By Joan Sextro in 2013

When East Bay Heritage Quilters was founded in 1978, we dreamed of sponsoring a symposium for the benefit of our members. "Growth Through Diversity" represents the fulfillment of that dream.

Our first symposium reflected three major goals. First, we wanted to host the symposium in a tranquil setting where our members could participate either as boarders or commuters. Second, we wished to showcase the works of our members and others in an established gallery. Third, we wanted to bring together quilters and teachers from all parts of the world; symposium participants came from Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as North America.

This symposium was not the work of one person, but the result of the efforts of many of our members; particularly the symposium steering committee, which had been meeting monthly for two and a half years.

Special thanks extended to the following: Roberta Horton for all her help; Mary Mashuta for organizing the two fashion shows and members' studio tour; Carolyn Hartsough for coordinating publicity and producing the brochure; Mary Schoenfeldt for contributing graphics; Betty Kisbey for using her computer expertise to handle the immense job of registration; Joyce Williams for arranging transportation for the symposium presenters and minibuses on campus for participants; Lucy Hilty for coordinating work on the donation quilts; Kris Volker for organizing the Merchants Mall; Mabry Benson for keeping the books; Dawn Moser for making Tong arrangements for the Afro-American quilt exhibit at Kaiser Center; and Marilyn Salmi for recording the minutes of our meetings.

To these and the many other EBHQ members who worked on the symposium, thank you for making the dream real.

To view photos of "Growth Through Diversity 1984" click here... Quilt Studio Tour brochure here...

• EBHQ members Ann Ito and Janet Shore contributed to this history