Hereford resident Lois Bloom and Sierra Vista resident Susan Lee have been elected to the Board of Directors for the newly formed Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame. Both are active members of the Hummingbird Stitchers Quilt Guild in Sierra Vista.

Organized as a nonprofit entity, Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame seeks to celebrate the contribution of Arizonans to quiltmaking and educate the public about its history and artisans. Barbara Poiston, the Founder and President or the organization says, “After years of involvement in the local quilting community, I felt this was a concept whose time had come. As far as we know, only one other state, Pennsylvania, has a state-specific quilters’ hail of fame.”

“The total U.S. quilting industry value is $3.3 billion, with over 27.7 million people engaged in quiltmaking across the country,” reports Polston. “Arizona enjoys a long history of quiltmaking, an active quilting community, and many Arizona residents who have made significant contributions locally, nationally and internationally.”

The first project of the organization will be to establish the Hall of Fame itself. Initially, the Hall will be a virtual entity, housed on the organization’s website, www.arizonaquiltershalloffame.org. “Our next focus will be finding exceptional quilters to honor. We want the community to tell us who they feel should be included in the Hall of Fame,” shares Susan Lee “We envision a resource about quilting not only for quilters, but for the community as a whole. Almost everyone knows someone, an ancestor, co-worker or friend, who is involved in quilting or fiber art.” Nominations for membership in the Arizona Quilters Hail of Fame will be accepted beginning in March 2008. The nomination process will close on May 15. Nomination forms will be available on the organization’s web site.

Finalists will be named in June and the first inductees will be celebrated at a luncheon event on September 28, to be held at ASU at the West Campus. Glendale. AZ. Those selected for Inclusion in the Hall of Fame will receive an award. Their work will then be showcased in perpetuity on the organization’s web site.

Long-term goals for Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame include developing a traveling exhibit of Hall of Fame Honorees and their work. The nonprofit also plans to develop a public

education program as well as a teachers’ guide of quilt-based classroom activities. Eventually, the organization plans to achieve permanent display space.

Those interested in quiltmaking are invited to join the Friends of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame. Friends receive advance information about Hall of Fame activities, a Friends’ pin and other incentives.

Groups such as quilt guilds and quilt shops may join as organizational Friends. These Friends are offered additional marketing and public relations opportunities in conjunction with the Hall of Fame.

Information about Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame is available on the web site (www.arizonaguiltershalloffame.org) or by phone at 480-961-5177.