Guild Development Retreat

HGA's Guild Development Retreat is a one-day virtual learning experience to educate, motivate, and inspire fiber art guilds. Through panels and discussions, we hope to strengthen guild leadership, unite organizations, and provide a platform for the sharing of ideas. We want participants to end the day feeling motivated in their effort to build and grow their guilds so that all guilds can thrive.

Save the Date: 2026 Guild Development Retreat: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Registration

Local and regional guilds who hold an active Guild membership with HGA can register up to 4 (four) attendees for free. All other active HGA members may register for $25 per attendee. Registration for those who do not hold an HGA membership is $50. Your registration fees help to cover staffing and technology expenses associated with producing this program.

$ 0 - Affiliate Guild Members (up to 4 registrants)

$25 - All other HGA Members

$50 - Non-HGA Members

Download User Guide

How do Discussions Work? (Video)

How to Navigate the Event (Video)

Members, when registering, you must first log in to My Account or you will not receive the Member rate.

Guilds holding a Guild Membership, you must log in to yourGuild account to register your complimentary attendees.

Not a member? Join Today. For assistance please call (678) 730-0010 Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM ET.

Schedule Panel Discussions Discussion Rooms Resources Sponsorship Opportunities Advertising Opportunities

Schedule

2026 Schedule

January 31, 2026, 11:00 AM ET - 7:00 PM ET

Schedule is subject to change. All times are Eastern Standard.

11:00 AM - 11:15: Welcome

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM: Discussion Rooms

Introduce Yourself

Please enter a room and introduce yourself to the other attendees. Let's start the conversation. What are you hoping to learn today? What’s one challenge your guild is facing right now?

Role-Based Meetups (Presidents, Treasurers, Program Chairs, etc.)

Meet others who serve in the same role you do. Share challenges, successes, and questions unique to your position.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: TBA

TBA

Panelists:

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM: Discussion Rooms

No Topic, Just Chat

Need a mental break or casual connection? Join this room to chat with fellow attendees about weaving, guild life, or whatever’s on your mind.

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM: TBA

TBA

Panelists:

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM: Discussion Rooms

No Topic, Just Chat

Need a mental break or casual connection? Join this room to chat with fellow attendees about weaving, guild life, or whatever’s on your mind.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: TBA, sponsored by TBA

TBA

Panelists:

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM: Discussion Rooms

No Topic, Just Chat

Need a mental break or casual connection? Join this room to chat with fellow attendees about weaving, guild life, or whatever’s on your mind.

5:15 PM - 6:15 PM: TBA

TBA

Panelists:

6:15 PM - 7:00 PM: Discussion Rooms

Bringing It Home: What Will You Try Next?

As the day wraps up, gather to reflect. What is one idea from today you want to take back to your guild? What feels doable in the next six months?

Panel Discussions

2026 Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.

After the Yes: Welcoming, Engaging, and Retaining Members

Recruitment is only the beginning. In this panel, guild leaders discuss what happens after a member joins—and why those early and ongoing touchpoints matter. Topics include effective onboarding practices, strategies to keep members engaged, and thoughtful approaches to renewals and lapsed memberships. Walk away with ideas you can implement right away to strengthen connections, increase retention, and build a more vibrant, committed guild community.

Nonprofit Status & Compliance: What Structure Is Right for Your Guild?

Fiber arts guilds come in many forms—from informal community groups to fully incorporated nonprofits. But how do you know whether your guild should formalize, and what type of nonprofit status is the best fit? This session explains the key differences between 501(c)(3) charitable organizations and 501(c)(7) social clubs, and how each designation affects your activities, fundraising, programming, and reporting requirements. Panelists will share practical guidance to help guild leaders determine the right structure for their group and outline the essential steps every guild should take to stay compliant and operate responsibly.

Planning for Tomorrow: Building a Sustainable Leadership Pipeline

Strong guilds don’t just rely on great leaders—they plan for the future. This panel explores why succession planning is essential for leadership continuity, organizational stability, and long-term success. Panelists will share practical approaches for identifying key roles, assessing leadership needs and expectations, and cultivating new leaders before transitions occur. Learn how to build a leadership pipeline that supports your guild’s mission and ensures it can thrive for years to come.

Weaving Growth: Using Equipment Rentals & Sales to Expand Your Guild

Equipment rental and sales programs can be a powerful gateway for attracting new members and supporting emerging weavers. This panel takes a behind-the-scenes look at how successful guilds design, manage, and sustain equipment rental and sales programs. Panelists will cover policies for rentals and donations, storage and maintenance (“loom wrangling” included), and how these programs support education and membership growth while generating revenue. Gain insight into whether an equipment rental or sales program is right for your guild—and how to make it work.

Click here to suggest a discussion topic for a future Guild Development Retreat.

Discussion Rooms

Small Group Discussions
Join facilitated-by-you conversations in small Zoom rooms of up to six participants. These informal, peer-led discussions are designed to spark conversation, encourage idea-sharing, and help you learn directly from fellow guild leaders. Each room begins with a clear discussion prompt—no moderator, no presentations—just focused conversation, practical insights, and shared experiences you can take back to your guild.

Click here to suggest a discussion topic for a future Guild Development Retreat.

Resources

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships

With more than 175 affiliate memberships, we anticipate more than 680 fiber enthusiasts will attend HGA’s Guild Development Retreat either in real time or by viewing recordings.

All Guild Development Retreat Sponsors will receive the following recognition in addition to the items listed in the packages:

Name recognition on HGA’s webpage as Sponsor and logo and link to your website
Logo and name recognition in approximately *4,000 copies of Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot magazine
E-Blast sent to HGA’s mailing list of approximately 10,000 promoting your sponsorship
Post recognizing your sponsorship on HGA’s Facebook page (11,000+ followers)
Post recognizing your sponsorship on HGA’s Instagram account (6,000+ followers)
Continued publicity for 90 days after the week is over through recorded viewings of each event

*Listing in Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot and its estimated reach to readers will be based on the date of the signed agreement.
Late sponsorships may have less impact in reaching audiences.

Advertising Opportunities

Advertise Your Business

Showcase your business's products and services to attendees of the Guild Development Retreat. Advertising Rates are $25 for HGA Professional Members and $50 for Non-Members.

Click here to advertise your organization or business.

Advertisers to be announced.

Please Note: This listing is paid for by the advertiser and is not an endorsement of any individual or organization listed. The information was provided by the organization or its representative. HGA does not warrant the accuracy or validity of the information, and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions.

Purchase Sponsorship

Download Sponsorship Descriptions

Guild Development Retreat Title Sponsor ($3,000)

As title sponsor, you will receive recognition at every Guild Development Retreat session. Your name will be included in all marketing and promotional materials and mentions, including print advertisements, social media, and e-blasts.

Logo and name recognition on all Guild Development Retreat advertisements and eblasts
promoting the event
Logo and name recognition on every Guild Development Retreat registration form
Name recognition on all emails sent to attendees confirming registration
Name recognition and logo on the video screen prior to each virtual session and at the conclusion
of each session
Recognition of your sponsorship in every session chat along with a link to your website
Logo and sponsor recognition on every session as listed on the event schedule
Following the event, name recognition on all emails sent to attendees thanking them for attending
Complimentary event Vendor Page to promote your business

Session Sponsor ($500 each - 4 Opportunities)

Panel sessions will cover a variety of topics addressing the needs of local guilds and similar organizations that bring together and support fiber artists.

Logo and name recognition on all advertisements and eblasts promoting your sponsored session
Name recognition and logo on the video screen prior to your sponsored session and at the
conclusion of the session
Logo and sponsor recognition on your sponsored session as listed on the event schedule
Recognition of your sponsorship in the chat along with a link to your website for your sponsored
session
Complimentary event Vendor Page to promote your business

Guild Sponsor ($100 each)

Guilds holding an Affiliate membership with HGA receive four (4) complimentary registrations for their leadership to attend the retreat. This sponsorship covers the admission fees for one (1) guild.

Name recognition on HGA’s webpage as Sponsor and link to your website
Name recognition in approximately *8,000 copies of Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot magazine (up to 2
issues)
One (1) complimentary event registration