Come Stitch With Me

If your organization uses any kind of volunteer help – from stuffing envelopes to providing medical care at no cost – treat your volunteers like gold. We may not cost you money in terms of salary and benefits, but our time is still very valuable. Treat it as such.

For therapy dog visits, with prep time, commute time and visit time factored in, it’s at least a half day of a volunteer’s time that is suddenly impacted if a visit is canceled last minute. I understand that things happen, but if it happens more than once, I’m not likely to volunteer or visit your organization again.

If your organization has any special volunteer requirements such as background checks, training or medical tests (usually for volunteers in a hospital setting), communicate those from the beginning. If any costs are required of the volunteer to meet those requirements, volunteers do appreciate being reimbursed, if possible. This way the volunteer can make an informed decision if he/she is wiling to meet those requirements. I respect that an organization needs to have certain volunteer requirements in place. Likewise, I have declined to volunteer for certain organizations due to all of the hoop jumping that must be done.

Lately, I’ve noticed a number of organizations instituting a mask or negative COVID test requirement. Unless I’m volunteering at a hospital, no thank you. We’re now post-pandemic. If you spring a mask requirement on me last minute to visit at a hotel (true story), pardon me while I cancel.

If the visit involves a therapy dog, be aware that the therapy dog organization has certain requirements I’m expected observe during a visit. I’m my dog’s only advocate. Her well-being is my primary concern. If I sense she is truly uneasy during a visit, we will need to leave if the situation cannot be rectified.

Offer volunteers water, snacks and pay for their parking, if applicable.

Oh, and be sure to say, “Thank you.”

Today’s mail brought official retiree health insurance ID cards. We’ve kept the same health plan since I left teaching, but this makes our fourth set of cards. It reflects our progression from active employee to COBRA to state extended coverage to retiree. The best part? As of 8/13, my rate was adjusted from COBRA to active member/retiree rates. According to the rep, the September premium is scheduled to be deducted from my September check. If not, call them and I can pay through the direct bill portal at the retiree rate. Woo-hoo! * Edited to add, my pension account portal shows the premium *will* be deducted from my September check.

We’ve made exactly 24 payments at COBRA insurance rates (currently $2,150.18 per month)- the equivalent of a well equipped mid-size SUV. So relieved to have the rate adjustment (78% less) behind us. Keeping the insurance moving through the convoluted process was my biggest concern all along.

Now, I am OFFICIALLY retired.

One of the FB groups I follow posted a question about the availability of openings in upcoming retreats and why weren’t people signing up?

Retreat cost, location, family & work obligations plus a lack of private rooms were the top reasons given.

My top reasons for not attending a quilt retreat:
(1) Dormitory style sleeping arrangements. A big no for me. I like my own room and am actually willing to pay for it. Unfortunately, many retreat locations stuff in as many twin beds as possible to maximize revenue.
(2) Small sewing space. A 2’x4′ space is simply not big enough with the machines most attendees bring to retreats. There’s no room to work. Again, the smaller sewing spaces usually go hand-in-hand with dormitory style sleeping arrangements. A 6′ table is the minimum size. An 8′ table would be ideal.
(3) Requirement to own a specific brand of something in order to participate. I can use many AccuQuilt dies in my Sizzix cutter with an adapter, thank you very much.
(3) Additional items required in order to attend the retreat that are not clearly disclosed up front. There’s a retreat that looked promising until I was informed I had to spend another $100+ on rulers I’ll probably never use again. No thank you.
(4) Retreat location. A BYO project retreat at a church camp 2-3 hours away twice a year is perfect. Same retreat that requires a stay at an expensive resort is not worth it to me. (Been there, done that!). I will gladly travel to take a class with a specific instructor or to attend an instructor-led retreat at a location on my bucket list.
(5) Other options closer to home. I have two groups of stitchy friends that I join at least one day a week for sewing and fellowship. We meet at a church or the library. My bee group meets in private homes or at a local quilt shop. Two shops near me allow quilters to use their classroom space for a small fee ($5-$10) if no classes are being held. I’ve done this to take advantage of large work tables and to just get out of the house. I’d definitely attend more quilt retreats if I didn’t have my local sewing groups.

In an ideal world, I’d attend at least two retreats a year – one local and one where I have to fly or drive more than 6 hours to attend.

For 2025, I know I’m going to Road to Virginia in late June.
I’m in need of some vitamin sea, so I’m looking at any and all beach retreats/classes this fall/winter.