Who we are…
The Michigourders Gourd Guild is a group interested in all aspects of using hard shell gourds. That includes everything from growing gourds, to creating works of art, teaching and sharing gourd stories and gourd history, plus gourd enthusiasts.
The first small group formed from class participants in southeastern Michigan and local members of several online chat groups. This group met once a month to learn from each other about working with gourds and in time became The Michigourders. As membership and activities grew, this group joined the Michigan Gourd Society.
Over the next few years The Michigourders held meetings once a month, developed a web site to share information on gourds, individual members conducted demonstrations, workshops and classes and participated in the Michigan State Fair for two consecutive years, as well as the Ohio and Indiana Gourd Festivals.
In the summer of 2009 The Michigourders received a request to assist with the first Michigan Festival of Gourd in Imlay City being produced by Deb Stalling and her family to raise money for The Children’s Hospital Foundation. We proudly accepted the invitation and challenge to help this wonderful cause.
Want to stay in touch with the latest happenings!
Join our Michigourders Gourd Guild Mailing List.
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Gourd Guild
Who are members are…
Our members are a very diverse group of people coming from all walks of life with a common interest, the love of gourds. Be they homemakers, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, engineers, teachers, corporate managers, draftsmen, secretaries, store clerks, caregivers, farmers, or other professionals - one thing brings everyone together…the gourd.
Give one of our members a gourd and you will see them transform from their profession into painters, carvers, sewers, beaders, basket makers, weavers, pyrographers, artists, growers, and enthusiasts.
Many of our members are also members of the American Gourd Society and other gourd societies. We encourage everyone to join these groups to learn as much as possible about gourds. Several of our members have completed the American Gourd Society Master Judges Certification training, and are available to teach any group wanting to become AGS Certified Judges or would like us to help in the judging process for your event.
1. Guild Director - Gloira
- notifies all members about events and activities
- sends out a Newsletter with meeting times, location and dates, meeting notes, upcoming events, related topics of interest
- moderates of The Michigourders Yahoo Chat Site.
Membership in The Michigourders Gourd Guild is open to anyone with a desire to learn more about gourds and keep the spirit of Guild flourishing. To join, simply select that option on our site.
In January 2010 The Michigourders officially broke ties with the Michigan Gourd Society, and became an independent group, namely,
The Michigourders Gourd Guild.
2. The Board of Advisors consists of the core group of founding members of the Michigourders. Advisors assist members with questions and act as a governing body for the Guild. The Board of Advisors includes the Guild Director.
Current Board of The Michigourders Gourd Guild
Please feel free to contact our Director or
our Web Site Manager
with any questions about
The Michigourders Gourd Guild.
