Retreats

 The Guild sponsors a number of retreats throughout the year.

Retreats are a wonderful way to pamper yourself while you work on your own projects (finishing UFOs, starting a new project or working on something else). Retreats are stand-alone events whose costs are fully paid by the participants and require a deposit to hold a spot, with payment of the balance prior to the the retreat. Each retreat has a different refund policy. Retreats generally fill up fast, but there are always waiting lists. The Guild treasurer manages any funds associated with the retreats but those funds are not part of the operating budget. Retreats are open to EPQG members first and then if there are spaces left to fill by a certain date they are opened to non­-members.

For the first timers about to attend a retreat, this blog has great ideas for preparation:

http://thesewingloftblog.com/sewing-retreat-prep/

Coordinators and Treasurer Retreat Fund Procedures

 Effective:  October 13, 2025                           

The volunteer coordinators play a vital role in insuring the Guild continues to offer retreat opportunities and we thank them for taking this on.

1.  In order to attend an Evergreen Piecemakers sponsored retreat at Seabeck or Camp Huston, you must be a member in good standing (dues paid) of the Evergreen Piecemakers Quilt Guild.  The reason for this is that there is a yearly fee for the IRS requirement to be a 501c3 nonprofit organization.  Additionally, the Guild incurred the initial several hundred dollar cost to apply for the 501c3 nonprofit status several years ago.**

Camp Huston and Seabeck require 501c3 to reserve their venue.

**Note:  The initial several hundred dollar fee to become a 501c3 nonprofit organization many years ago was paid by the Seabeck attendees.  They were reimbursed by the Guild several years later.  There is an ongoing yearly fee that is graciously paid for by member Celeste Delostrinos as her donation to the Guild.  Thank you Celeste.

2.  It is highly encouraged that those attending the Dumas Bay Retreats also be members.  The reason for this is that the Evergreen Piecemakers Coordinator does all the preparation work and insures payments to the venue through the Evergreen Piecemakers Treasury.  Dumas Bay is not a 501c3 venue so we can’t make it mandatory for membership.

3.  Coordinators must use the forms listed below to track participant payments, submit payments to the Treasurer, request refunds and request payment/s to the venue.  It is the responsibility of the Coordinator and not the Treasurer to track what each participant paid for the retreat.

4.  No refunds will be issued to any member 90 days or less from the start date of the event.  If a member cancels inside the 90 days, it will be up to the member to secure a replacement if they wish and coordinate any monetary issues between herself and her replacement.  The Treasurer will not be involved except in this instance:  Dumas Bay has various payment schedules so there may be a requirement for the replacement participant to submit additional funds to the Coordinator if their choice of participation involves additional days, meals, accommodations, etc.  A replacement cannot expect to pay for fewer days, meals or accommodations than who she is replacing regardless of whether she takes advantage of those days, meals, accommodations, etc.  The bottom line is that regardless of how the Coordinator of each Retreat and participants work it out, the payment due to the venue must not be less than the contract unless the venue agrees otherwise and the Guild Retreat account is balanced.

5.   If the minimum number of participants or monetary requirement as identified by the venue is not reached by 90 days prior to the event start date, the Coordinator may have to cancel the reservation for the retreat venue.  Cancelling a venue opens it up to another group taking those dates and continuing to reserve them yearly.  The venue only may waive these requirements through coordination with the Coordinator as long as no Guild funds are involved.

 6.  The Treasurer is not responsible for initiating the release of funds to the venue or initiating the issuance of refunds.  The Coordinator must initiate all requests for payments, refunds, etc., in writing, using the appropriate form, to the Treasurer.

7.  The Coordinator is responsible for insuring there are sufficient funds deposited into the Guild Treasury in time for all checks to clear and funds to be available when the Treasurer is asked to prepare checks for the venue.

8.  Damage deposits:  Dumas Bay is currently the only retreat that requires a damage deposit.  That deposit is $300 and is rolled over retreat to retreat.  That money is currently in and accounted for in the Retreat Fund.

9.  The following forms are applicable to all retreats and must be used by the Coordinators to insure proper handling and accountability of all funds.

Retreat Deposit

Retreat payment to Venue

Reimbursement

CURRENT RETREATS OFFERED BY EPQG:

Dumas Bay Centre in Federal Way

3200 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA  98023

Enjoy beautiful views of Puget Sound, good lighting, a comfortable quilting room, dinner, and breakfast from Friday through the last day of the retreat. You’ll have your own private room with a half bath. The showers and tub are down the hall.  You can enjoy walking the grounds, and beach access is nearby. Although you’ll feel like you are a million miles from home, you’ll have only a short commute.

Several retreats are held at Dumas Bay – contact the retreat coordinator for more information (exact dates & cost): 

February: President's Day weekend, 4 days
Feb 12-15, 2027
Contact Sandy Burroughs
burros0208@gmail.com

May: Memorial Day weekend, 4 days
May 28-31, 2027
Contact Roseann Kildal 

r.kildal@comcast.net

September: Labor Day weekend, 4 days

September, 4,5,6,7, 2026,
Contact Roseann Kildal 

r.kildal@comcast.net

October: 16, 17, 18 2026
Contact Roseann Kildal 

r.kildal@comcast.net

December: Dec. 4, 5, 6 2026
Contact Roseann Kildal

r.kildal@comcast.net

Roseann’s contact info
206-235-8278
r.kildal@comcast.net

Huston Camp & Conference Centr

14725 Ley Rd, Gold Bar, WA  98251

Held May

The Guild has been going to Camp Huston the 1st week in May for over 30 years.
This retreat is currently full.

Contact Sonya Bachmann, sonyamb@juno.com, if you are interested in being put onto the waiting list.  

Running with Safety Scissors Retreat.

This retreat has been cancelled for the 2026 quilting year.

This group sews, laughs, plays games such as, Strip Poker. 

This retreat requires you to participate in one dinner prep, and donate an item for the lunches. With 2 or 3 others

For the retreat you will have a roommate, and know who she is before the retreat.

We have a private Facebook Group where we discuss what we will be preparing for meals and peoples allergies. Who will be sleeping where, etc.  By the time you go to the retreat, you will know all you need to know to relax & enjoy.

Contact Roxie Michel roxie@seanet.com

Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal

13395 Lagoon Dr. NW, Seabeck, WA  98380

Held October 7 - 14, 2026.

The retreat is currently full. Contact Dana Ekblad, danaekblad@comcast.net, if you are interest in being put onto the wait list.