| President of ILGS | Bonnie Cox | ilmidwife@aol.com |
| Vice-President | Glenn Swenson | gcswen@webtv.net |
| Secretary: | Sue Cutter | cutterms@prairieinet.net |
| Treasurer/Membership | Rhonda Adair | jkadair@adams.net |
| Newsletter Editor: | Karen Caldwell | klcaldwell@comcast.net |
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The
Illinois Gourd Society was formed in July, 1998 by a small group
of gourd artists and growers who wanted to promote this craft in Illinois.
The goals of this Society are directed towards the education and instruction
of individuals within the state of Illinois who are interested in gourd
culture, uses, history, and/or crafting. This Society continues to grow
in numbers since its inception.
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Our first annual North West Regional Festival the first of May at Jack's
Grain and Gourds was a great success (see more photos).
The best part for me was the campfire on Saturday evening, with lots of
Jack's popcorn, and native American folk tales told by Jo Lakota.
Jo is a native American Indian and a member of the Central Illinois Gourd
Patch. I also enjoyed the participation of the wheat weavers and
their work. This event was such a success and so much fun that we
have decided to do it again next year: Saturday and Sunday May 1
and 2. I'm sure it will be an even bigger event.
Our next festival, a Great Gourd Gathering, is June 6 in Arthur, Illinois at the Great Pumpkin Patch. Contact Betsy Davis Parker for more information at 217-935-2797 or sbparker@earthlink.net Our state festival will be at the Chicago Botanic Garden on Friday- Sunday, Sept 11-13. There will be a gourd judging class, name badge competion, and vendors and workshops. The workshops will begin on Friday, and registration will be through the Chicago Botanic Center, and information available on their web site for workshops. Every weekend in October there will be vendors and workshops at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Registration for workshops will be through their web site. Bonnie Cox, ILGS President. ilmidwife@aol.com |