportunity to learn about the Guild and explore basket weaving.

 

Buddy Plan

Anyone who is new to NBG or is attending the Gathering for the first time will be paired up with another “more experienced” member. This Buddy Plan will provide new attendees with a partner who will introduce them to other members, provide information about the Guild and details of the Gathering, and, most importantly, the Buddy can be a “friend.” Buddies will be connecting by email before the Gathering. If you have any questions or would be interested in being the “more experienced buddy,” please contact Tina Pearsall.

Weekend Schedule

 

Timeline

• Save postage! Register and pay the $50 nonrefundable deposit online
  or register online and mail a check to:
  or Download a paper registration form and mail the check and form to:
  Kimberley Harding
  NBG 2020 Gathering Coordinator
  56 Florence Ave.
  Arlington, MA 02476
• Registrations received by October 15, 2019 are considered first-day registrations.
• Class assignments will be sent by December 1, 2019.
• Make hotel reservations by March 27, 2020, to be eligible for the special NBG room rate ().
• Full payment of registration (minus $50 deposit) and teachers’ materials fees is due by February 1, 2020. You may pay online or send a check made out to NBG to:
  Kimberley Harding
  NBG 2020 Gathering Coordinator
  56 Florence Ave.
  Arlington, MA 02476
• No refunds will be issued after March 24, 2020.
• Registration is open until April 1, 2020.

 

Exhibits

Debra Rolfe  is coordinating the NBG Exhibits during the 2020 Gathering. We encourage all NBG members to display their work in the Exhibit Area. One entry per member. Drop off of baskets begins Friday at noon and is available anytime the area is open. Baskets should be picked up on Saturday between 4 to 5 pm. Members may vote on Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. Ballots will be included in the Welcome Packet at the registration area. No ballots will be available in the Exhibit room. Winners will be announced on Saturday night. More information on categories, awards, and entering your baskets will be in future newsletters. See the pictures of last year’s entries and winners.

Raffle

Mary Williams is the coordinator for this special event. Teachers and attendees are invited to donate a basket or basket-related item for the raffle. A fun-filled, robust, highly anticipated drawing of the winners is part of the evening events on Saturday.

End-of-the-Day Break

 

After a wonderful day of weaving on Saturday, join us for cheese and crackers in the West Room area. The West Room restaurant has a bar. This event provides an opportunity to socialize and participate in Raffle drawings and presentations of Exhibit awards.

Marketplace

 

This event is a great way to end Saturday during the Gathering weekend. Gathering teachers are invited to participate as vendors. Nonbusiness NBG members may purchase a table for $25 and sell basketry-related items. Contact Cathy Parrish  with any questions or to reserve a table.

Volunteers

 

“Many hands make light work” is definitely how the Gathering weekend functions. In addition to all the people listed in this gathering web page who are coordinating tasks and projects, we need additional volunteers during the weekend. There will be a sign-up list of tasks posted in the lobby beginning on Friday. Please look over the list and volunteer. Event coordinators may also be contacting you to assist with an activity. We all thank you—this is another important aspect of a great, fun, and organized Gathering. We always need early-arrival attendees to assist teachers and welcome other attendees.

Grants

NBG has grants to award yearly. The application process begins in January 2020. The Bill Pope Grant is available to an NBG member to attend the Gathering. Now is the time to look at the grants and the criteria, and to make your plans. More information will be provided in upcoming newsletters. Take a look at the information on grants. Contact Beverly Shafner, President, for more information.

Logo Merchandise

 

Short sleeve and long sleeve T-shirts with the NBG logo are available for purchase.

.

Click here to choose your classes