I tried to join about 15 months ago. Despite many notes to them via email, nobody was home indeed!

I joined two years ago, was a Home Economics teacher and taught cross stitch for 175 students each semester, however I never did hear from them...

Same here. I joined and never heard from them again. I just created my own "Beginner's Basket" and teach when someone shows an interest at my cost. It's worth it to keep the art going. It doesn't cost much and they really appreciate it.

jclifford : I am planning to teach a cross stitch class soon. May I ask you what you put in your beginners basket ? I have my own ideas but I can always use some suggestions .

Also I wonder why dmc puts the mentor suggestion on there web and won't respond . I guess they don't worry about cutting there own throat, as we don't have a whole lot of other places to go .

Hi Mehouk: I have a magazine that is for beginners. I let them choose what they want to stitch (I also have some small projects that comes with it's own ring/hoop left on for framing). Once they choose, then I show them how to pick out the floss (teaching them about where to look for the DMC #, it's just a picture) and then let them choose the correct size hoop (I have several sizes in my box). Several needles.

So in short, I have the following:
Magazine
Pictures of floss, color card
pattern (already chosen and enlarged)
needles
Floss
Fabric (I usually start them out with 12 or 14 count Aida, it's easier to teach them about the holes they need to go into to make their "X")
hoops
scissors
needle threader (b'c I'm blind as a bat!!!)
markers (highliters)
ink pen

Yes, it's really a kick in the teeth to join their club and they not respond with anything! They could at least respond that they are no longer doing this. Oh well.

Good Luck and have fun. I really love teaching this craft that I'm (and all of you ) are so passionate about. Let me know how it goes.

One more thing. (Didn't want to edit the last comment, too long).

I haven't taught a "class" yet, just one on one. I don't give away all the items in the basket. I just let them use it such as the card, scissors, magazine.

They get to keep everything else and if they want more patterns from the magazine, I make them as many as they want.

I also have remnants of fabric that I teach them how to lazy daisy, French knot, fractional stitches, etc.

Just sent an e-mail a few minutes ago to DMC corporation requesting they kindly communicate whether the DMC "mentoring program" still exists or not? It's now a wait and see if there's a response...

LOL! Funny that you saying that, b'c I was doing the same thing!!!!

jclifford,
So (grin)....GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE! LOL

Mybe I should send then an e-mail also . if they get enough they might respond