Kentucky Basket Association

History

1995

Thirty-eight charter members met at the County Extension Office in Versailles on September 30, 1995 to form the Kentucky Basket Association. Jennifer Klee, Woodford County Extension Agent for Home Economics, was instrumental in the process.

Officers elected were:
Martha Newby, President

Rosemary Graves, Vice-President—Membership

Linda Finney, Secretary

Delores Mudd, Treasurer

Kay Ragland, Member-at-Large

M.D. Hill, Central Membership Rep

Ardia Herndon, Central Member-at-Large

Frances Whitaker, Eastern Membership Rep

Vicki Poteat and Jan Treesch,Western Members-at Large

Paula Scott, Newsletter Editor

Paula Gron, Historian/Librarian

With the chartering of The Kentucky Basket Association came the formation of three weaving guilds:
Kentucky River Dreamweavers, Versailles
Bluegrass Basket Guild, Taylorsville
Anne’s Rib Basket Guild, Harrodsburg

*Woven Together in Western Kentucky Guild was formed before KBA was chartered.

1996

In 1996, KBA began to take shape. Paula Gron’s design won the KBA logo contest and our identity was born.

The newly-formed group organized a one-day open weave and picnic held at the Perryville Battlefield StatePark on June 1, 1996.

The 30 weavers in attendance enjoyed an open weave session, a dye party, a pot-luck picnic and the Blue-Gray Basket Design Challenge. Weavers who entered the contest were Janice Parker, Ardia Herndon, Delores Mudd, Paula Scott, and Jan Treesch. Jan’s design—the Civil War Victory Basket—took honors as Viewer’s Choice.

On November 9, 1996, the first KBA November Weave was held at the Hampton Inn in Bardstown. Sixty-nine KBA members attended the one-day weaving session where they signed up to take classes before-hand.

At year’s end, KBA had 194 paid members.

1997

In 1997, a new weaving guild was formed in Louisville—The Derby Guild.

KBA members participated in The Kentucky Craft Market Event in January and sponsored a November Weave at General Butler State Park in Carrolton on October 3l-November 1. At the November Weave, everyone wove the same basket, taught by Rosemary Graves and Kay Ragland.

“Basket Treasures for 1997” (our first convention) was held July 31, August 1-2 at The Louisville Holiday Inn on Gardiner Lane. Coordinators for the event were Delores Mudd and Kathy Stonestreet-Seaton.

Officers elected in 1997 were:
Martha Newby, President

Bessie Bain, Vice-President—Programs

Rosemary Graves, Vice-President—Membership

Delores Mudd, Treasurer

Vicki Poteat, Western Region Representative

Jan Treesch, Western Region Representative

Ruth Thompson, Central Region Representative

Ardia Herndon, Central Region Representative

Dr. Mary Wiss, Eastern Region Representative

Kay Ragland, designated Past President for 1st term

Linda Finney, Secretary

Paula Gron, Historian/Librarian

1998

The Big Sandy Basket Guild was formed in Pikeville. (Pike, Magoffin, Lawrence, Floyd Counties).

The second KBA convention—“Friendships Intertwined”—was held at the Kentucky Leadership Center on Lake Cumberland at Jabez. Bessie Bain and Martha Newby were site coordinators for the event, held on July 30-31, August 1.

The November Weave was held at the Holiday Inn—Capital Plaza in Frankfort on November 6-7. The weave followed a Christmas theme and was coordinated by Linda Finney.

1999

KBA worked with the Kentucky State Fair from the organization’s inception; in 1999, as a result of their efforts, new classifications were added to the Baskets category and the Kentucky guilds each sponsored one of the categories and paid for the prizes.

The state convention—“Basket Bee Mania”—was held on August 5-7 at the Executive Inn, Rivermont, in Owensboro. Eighty-nine members attended and took classes from 18 teachers.

The 4th November Weave was held on November 5-6 at Rough River Dam State Park

New officers for 1999-2001:
Mary McAllister, President

Sharon Toadvine, Secretary

Donna Stout, Historian/Librarian

Sally Law, Western Region Representative

2000

The 4th state convention—“Simple Pleasures…Tomorrow’s Treasures”—was held at Midway College on August 3-5. Ruth Thompson coordinated the event.

The November Weave was held at General Butler State Park at Carrollton on November 3-4.

New officers for 2000-2002:
Martha Ross, Vice-President—Membership

Ruth Thompson, Vice-President—Programs

Karen Higdon, Treasurer

Karen Wilson, Central Region Representative

Sharon Blankenship, Central Region Representative

Nancy Inman, Newsletter Editor

2001

Plans were made to develop a website for KBA.

The 5th annual state convention was held at Midway College—“Camp Wannaweave”—on August 2-4.

The November Weave was held on November 2-3 at Natural Bridge State Park.

2002

KBA’s website was established at www. geocities.com/Kentuckybaskets

The KBA Board took over the responsibility of coordinating the state convention each year.

The by-laws were amended to combine the offices of Treasurer and Vice-President—Membership.

The 6th state convention—“Woven in the USA”—was held at Midway College on August 1-3.

The November weave was held at General Butler State Park, Carrollton on November 7-8.

New Officers for 2001-2003:
Martha Ross, President

Mary McAllister, Past-President

Julie Peoples, President-Elect

Kay Ragland, Vice-President—Programs

Ginni Howard/Barbara Morris, Vice-President—Membership

Doris Meador, Secretary

Vickie Goodman, Western Region Representative

Peggy Alderson, Western Region Representative

Karen Higdon, Central Region Representative

Delores Mudd, Central Region Representative

Yvonne Summers, Eastern Region Representative

Sharon Toadvine, Eastern Region Representative

Martha Newby, Newsletter Editor

2003

KBA joined the National Basket Association.

With its new responsibility of coordinating state conventions, the Board decided to no longer host November Weave sessions.

The 7th state convention—“Weaving Through A Thankful Heart”—was held in Frankfort at the Capital Plaza Holiday Inn on November 13-15.

New Officers for 2003-2004:
Julie Peoples/Becky Josvai, President

Jan Treesch, Western Region Representative

Jo West, Western Region Representative

Martha Newby, Central Region Representative

Delores Mudd, Central Region Representative

Karen Galloway, Eastern Region Representative

Charlotte Haney, Eastern Region Representative

Peggy McAllister, Newsletter Editor

2004

The 8th state convention—“Twillin’ ‘n’ Toten’”—was held at the Hurstbourne Lane Holiday Inn in Louisville on July 29-31.

Altruistic Activity: Many KBA members wove Pink Ribbon Twill Baskets following a pattern written by Laura Lee Zanger; the baskets were used as centerpieces for the Cure Survival (for Breast Cancer) Kickoff Dinner
in Louisville on October 5, 2004.

New officers:
Becky Josvai, President

Jo Ann Chaffins, Newsletter Editor

2005

The 9th state convention—“A Decade of Memories, Friends, and Baskets”— was held at the Convention Center in Corbin on July 14-16.

New Officers:
Kay Ragland, President

Elsbeth Kramer, President-Elect

Sharon Toadvine, Secretary

Patti Feather, Western Region Representative

Karen Henderson/Pam Mitchell, Newsletter Editors

Sheri Yanero, Historian/Librarian

Kentucky Basket Association