Dear Lacemakers, I've just detoured from reading and writing - and looked at the IOLI Website. It seems to me the instructions for payment of dues are well explained. Also that the arrangements currently in place are appropriate for the rather low numbers of people from overseas who belong at this time.
Click on the menu item "Membership". http://www.internationaloldlacers.org ------------- Now, I'd like to share a little information about the representative from Europe, Betty Manfre of Milano, Italy. You can look at the list of officers at the above site, and click on the name of any officer with whom you wish to correspond. I first met Betty at Ithaca last October. She taught a class in Cantu lace and also was a speaker. Her topic was the Lace Schools in Italy (I don't have the Finger Lakes Lace Guild's promotional material in front of me, so it may not be the exact title.) What I remember most was that map of Italy, and the many dots indicating Lace Schools - all over the country. It stunned me. It was clear that local governments and private citizens in Italy consider the continuation of their lace traditions to be of utmost importance. Italy is an important lace country about which we need to learn more, but because of language difficulties it has not been easy. Betty is attempting to help. She has written for the IOLI Bulletin - most recently about bobbin lace from Gorizia, Italy, on page 23 in the Summer issue. She also wrote a column in the April 2003 Lace Guild's (U.K.) bulletin on page 43. Betty was at the IOLI convention. She was introduced and spoke briefly at one of the large meetings, I think the business meeting, and I think her topic was regional representatives. I also had a lengthy personal discussion with her. So - you know she is fluent in English, as well as Italian! Actually, Betty lived in the U.S. for quite some time, and her adult children live in the U.S. How nice it is to have a knowledgable lace representative in Italy with whom we can communicate. Is it too much to hope this will eventually lead to her being able to influence some publishers of Italian lace books to provide us with English translations??? Optimists unite!! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
