Here's another thread to address issues about managing guilds effectively. Most of us have busy lives and plenty of obligations. It's hard enough to find time to weave!
But guilds have to be managed well keep them thriving. Some of the issues are: how to recruit people to serve on the board of directors, knowing when to establish a committee to solve a problem, how to communicate effectively, how to make the best use of meeting times, and on and on...
A question was just raised: how do we get someone handle programs and workshops for the guild?
Here are my thoughts. First, what a big job that could end up being! I think one of the first things you could do would be to prepare a "job description" for your group. Just letting people know exactly what the expectations are for the position, and also what help and resources are available to them could help them decide if they are willing to take it on. If there is someone who has handled the function in the past, would they be willing to mentor the new person for a length of time? Also, you may discover, depending on your group's size and activities, that you may need to have more than one person doing the job.
At the end of each year, our guild hands out a questionnaire asking what members would like to study next year. We also ask what were our favorite presentations during the past year. Since we're so small, we rely on our own talent for most of the presentations and workshops. Two of us were the official "program committee," but most of the actual program planning ended up being worked out at a lively meeting over lunch, where the whole board and other members were present. It was a lot of fun. But, again, we are a small bunch.
Workshops, where there is a lot of planning, registrations to handle, and managing on the day of the workshop are another matter. Any input out there from those who have handled workshops? Or programs?