ANWG Conference in Portland

PHG is bringing the 2027 ANWG conference to Portland. The conference co-chairs (Dan Steves and Edith Gummer) are looking for volunteers and conference ideas. You can use the forms below to volunteer to help and share your ideas with us.

For those agreeing to help, we are not starting from scratch. There are descriptions for each of the conference committees below, and a wealth of information in the reports from past conferences. In addition, several PHG members have worked on past conferences and can offer advice and encouragement as we proceed.

Please let us know if you’ve willing to lend a hand to this exciting effort. And if you have questions feel free to reach out to the conference co-chairs for more info.

Conference Ideas



    Volunteer to help

      Your name

      Your email

      Please check the boxes below to indicate how you might like to support a conference in Portland.
      Co-Chairs: Edith Gummer and Dan Steves
      Treasurer: Mike Schlieski
      Secretary: YesNo
      Awards: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Bags: Co-chairs - Jackie Kraybill and Suzie Liles Committee Member
      Booklets: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Education: Co-chairs - Niki Schulz and Lynne Fitzsimmons Committee Member
      Events: Co-chairs - Debbie Ellis, Pat Bojinoff Committee Member
      Fashion Show: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Guild Booths: Chair - Margaret Jeppeson Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Instructor Show: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Juried Show: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Open Show: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Learn to Weave!: Co-chairs - Pat Zimmerman and Laurie Brown Committee Member
      Nametags: Handweavers Guild of Boise
      Publicity: Chair - Kristen Buchanan Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Registration: Co-chairs - Lara Burky and Peggy Coats Committee Member
      Signs: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Towel Exchange: Chair - Janell Neulinger Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Vendors: Chair - Suzie Liles Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Volunteers: Co-ChairCommittee Member
      Website: Co-chairs - Amber Pham and Peggy Coats Committee Member
       Feel free to share your comments, thoughts, or suggestions here:

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      Conference Planning Committee
      Positions and Responsibilities

      Co-Chairs

      • Liaison with ANWG board for all conference activities.
      • Oversee selection of conference venue.
      • Develops and maintains conference planning schedule to track conference activities and deadlines.
      • Work with conference committee to develop conference theme, colors and logo.
      • Signs all legal documents and contracts.
      • Works to resolve problems.
      • Co-signs checks.
      • Serves as main liaison between conference committee and conference venue.
      • Assembles the final report on all conference activities for submission to the ANWG Board.

      Treasurer

      • Develop a conference budget in consultation with the rest of the Executive Planning Committee.
      • Keeps full financial records.
      • Sets up a conference bank account.
      • Coordinates with the ANWG treasurer for access to the ANWG Conference PayPal account. 
      • Co-signs checks.
      • Issues statements to track current financial status.
      • Receives all invoices.
      • Determines format for committee expense claims and for issuing all payments.
      • Sets up insurance details for conference.
      • Arranges final audit and statements.
      • Completes a final report on the Treasurer’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Secretary

      • Keeps all Conference Planning Committee minutes.
      • Emails copies to designated ANWG Board reps and Conference Committee members.
      • Uploads copies to the shared Google drive.
      • Manages correspondence as necessary.
      • Completes a final report on her conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Awards and Ribbons

      • Coordinate with committees overseeing Fashion Show, Juried Show, Open Show, Instructor Show and Guild booths to determine award ribbon requirements.
      • Communicates with Guilds and/or guild members helping with weaving award ribbons and any other support activities.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Blog

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Works with co-chairs and other committee chairs to develop a schedule for blog entries on the conference website.
      • Identifies writers to develop and publish blog posts on the conference website.
      • Publish blog posts as needed to inform potential attendees about schedules, venues, etc. and provide updates during the conference as needed.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Conference Bags

      • Prepares shortlist of options for a conference bag.
      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Works with Registration Chair to assemble contents of bag, including
        • Registration package
        • Map of facility
        • Map of city
        • Bus schedule/map
        • Gallery list
        • Vendor advertising
        • List of companion activities
      • Organizes production of conference bags.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Conference Booklets

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Works with co-chairs and other committee chairs to develop conference guide, with information for attendees about the location, facilities, eateries, etc.
      • Works with other committee chairs to sell and/or obtain ads for conference guide.
      • Works with fashion show chairs to develop fashion show program if/as desired.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Education (Workshops/Seminars) 

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Prepares a Call for Instructors.
      • Reviews submissions.
      • Submits shortlist to Executive Planning Committee.
      • Prepares instructor contracts and seeks legal approval of the contracts.
      • Organizes equipment rental.
      • Organizes instructor needs /sites. 
      • Organizes instructor accommodation. 
      • Approves and assigns classroom space.
      • Completes a final report on the Workshops/Seminar Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Events & Activities

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Prepares a shortlist of keynote speakers for the Executive Planning Committee.
      • Organizes Keynote speaker travel, accommodation.
      • Compiles a list of companion activities for website and conference bag.
      • Works with Guild Laison to find guilds or guild members interested in hosting activities at the conference, i.e. towel exchange, shuttle race, displays on textile topics, etc.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Fashion Show

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Prepares a Call for Submissions.
      • Develops plan for gathering and returning items accepted into the fashion show.
      • Sets theme, entry fees, & shipping dates.
      • Selects jurors/judges.
      • Develops an award list.
      • Organizes models, music/decorations, program, and security, working with site staff.
      • Develops program and coordinates with Vender Chair to sell ads in program.
      • Coordinates with Juried/Open/Instructor show committee to locate/rent display stands for fashion show exhibit.
      • Displays fashion show items in exhibit after the show.
      • Completes a final report on the Fashion Show Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Guild Laison/Guild Booths

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Completes a final report on the Guild Liaison’s conference activities for submission to the Planning Committee Chair.
      • Prepares a call for Guild booths.
      • Communicates with guilds on guild booth assignments and schedules for load-in and load-out.
      • Coordinates with Signs committee to have signs created and placed for guild booths as needed.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Juried and Open Shows & Instructors’ Showcase

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Prepares a Call for Submissions.
      • Sets theme, entry fees, & shipping dates.
      • Selects jurors/judges.
      • Develops an award list.
      • Locates/rents display stands.
      • Organizes decorations, labeling and security.
      • Oversees display set up,
      • Completes a final report on the Juried Exhibits/Shows Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Learn to Weave!

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Obtain looms and supplies for Learn to Weave! class.
      • Arrange for volunteers for class.
      • Evaluate applications and draw names if there are excess applications.
      • Setup classroom, looms, warping boards, etc. before class.
      • Lead class and supervise helpers.
      • Ensure borrowed looms and equipment are returned when class is completed.

      Nametags 

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Works with Guild Laison to find guilds or guild members interested in designing, weaving and completing name tags for conference attendees.
      • Coordinates nametag creation per the conference planning schedule.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Publicity

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Emails links to blog to people to publicize the conference.
      • Places links to blog on Facebook, Ravelry, Weavolution, Complex Weavers…
      • Places print ads in Handwoven, Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, Spin Off…
      • Contacts local papers/radio/television to advertise Vendor Hall and Shows as well as local interest in conference.
      • Completes a final report on the Publicity Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Registrar

      • Determines which commercial registration program to use. (Bend and Yakima used RSVPBook, which worked well and was well supported.)
      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Sets up the registration system and modifies templates and parameters as needed.
      • With Treasurer, sets up a payment gateway to handle online payments. (PayPal).
      • Monitors registrations as they are made to be sure registrants have selected consistent Items
      • Responds to and resolves registration queries.
      • Coordinates with other chairs, especially Publicity, Treasurer, and Workshops as and when required.
      • Assembles registration package materials.
      • Reports monthly totals to treasurer, reconciling registrations with receipts.
      • Assigns housing, working with Site Chair. (For college/university locations only)
      • Sets up and staffs the registration desk at the conference.
      • Prepares final reports for the conference site and the conference treasurer per contract requirements.
      • Completes a final report on the Registration Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Site/Signage

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • University liaison for accommodations, show and classroom spaces and rental estimates. (For college/university locations only.)
      • Organizes all signage for conference venue.
      • Organizes on site transportation for mobility-impaired attendees if/as needed.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Towel Exchange

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Works with Guild Laison to find guilds or guild members interested in organizing a towel exchange for conference attendees.
      • Obtain display equipment as needed for towel exchange area.
      • Schedule drop-off and pick-up of towel by participants.
      • Contributes successes and challenges to co-chairs for inclusion in final conference report.

      Vendors

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Prepares a Call for Vendors.
      • Works with co-chairs and treasurer to set booth fees.
      • Arranges security.
      • Oversees set up.
      • Coordinates with Signs committee to have signs created and placed for vendor booths as needed
      • Organizes vendor hospitality/meals.
      • Organizes vendor accommodation on-site working with Site Chair. (For college/university locations only.)
      • Suggests vendor accommodation off-site.
      • Coordinates with Fashion Show Chair to sell ads in program.
      • Completes a final report on the Vendors Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Volunteer Coordinator

      • Develops an itemized budget.
      • Consults with the other committee members to determine the number of volunteers required, where and when they are needed, the time commitment, skills and abilities required. 
      • Establishes team leaders for the different groups of volunteers, i.e. Hospitality Room, Registration, Workshop/Seminar hosts, Vendor meal coverage.
      • Puts out a call for volunteers.
      • Establishes initial contact with all volunteers
      • Develops and maintains volunteer email distribution list.
      • Develops a master schedule for volunteers in consultation with the Executive Planning Committee.
      • Provides an individual schedule for each volunteer.
      • Establishes and staffs a central area for volunteer check-in/checkout on site.
      • Staffs a Hospitality room for conference participants. (?)
      • Completes a final report on the Volunteers Committee’s conference activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.

      Web Admin

      • Sets up and maintains web site and online resources.
      • Advises on technical issues such as on-line payments and mass emailings.
      • Creates forms and provides reports as needed by other committee members.
      • Builds out website structure including pages and menus as needed.
      • Coordinates website updates with other committee members as needed per conference planning schedule.
      • Posts content given to them by the other committee members.
      • Completes a final report on the Website activities for submission to the Conference Committee Co-Chairs.
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