This fall, Federation will be held at the Mount Carmel Bible Camp, 800 Mount Carmel Drive Northeast in Alexandria, Minnesota on October 16-18.  The phones at the camp are 1 800-793-4381 or 1 320-846-2744.

Accommodations
All accommodations are at Mount Carmel Family Camp.  Cost of the conference is $175.00.  This includes lodging, meals, linen for the weekend, and classes.  There may be additional fees for some of the classes.  If you have a specialty diet or prefer a vegetarian meal, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Lodging Options
Lodge Rooms:  Located in the main lodge, these rooms have air conditioning, heat, and queen or twin beds.  These nine hotel-style rooms have a private restroom (toilet, sink and shower) in each room.  The rooms sleep 1 – 5 people (if you are willing to share a queen size bed or sleep in a bunk.)  The lodge rooms are also handicap accessible.

New Cabins:  Newly constructed during 2006, 2007 and 2009. These winterized cabins are equipped with cooking facilities, utensils, dishes, and linen (sheets and towels).  Each cabin has two bedrooms, a bathroom with a combined living/kitchen area.  The cabins have double or twin hide-a-bed.  Cabins sleep 1 – 7 people.

Older Cabins:  There are three older cabins which have been remodeled.  They have a double bed, a set of bunks, and a double futon.  These cabins also have a refrigerator, 2 burner cook-top, a microwave, and a full bath.  They sleep 1 – 7 people.

You may request your preference.  However, the committee reserves the right to assign space based on needs and registration date.

Keynote Speakers, Ellenor Kristiansen and Karin Boom will give a talk about raising Icelandic sheep.

Ellenor Kristiansen of Fergus Falls, MN and a member of the Wolly Purls Fiber Guild, grew up in Norway.  There, she learned to knit at an early age. Ellenor has always appreciated good yarn and enjoyed knitting Scandinavian designs.  When she first came to the US at age 17, she missed the beautiful Norwegian yarns.

Karin Boom is Ellenor's daughter.  Karin also learned to knit at an early age and was the first in the family to buy a wheel and make her own yarn.  She has kept sheep for many years in North Dakota.  Recently, Karin and Ellenor bought a flock of Icelandic sheep.  Raising the sheep has been an adventure for the mother and daughter team, and a learning experience.  The sheep have unique personalities and produce beautiful light wool.

Karin and Ellenor have experimented with felting and other uses for the Icelandic fleece, which is quite different from Cotswold and Finn/Lincoln sheep and Angora goats.

Kaine and Ellenor say to the Federation, "We are still learning and look forward to sharing what we have learned with all of you."

Business Meeting - The Business Meeting will take place on Sunday morning.  Please think about hosting the next conference.  The Federation needs a site and hopefully there will be seed money to pass along to the next host

Special Events

Guild Display - If your guild has completed a challenge or an interesting project that you’d like to share, there will be space to display your guild “show and tell” in the vendor room. Please indicate on your registration if you are bringing a guild display.

Show and Tell - Show and tell on Friday evening will include all types of fiber creations this year. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has chose 2009 as the International Year of Natural Fibers. It will include fashions, rugs, spinning, weaving, and other types of fiber preparations you wish to share.

Rag Rug Talk - There will be a rug talk on Friday evening. Indicate in your registration if you wish to attend this.