About

The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) mission is to educate, support and inspire the fiber art community. We provide inspiration, instruction, and networking opportunities for fiber artists of all skill levels. HGA produces a quarterly magazine for its more than 3,500 members, Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot; Convergence® a biennial international fiber arts conference; Small Expressions, an annual juried exhibition of small fiber artworks; and many more opportunities for artists including grants, scholarships, and a certification program in handweaving, handspinning, dyeing, and basket making.

Meet the HGA Directors and Staff

HGA Board: Your Opportunity to Lead - Learn how you can serve on the HGA Board of Directors. HGA representatives will be available to answer your questions about volunteering, discuss benefits of leadership, and explain the commitment. Whether you are interested in serving now or in the future, this is your opportunity to learn more. Learn more at one of our virtual meetings (to attend, click on date to register): February 12, 2024; May 13, 2024; November 12, 2024.

Board of Directors

Penny Morgan, President
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Dell Christy, First Vice-President
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Gigi Matthews, Second Vice-President
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Sarah Beyer, Secretary/Interim Treasurer
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Suzi Ballenger, Board Member
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Laura DiSano, Board Member
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Becky Flax, Board Member
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Rebecca Hebert, Board Member
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Sue Helmken, Board Member
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Erin Miller, Board Member
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Sherman Myers, Board Member
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Sheila Roberts, Board Member
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Staff

Elizabeth Williamson, Executive Director
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Ingrid Sciscoe, Membership & Development Manager
Email, (470) 795-5659

Kathi Grupp, Advertising & Partnerships Manager
Email, (470) 893-0556

Mandy Drumming, Program Coordinator
Email, (470) 893-0554

Dana Trejo, Communications Coordinator
Email, (470) 781-2824

Sally Orgren, Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Managing Editor
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Julia Blake, Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Assistant Editor
Email, (470) 874-7095

Memberships

We invite you to learn more about HGA by becoming a member today. Click here to view our membership levels and benefits.

Benefits of HGA Membership - Do you know all the benefits of your HGA Membership? New member and have questions? Not a member and want to learn more? Which membership type is best for you? Join Ingrid Sciscoe, HGA's Membership Manager & Development Coordinator, at one of our quarterly virtual meetings as she answers all your questions about being an HGA member (to attend, click on date to register): February 2022, May 2022, August 2022, November 2022.

HGA Code of Conduct

The purpose of the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc.’s (HGA) Code of Conduct is to set forth HGA’s standards of dignity, fairness and integrity. Abiding by this Code is essential for membership of the HGA and those who attend HGA events.

Ethical Principles and Core Values

  • Honesty
  • Integrity
  • Trustworthiness
  • Respect for others, their cultures, and their intellectual property
  • Responsibility
  • Empathy

HGA does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our organization is dedicated to this policy.

Non-Harassment

HGA believes in treating each other with dignity and respect at all times. Harassment can include actions, language, written words, or objects that create an intimidating or hostile environment, such as:

  • Yelling at or humiliating someone
  • Physical violence or intimidation
  • Unwanted sexual advances, invitations, or comments
  • Visual displays such as derogatory or sexually oriented gestures
  • Physical conduct including assault or unwanted touching
  • Threats or demands

It is HGA’s policy to prohibit intentional and unintentional harassment of all constituents including, but not limited to, staff, contractors, interns, volunteers, and members.

Bullying

We are committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment that is free of bullying. Bullying can include:

  • Spreading malicious rumor or gossip
  • Excluding or isolating someone socially
  • Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information
  • Intimidating someone
  • Impeding someone’s work
  • Telling and sending offensive jokes
  • Criticizing or belittling
  • Tampering with a person's personal belongings or work equipment

Theft and Intellectual Property

We take the intellectual property rights of others, as well as claims of copyright infringement, seriously.

We recognize that original artistic designs and teaching materials belong solely to the individual who created them and agree not to use their work to make a personal profit without their express written consent. Please contact the artist or teacher if you are unsure if the changes you plan to make are sufficient to not require permission prior to using them.

All materials contained in Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot Magazine and on WeaveSpinDye.org are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of HGA or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.

Convergence® is a registered trademark of HGA. We consider our trademark to be our most valuable intellectual property. As such, we retain all rights in our trademark, and will take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve the strength and goodwill of the trademark. You can help us in this endeavor by following this notice. If you learn of any words, letters, designs, devices, logos, icons, or images that are confusingly similar to any of our trademark, or you see any use of the trademark that violates this notice, please notify HGA, and if possible, please provide a link to or copy of the relevant item.

Code of Conduct Acknowledgement

All members of HGA and attendees at HGA-sponsored events acknowledge that:

  • You have read the entire code of conduct and understand your responsibilities related to it.
  • You have had the opportunity to ask questions to clarify any unclear aspects of the code.
  • You agree to abide by its principles.
  • You agree to report to HGA any violations of the Code.

Any violations of this Code can result in disciplinary action which, based on the circumstances of the individual case, could result in corrective action including, but not limited to, termination of membership and/or expulsion from HGA-sponsored events. Those expelled from an HGA sponsored event will not get a refund.

Contact Us

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Handweavers Guild of America, Inc
1201 Peachtree St. NE Ste. 200
Atlanta, GA 30361
Phone: (678)730-0010     Fax: (678) 730-0836
Email: HGA@WeaveSpinDye.org