Northeast Handspinners Association History

In the spring and fall of 1987, an informal spinning group named Fringe Benefits from Connecticut with about a dozen or so members, hosted day-long gatherings of spinners from all over the Northeast. They wanted to further spinning as an art as well as a craft, to offer an opportunity to share in each other's knowledge and enthusiasm and to begin to lay the groundwork for a regional communications network.

These first " gatherings" were actually called Open Houses and it was hoped that these might lead to a northeast regional retreat similar to Soar. Each early one-day open house was testing the water for a larger undertaking of a full weekend retreat close by to the Northeast area with spinners coming together. These early open houses were publicized by an invitational letter explaining the event and a flyer that could be copied. These were sent or given to individual spinners, guilds or groups of spinners, spinning businesses and several magazines of interest to spinners.

In a short time, a mailing list was built and the word spread. A $3 donation was requested of those attending at the door. The Fringe Benefit group even would find overnight accommodations for some coming from a distance. These early open houses were held in Connecticut. They included speakers, mini-demos, helpful tips, spinning and sharing, "goodies", vendors, door prizes, show and tell, and even more!

By the third open house in Nov. of 1988, held at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, Conn., a very substantial number of spinners from all over the Northeast had participated in these days. The word was out! More spinners were interested in establishing a Northeast network. In the beginning, the Fringe Benefit guild handed all the arrangements for these open houses. They were even called Fringe Benefit Open Houses. By the third open house, they were titled Northeast Spinners. By the fourth open house in the fall of 1989, held once again in Enfield, Conn., much enthusiasm, interest, and more willing volunteers from other areas of the Northeast region were generated.

During the spring of 1990, several organizational meetings were held to formulate a Northeast Handspinners' Association or NHA. This would be a regional association to promote spinning, provide a communication network for all interested in spinning and to build a firm foundation of sharing and education. The original Fringe Benefit's vision was now becoming a reality. Many basic questions had to be decided in these first meetings.

One of the first things decided was to publish a newsletter called Spindles and Rovings to get information out to people. The first issue of the NHA newsletter is dated spring 1990. The gals listed as editors were Ellen Stone, Evie Cherms, and Tanya McAillister. Another goal set into motion was to undertake a 2-day regional retreat like SOAR. The first "Gathering" was the greatest gamble of NHA's young life.

It was also decided to continue holding Open Houses opposite the year of the gatherings. These would be hosted by different states in the region to ensure continued interest and participation. These meetings in the spring of 1990 established a temporary planning committee, membership dues for NHA, and the writing of by-laws and a constitution. Some people volunteered to represent their states and our first NHA logo was design by Elle Naning from RI. She also designed the newsletter's logo that is still used today.

This was a very busy time for NHA. In between these organizational meetings, a gathering committee continued to plan for the first regional spinners retreat to be held in November of 1990 at Lower Shaker Village in Enfield, NH. The registration for the event was filled and there was a waiting list. It must have taken these early volunteers countless hours to get all the details set up for the first time. In the second issue of Spindles and Rovings, readers were asked to vote on NHA membership requirements and to review the preliminary by-laws and constitution.

The first gathering was a resounding success! The hand spinners of the Northeast had put on an event that certainly built a foundation of sharing and education. So now NHA had fulfilled, or had put in motion, many of their original goals: promote awareness of handspinners and handspinning across the Northeast region; provide a communication network for all those involved or have an interest in handspinning; and to build a firm foundation of sharing and education through events and activities sponsored by NHA.

By issue #4 of the newsletter, a new editor, Nancy Young, gave the newsletter a new look. A membership form appeared for the first time. In the June issue, a ballot was included to elect officers for the first time. In September of 1991, the Open House was held in Auburn, Maine. It was a fun and busy day attended by about 80 members. The newly elected officers were in place by this time. Karen Chase became the first NHA president. Representatives to NHA from the states continued to be volunteers. As our first president stated, "NHA doesn't ask for money; just a bit of your time." This philosophy still holds true today. NHA was founded on volunteers and will continue into the future with volunteers.

NHA was surely on its way. The NHA officers and state representatives (Board of Governors) held their first official meeting and passed the constitution and by-laws. The second Gathering took place in Nov. 1992 at the Shaker Village in Enfield, NH. This was the same location as the first one and proved to be as rewarding and successful as the first one with much enthusiasm. The NHA Open House in Nov.1993 was held at Crown Point, NY. The NHA budget had a surplus and the NHA 1994 Gathering was being planned for Jiminy Peak in Western, MA. About this time, NHA started to sponsor spinning contests with $25 prizes. The idea was to expand these sponsorships to promote spinning.

As with any non-profit organization that covers a large region and has many volunteers involved, it was sometimes difficult to get a forum of officers and representatives together at meetings. This is still a difficulty today. Many of the same people who had put so much time into NHA since the beginning were still serving. The Board of Governors met in June 1994. At this meeting, discussion centered on the direction that NHA was going and what improvements and advancements could be made for the future. It was felt that the by-laws and constitution were too complicated and restrictive. A review of these was undertaken. A nominating committee for a slate of new officers was put in placed. Because of the budget surplus, NHA wanted to do more than just the spinning contests. Scholarships were mentioned as a way to help defray the cost of members who wanted to attend educational workshops for the spinning arts. Another use of NHA funds was making them available to individual states/guilds or other groups to promote the awareness of handspinning. This became the grant program that NHA now offers across the Northeast region. As 1994 came to a close, some volunteers were still needed to fill some of the positions that were absolutely necessary for NHA's continued work.

The Gathering at Jiminy Peak 1994 was a resounding success. Wow! What a time! It brought in some renewed energy and new volunteers to support and work for NHA goals. A new president, Erv Henecke, was elected. Erv introduced the idea of a directory for NHA. He worked to increase the volunteers available to keep NHA moving forward.

Annual Spring Meeting, April 8, 2006
A summary of the 2005 Open House in CT was submitted. NHA newsletter will be mailed to members at this time; looking at cost savings of lighter paper and envelopes. Currently 202 members. Website has new webmaster. The Gathering 2006 committee is working with Loon Mountain, NH as the location; mentors are identified. The Board agreed to give a free 2 year membership in honor of deceased members. An increase in dues was discussed, more information required regarding next year’s budget. State reps. And board vacancies noted.

THE GATHERING 2006, NOV. 3-5, LOON MOUNTAIN, LINCOLN, NH
Mentors were Rita Buchanan, Carol Cypher, Eileen Easterly, Ellen Gelotte, Debbie Gile, Bobbie Irwin, Donna Kay, Willa O’Rourke, Amy Oxford, Deborah Pulliam, & Robin Russo. The workshops were diverse, the vendors had wonderful wares, and the Saturday entertainment, Rebecca Rule (storyteller) was very humorous. Thank you to the Gathering 2006 committee for their hard work.

Meetings: Due to health issues, there had been a high turnover in board member positions, but currently all situations were running smoother. An increase in membership dues was discussed; will remain at the same rates. Three memorial memberships were drawn. Quarterly Executive meetings will be held in the future; 1st will be Jan. ’07, in Brattleboro, VT. Open House 2007 will be held in Freeport, ME.

Spring Meeting, March 31, 2007, was held in Brattleboro, VT, a central New England location. Current NHA membership is 203. A new NHA logo was selected for website, letterhead, etc. The NHA brochure is being updated for clarification and will be printed on lighter weight paper. Scholarship/award/grant requirements being reviewed. Website is ‘work-in-progress’. Looking for current list of spinning groups to be added to website. A status report of the Open House 2007 in Freeport, Maine (Nov. 3, 2007) was read; volunteers are welcome to help the committee, the executive board will have a meeting in the morning, then a member meeting at lunch. A fall NHA meeting is tentatively set for Aug. 25, site TBD.