If you're here, you are probably interested in beads, jewelry, both...or something  related to them.   You also might be thinking that a bead society sounds interesting..but you don't know if you are "bead society material".  :)  The truth is that there are bead societies all over the US (and in other countries) and they run the gamut from extremely loose and casual...to extremely organized and structured (and huge!)  I've been a society member in the past and really enjoyed it and I've missed hanging out with "bead friends" so I decided to see if I could get a group going here in Sheboygan.  (I've only been in Sheboygan for a year and a half.) 

Anyone interested in any kind of beads/jewelry is welcome.  :) When I say ALL skill levels, I mean it.  You are just as welcome if you haven't tried making anything yet as you are if you've been doing this for decades!  If beads are your hobby or profession...if you're a collector or just someone who likes jewelry...you ARE welcome.  It also doesn't matter what kind of beads you like..no bead snobbery here!  It doesn't have to be gems and precious metals..or Delicas ..or Swarovski...  it can be galvanized washers from the hardware department strung on a shoelace!

I'm trying to get the group up and running..and then will let the group members decide which kind of bead society they're interested in becoming.  We can start out as a "loose and casual" society.  This would mean that the first meetings won't have an agenda...you can just bring a project you're working on or a book you'd like to recommend (or ask questions about) or whatever.  Sort of like a sewing bee...except that we'll just sit around and chat about beads :)

Here are a few websites of bead societies around the US: 

Bead Society of Greater Chicago

Upper Midwest Bead Society

The Bead Society of Greater Washington

Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild

Loose Bead Society of Milwaukee

Madison Bead Society

Check back here at the group and I'll be posting future meeting information.  (If you join this online group, I'll send out group emails to notify you of upcoming meetings, too).  Hope to be beading with you all soon!