THIMBLELENAS BOARD MEETING
FRIDAY, April 17, 2026
8:29 in the sewing room
Attendance:
Carol Myers Linda Wickline Sue Devaney – not present
Kathy Foster Lesley Monroe Georgine Smith
Sue Garcia Bertha Medina Susan Radka – not present
Agenda items added: discussion about interest by the Art League to hang quilts in Desert Oasis; Reminder about the Embroidery and Quilter Club groups. Motion to approve agenda by Kathy, second by
Presidents report: Copper Center open houses were productive, well represented by groups and picked up a couple new members. Final paperwork submitted to Foundation and asked that the remaining dollars ($116 approx.) be kept to use towards another electric table and Foundation approved. SCOV Board approved purchase of the long arm quilt machine and 12 foot table and Foundation approved the $5000 grant towards said purchase. Since the $5000 was given as a grant, clubs were not required to provide money towards purchase. However SCOV Board asked that clubs participate when a purchase is over $10,000, and this was met by $1,500 by Thimblelenas and a private donation from SFK for $500, totally $2000. Cost was verified by Cathey’s since bid was from October 2025, and price was not valid anymore. However, Cathey’s anticipated Thimblelenas would go forward in future with purchase, so they purchased a machine and set it. up in one of the Cathey’s locations as a floor model, and because it was considered as a “floor model” it was discounted to a better price, added lighting over machine, set up for 8 foot and 12 foot set up (leaders); will set up the machine/table at Sewing Room and when Thimblelenas moves to Copper Center, will take down and set up at CC. Because floor model is set up for 12 foot (leader strip) track, Cathey’s will provide a 8 foot track and hold the 12 foot track until set up at CC. Other small incidentals are included in the package, well over $1000 of value. If long arm was ordered now, it would be $30,126, but is selling to Sun City for $27,096 (less than originally quoted in October) plus brand new warranty. Great deal!
After meeting Carol will meet with Linda and Sue G and any other board members to show how she envisions new lay out since new machine/table are bigger. Carol will be sending out email blast to instruct members to do housekeeping in order to make way for new machine.
Carol will be picking up check from Randy Trenary (Sun City Treasurer) and take to Cathey’s; however Randy needs to put an add in TWISCOV for week April 23, to sell current machine. Once older machine is sold and gone, Cathey’s will be notified and this will set in motion when to deliver, etc. Note: When Carol mapped out CC, she included room if a sit-down quilt machine like Sweet 16 was added to equipment for sewing rooms. Randy will list current machine for $3600.
Copper Center has started a media group and asked all presidents of clubs moving into CC to be part of group. With Carol leaving end of year, she will ask Susan Radka to represent Thimblelenas. This media group is not a promotional of CC, but how groups will work and gather, videos of actual work being done in each area. If Susan Radka will not/cannot do, Georgine Smith volunteered to represent.
SFK has changed leaders, new leader is Sue Watkins. Property committee is working on leaks above Embroidery machine, hopefully maintenance will get to bottom of leak problem.
Printer – personal papers found; board decided to have Carol confront person who’s paper it was.
Vice Presidents report: None.
Secretary: Linda Wickline. Approval of March 20, 2026 minutes. Bertha questioned report that said ‘papers’ were given by Carol to Bertha, Bertha stated only 1 piece of paper given. Carol said she gave 3 pieces. Motion by Kathy accept, second by Sue G; motion carried.
Fabulous 40 party update: Linda attended steering committee for 40 and Fabulous Party slated for January through February 13, 2027. Linda will represent 6 clubs of Thimblelenas, Linda Hamson will represent the Sun City Quilters. She will be sending out within next week to all club leaders the time frames for the party, what is being asked of each club. Dates: September 1 Carol Sallman of the Steering Committee will be sending out emails to each club leader as a reminder that by November 1, each club should have identified and provided to her what will be raffled off for the Art Walk Raffle to be held on January 11, 2027. More information will be forth coming and provided to all.
Club Leader and roster submitted to Annette in Admin, Thimblelenas has been updated.
Monitor chair report: Lesley Monroe and Georgine Smith Lesley has new computer and is transferring information to it from old, should make updates easier for Lesley. Georgine has been actively pursuing monitors on how to access monitor list on computer. She will be attending each club’s meetings in room to catch those monitors on-site. Membership list in book will continue to be updated through summer months until ‘snow birds’ return in the fall.
Membership chair report: Kathy Foster Paid memberships thru March 2026 is 168. Room usage for March was 437, up from 388 in 2025. Discussion about new long-arm machine: when training starts, dates for quilters trained should be erased and new column should be added to show manual trained as well as computer trained after new long arm has been installed.
Co Treasurers report: Sue Garcia Treasurers report showed starting monies at $2,219.44 and with deposits and expenses, ending balance is $4,106.90. Since March 31, 2026, check written to HOA for $7000 for long-arm, $5000 from Foundation, $1500 from Thimblelenas and $500 from private donation which will be reflected on April’s Treasurer’s Report. Had a fraudulent expenses of $955.81 by someone using Thimblelenas’ credit card. Dispute resolution – all monies returned back into account, card canceled, new one issued.
Carol asked about how Grant money was spent – $448.20: $212 for electronic table, set up was $150, $362 total out of $448.20 used.
Motion to accept Treasurer’s report: Kathy made motion, second by Lesley, motion carried.
Purchasing agent report: Bertha Purchases for Thimblelenas to date $449.56. 501© 3 update: Bertha visited the IRS office – lot of paperwork to be completed. Bertha stated she received 3 pieces of paper from Carol and questioned why paperwork wasn’t completed until she discovered that there is much paperwork to be done. After Bertha described her background on trying to learn the process, she asked if she should continue with process, she would need help. Bertha will send all board members the worksheet that IRS provided and will ask for feedback. Carol stated that all paperwork comes back to the board for review, however, Bertha needs to complete the steps and provide review at each step.
Discussion regarding using the computer while clubs are in session: bottom line – no one comes in to club time unless you are a member of that club and are working on club specific projects. Do not arrange a meeting with others or work on anything that is not specific to that club. Come in during open time to do computer work, set up training on the computer, use room in back, etc.
Discussion on Serger thread purchase: Bertha asked for clarification as to why the ‘serger thread topic’ from March was put on agenda for this board meeting. Background info: serger thread was ordered incorrectly for Casa Amigas by Bertha, it was returned and a credit was shown on statement. The question arose because several Casa members saw the same incorrectly ordered serger thread in the “FREE” box and reported the incident to Carol for clarification as to why it was in FREE box and not returned. A few days later the incorrect serger thread was not in the FREE box any more. When Carol questioned Bertha if she put the thread in the FREE box, Bertha said it was returned. Carol asked for a copy of the statement to show the return, and the statement did show it returned. Carol stated that the Casa women saw the serger threads in the FREE box, that Bertha took the threads out of the FREE box after they saw it in there. Bertha asked that the accusers come face to face with her and tell her that she put the thread in the FREE box. Bottom line: a question of integrity as to what was said and what was actually done is on the table. Bertha wanted to make a motion that the serger incident be closed, motion not carried since it is regarding herself.
Member at Large report: None
Donation committee report: None
Comment cards: None in box.
Website: no changes
New business: Sun City Quilters has asked to change their meeting time in Sewing Room from 3rd Thursday of the month to the 1st Thursday of the month. Carol sent out email to board members and asked if issues, none given. Request is granted.
Kathy explained that the Art League would like to put up the Honor Quilts for the July month period, but wants quilts to be only 45 X 45. Kathy will go back to the League to ask for quilts be larger because most quilts are for the Veterans and being that small, won’t cover them adequately. Also, the Art League approached Kathy about hanging quilts in Desert Oasis Ocotillo Room because it is very noisy. Size of quilts can be large due to space being 12’X8” X 63” tall. Linda George had announced at the Sun City Quilters meeting that they are looking into hanging quilts there, for up to 6 months at a time.
Set next Board meeting. Possibly May 15 via FaceTime if board members are available. Motion by Kathy, second by Lesley to adjourn at 10am.