Joan DeBruin, incoming president of the Sandhills Quilters Guild, opened her first guild meeting with a little humor by wielding a big gavel.

Welcome was extended to new members Tommye Mangum and Liz Hemming. DeBruin introduced committee chairmen for 2010. They include Liz Stern and Pat Smith, Caraway retreat; Frances Yoder and Judy Rosinski, newsletter; Pat Kern, publicity; Karen Marshall and Linda James, membership; Liz Stern and Joyce Harter, membership orientation; Carol Reynolds and Mary Lee, librarians; Betty Wardle, sunshine and hospitality; Judy Henshaw, historian; Shirley Donaldson, outreach coordinator; Mary Hauck, comfort quilts; Linda James, Quilts of Love; Karen Marshall, Quilts of Valor; Ellene Place, Habitat; Marti Mullenbach and Ruth Slaydon, Web; 2010 Quilt Show, Liz Earley and Ellene Place, quilt Show; Lynette Crosby, donation quilt; Paquita McCreery, donation quilt ticket sales; and Jackie Simpson, beekeeper.

The new president congratulated members who entered the Asheboro quilt show and were rewarded for their expertise with ribbons. Rosemary Cushman won best of show and best machine quilting; Judy Peterson won best use of color and best senior quilter. Others receiving recognition were Marilyn Wunsch and Pat Andrews.

The guild was visited by quilt teacher Sally Schneider, who presented a slide presentation and trunk show to the general membership and then a class for a smaller group of quilters. In March, Eve Agee will visit the guild and will give a class on “thread painting.” A “sew in” will be after the guild meeting in April.

In January and February comfort quilts were received from Kay Houlihan, Liz Stern, Joanne Merical, Valerie Lehr, Anne Burton, Gail Reilly, Lynette Crosby, Valerie Autry, Jackie Simpson, Judy Swearinger and Liz Hemming. Comfort quilts are part of the outreach program of the guild. These quilts go to nursing and children’s facilities. Quilts of Valor were presented by Joan DeBruin, Jeanne Crowell, Gail Reilly and Cheryl Buckley (created with Sue Petrie, Jeed Rhyne, Linda Garza and Anne Anderson) and a “ Nameless Bee,” which includes Joyce Riedell and Judy Rosinski. Quilts of Valor go to wounded soldiers who have come back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Karen Marshall reported a Quilt of Valor workshop at Linderella’s had a great turnout, and there were enough blocks to complete two quilts. Another workshop is scheduled for March 25. Deadlines for other projects were announced. The challenge block, “the color of the Sandhills,” for the quilt show is due at the June meeting as well as the “angel” wall hanging top. Marti Mullenbach announced she would add “Fast Patches” to the Web site and/or e-mail allowing for pertinent information to reach members faster.

Co-chairmen of Quilting in the Pines IV, Liz Earley and Ellen Place, met for the first time with the various committee chairmen to start intense planning for the upcoming quilt show to be held at the Pinehurst Fair Barn this coming Sept. 24-25.

The Sandhills Quilters Guild meets the third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, two miles north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle.