The President's Corner - June 2012

I am sorry that I was unable to attend the last meeting as I would have enjoyed the presentation on Thomas Day. He was a fascinating character in a time when social and legal rules were greatly different from those we have today. If you haven’t seen the exhibit on his life and furniture at the History Museum downtown, you really should take the time.

As required by our governing documents, I have appointed a Nominating Committee consisting of Fred Ford, Terry Tenhouse and Ed Mastin. They will be presenting their slate of nominees for Board positions at the June meeting. I will also ask for any nominations from the floor. The list of all nominees will be published in the July newsletter. The nominees may introduce themselves at the July meeting. August is election time and the new Board members will be decided. Letter votes are encouraged if you can’t attend the August meeting and want to vote. Send me a letter with your vote and it will be counted. Although our governing documents do not mention e-mail voting, I will an e-mail vote as I believe the documents would allow it if we had thought of e-mail at the time they were written.

Starting with the April meeting and continuing for some time, we will have more than one raffle at each meeting. Largely through Pete Bucki’s efforts, we have been given a variety of merchandise to be used for the benefit of Toys for Tots. In this column each month I will be announcing what the T4T Raffle item(s) will be for the coming meeting. Currently we have a Worksharp Knife Sharpener valued at about $70 which will be drawn at the June meeting; a Drill Doctor bit sharpener for which tickets will go on sale in June; and a Worksharp 3000. In addition, we have several 10” and 7 ½” carbide saw blades, compliments of Raleigh Saw.
For the higher value items which have been donated, we will be selling tickets for more than $1, and/or selling a minimum number of tickets before holding a drawing. I am sure all will understand that we should be sure to get a fair value for these items while still giving our members a chance at a nice win for a reasonable price.

While we have eliminated most of the 1 person committees, there are still a few opportunities for members to help administer the club activities. I would like to add someone to the audio-visual and facilities and refreshment committees. If you would be willing to volunteer for one of these assignments, please let me know. Also, if these committees do not seem to fit well with your skills and/or interests, but you would like to help the club in some capacity, please let me know. We never let a volunteer go!

Diane has told me that she received a response to Mark Keglers ad offering to rent space and, well let me put it in her own words: “if Mark Keglers rents space via our facebook page that will be a great thing. When a request via facebook is received -- I get an email -- because Mark was the first one to use my new addition to the newsletter (Items Wanted, Wanted Items) I was able to respond to her (the prospective tenant) very quickly. If more folks would advertise what they offer and I get a hit on facebook I can direct them and help out the membership. See -- facebook rocks!”

Leon Abbas tells me that a sharpening stone belonging to him disappeared at the May meeting. As it was inherited from his dad’s shop and it’s a good stone, he would love to have it back. If someone has knowledge of the stone’s whereabouts please email Leon at labbas@nc.rr.com or drop it off to the sales desk at the store or give me call. Thanks for everyone’s help.

I continue my efforts to increase membership in our Club and my desire to share our love for wood and ask my fellow members to invite a guest to visit and hopefully join. I am not suggesting a hard sell, but if you know someone who might enjoy us, please invite them to a meeting. To that end, we will have flyers available for you to give to your prospective guests.

Hope to see many faces in June!

President: Allan Campbell

The President's Corner - May 2012

As you know, at each meeting I recognize someone who is particularly valuable to the club. This past meeting I spoke about Sue Eckard. Many of you who are newer to the club may not know Sue as she is rarely able to attend these meetings, but she provides a wealth of support to us. She, along with her daughter (Diane Philyaw), give us the use of their shop and machinery to make the majority of our T4Ts general club givings. Sue has been a member of TWA for nearly 20 years and possibly longer as her late husband Bill was a member until his passing in 1998. Sue and Diane dug their heels in deep to fulfill a dream (a dying wish of Bill’s) and host a Toys for Tots (his passion) workshop in his new shop. He unfortunately was never able to see what the ladies have done but they have certainly done him proud. He would be brought to tears knowing that the ladies are shooting for the very obtainable goal of 20,000 toys to come through their doors. They are 3/4 of the way there now. Fred Ford has stepped up to the plate and is spearheading the efforts the last couple of years as Diane’s health has been at issue and of deep concern to the entire family. And as those of you who attend the workshops up in Creedmoor know, Sue feeds the workers well. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of joining a workshop at Sue and Diane’s has come away with more than sawdust - they have come away with a sense of family and belief and honor to be a part of something great.

As required by our governing documents, I have appointed a Nominating Committee consisting of Fred Ford, Terry Tenhouse and Ed Mastin. They will be seeking 2 people to be directors for the coming 3 year term. Please see one of them if you want to volunteer to run for director or suggest someone else.

Starting with the April meeting and continuing for some time, we will have more than one raffle at each meeting. Largely through Pete Bucki’s efforts, we have been given a variety of merchandise to be used for the benefit of T4T. In this column each month I will be announcing what the T4T Raffle item(s) will be for the coming meeting. Currently we have a Worksharp Knife Sharpener valued at about $70, a Drill Doctor bit sharpener, and a Worksharp 3000. In addition, we have several 10 inch and 7 ½ inch carbide saw blades, compliments of Raleigh Saw. For higher value items which have been donated, tickets will be more than $1, and/or selling a minimum number of tickets will be required before a drawing. I am sure all will understand our desire for a fair value for these items while still giving our members a chance at a nice win. At the April meeting, we offered the Worksharp Knife Sharpener. If you want to investigate what it is, you can look online, or there is one set up at the Klingspor store. You can try it out there. Unfortunately, we only sold 2 tickets at $5. We cannot in good conscience allow the knife sharpener go with only $10 going to T4T, so tickets will be on sale again this month. Arrive a bit early to sharpen your knife and buy a ticket! Tickets will be $5 each. This is a Toys for Tots raffle and therefore is separate from our regular club raffle.

While we have eliminated most of the 1 person committees, there are still a few opportunities for members to help administer the club activities. I would like to add someone to the audio-visual committee and to the Facilities and refreshment committee. If you would be willing to volunteer for one of these assignments, please let me know. If one these does not fit well with your skills and/or interests, please let me know. I am sure we can find a way to allow you to help. We never let a good volunteer go!

I continue my efforts to increase membership in our Club and my desire to share our love for wood and ask my fellow members to invite a guest to visit and hopefully join. I am not suggesting a hard sell, but if you know someone who might enjoy us, please invite them to a meeting. To that end, we will have flyers available for you to give to your prospective guests.

Hope to see many faces in May!

President: Allan Campbell

The President's Corner - April 2012

As you know, at each meeting I recognize someone

who is particularly valuable to the club. In March I

spoke of Chuck Arnold. He (and his helpers) set up the room before

each meeting, as well as buying and serving refreshments during our

break. If you think about it this requires a significant commitment

of time and effort. We are glad to have Chuck to do this job.

The old website is now shut down! Now anyone who

looks us up will find our new site for all things concerning TWA.

Also, from the new site, you can access our Facebook page.

We have had particularly good programs so far this

year and had a special treat with Garrett Hack who is a Fine

Woodworking contributor, teacher, and professional furniture

maker. We even had 4 new members attend the workshop who, I

am told, joined in order to have access to our fine programs.

During our Friday meeting last month Garrett presented

“Work smart”, describing better ways to accomplish tasks in our

own woodworking endeavors. This was a real meat and potatoes

session with suggestions we can really use. On Saturday and Sunday,

his workshop involved working with curves and how to master

several types of joints.

Starting with the April meeting and continuing for some

time, we will have multiple rafflea at each meeting. Largely through

Pete Bucki’s efforts, we have been given a variety of merchandise

to be used for the benefit of our Toys for Tots program. In this

column each month I will be announcing what the T4T Raffle

item or items will be for the coming meeting. Currently we have

a Worksharp Knife Sharpener valued at $70; a Drill Doctor bit

sharpener; & a Worksharp 3000. In addition, we have several 10

inch and 7 ½ inch carbide saw blades, compliments of Raleigh Saw.

For the higher value items, we will be selling tickets for more than

$1, and/or selling a minimum number of tickets before holding a

drawing. I am sure all will understand that we require a fair value for

these items while still giving the membership a chance at a nice win

for a reasonable price.

At the April meeting, we will raffle the Worksharp

Knife Sharpener. If you want to investigate what it is, you can

look online, http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2011/02/

worksharp/ or there is one set up at the Klingspor store. You

can try it out there. Why not arrive at the meeting a bit early

to sharpen your knife and buy a ticket? Tickets will be $5 for a

chance at a $70 item. Please support Toys for Tots by buying a

ticket.

To be very clear, the T4T Raffles are separate from

the regular monthly raffle so that we make sure that the

proceeds from the items given for Toys for Tots are properly

allocated.

While we have eliminated most of the 1 person

committees, there are still a few opportunities for members

to help administer the club activities. I would like to add

someone to the audio-visual committee and to the facilities and

refreshment committee. If you would be willing to volunteer

for one of these assignments, or if these committees do not

seem to fit well with your skills and/or interests, but you would

like to help the club in some capacity, please let me know.

I continue my efforts to increase membership in our

Club and my desire to share our love for wood and ask my

fellow members to invite a guest to visit and hopefully join. I

am not suggesting a hard sell, but if you know someone who

might enjoy us, please invite them to a meeting. To that end,

we will have flyers available for you to give to your prospective

guests.

Hope to see many faces in April!

President: Allan Campbell

The Presidents Corner - March 2012

As you know, at each meeting I recognize someone who is particularly valuable to the club. This month I spoke about Mark Keglers. Most of you know him from his “show and tells” at our meetings, which are always fascinating. We are always amazed to see how he and his father have worked out a way to do something (usually very big). They make jigs and fixtures to do the job. Did you know that Mark often makes his shop space available for our workshops, T4T events, and helps members with things their own shops are not set up to do? There was a very nice article about him in the Triangle Business Journal dated Feb 3rd. I saw it when several of the club members were at Mark’s shop, which he made available to help some cub scouts prepare their pinewood derby cars.
We have had particularly good programs this year and have a really special treat in March with Garrett Hack who is a Fine Woodworking contributor, teacher, and professional furniture maker. Best known for his modern interpretations of Federal-style furniture. Author of The Handplane Book & Classic Hand Tools, Hack spends much of his time traveling the country teaching at woodworking schools. Garrett will present “Work smart”, describing better ways to accomplish tasks in your woodworking endeavors. His weekend workshop will involve working with curves and how to master several types of joints.
I asked Pete Bucki to join the Raffle committee and he has agreed to do so. Mike Payst, the chairman, has carried the entire load for as long as I can recall. Now at least once in a while Mike can get some refreshments and visit with members instead of selling tickets.
While I know, understand, and relate to schedules being hectic and time being limited -- I am still asking for more volunteers. Maybe the only time you have to volunteer a little help is during our monthly meeting that you love to attend -- see that is perfect because we need some help during those couple of hours each month. Help is needed on the:

•   audio-visual committee, and the
•   facilities and refreshment committee.

If you are willing to volunteer for one of these assignments, please let me know. Also, if these committees do not seem to fit well with your skills and/or interests, but you would like to help the club in some capacity, please let me know.
I continue my efforts to increase membership in our Club and my desire to share our love for wood and ask my fellow members to invite a guest to visit and hopefully join. I am not suggesting a hard sell, but if you know someone who might enjoy us, please invite them to a meeting. To that end, we will have flyers available for you to give to your prospective guests.

Hope to see many faces in March!

President: Allan Campbell

The President's Corner - February 2012

We are off to a fast start this new year! Fred Ford and his crew have begun work on the 2012 Toys For Tots project, scrounging wood and looking for good deals on wood & parts. Jeff Leimberger is doing a great job,  lining up presenters for 2013 and has commitments from 2 nationally known speakers. While there is “many a slip between the cup and the lip”, and these guys are really difficult to pin down, I am confident that he will get them scheduled. That puts us way ahead of where we were this time last year.

I know you all keep reading this in my monthly message and I want to explain that this project is so important to so many that I want to keep reminding everyone of the great need. Please consider what you can give to the T4T project to keep it afloat in the future. Donations can be kept confidential. Hugh Fish or any Board member will be happy to accept your gift. I encourage all of you who have not participated so far to get involved this year. It takes very little time and the rewards are great.

As you know, at each meeting I try to recognize someone who is particularly valuable to the club. This past meeting I spoke about  Diane Philyaw.  She can’t often attend our regular meetings because of health and so many new members may not have had a chance to meet her. She is a past president and past board member and currently our Newsletter editor and Facebook person. She is one of the movers and shakers in the T4T effort each year. Her workshops turn out the largest volume of toys every year. Take a look at the newsletter sometime and think about the effort which goes into gathering all the articles and arranging them and then adding all the extras. By the way, she also fixes the mistakes we authors make every month. She is also responsible for our having a new webmaster. We were discussing the need for someone with the time and knowledge necessary to do that job at a board meeting when she left the room for a few minutes. She came back with a new member and webmaster, her husband Roger.

Roger Philyaw has been diligently working on making our website more inviting and informative and to shut down the old website as soon as we can get some information transferred to the new site. Please be sure you are checking only the new site for things concerning TWA like our calendar and newsletters. Also, from the new website, you can access our new Facebook page.

We  started this year off with a particularly good program. Matt Hobbs covered how to make drawers and fit them to a carcass. I don’t know about your experiences, but I have had drawers come out as parallelograms, twisted, too loose, and otherwise wrong. Most of the time I have been able to “fix” them, but they were never “right.” It sure would be nice if I could make them fit correctly the first time, at least most of the time.

This month we will continue with Mark Todd talking about how he works with clients to design their furniture and leading us through construction of a typical piece in his workshop. He will discuss his use of jigs to ensure repeatability in his standard lines and then show us his finishing techniques that lead to customers running their hands over his furniture time after time.

 

My last item for this month is that we are asking members to invite a guest you think would enjoy our club to visit and join. We aren’t suggesting a hard sell, but if you know someone who might enjoy it, please invite them to a meeting. To that end, we will have flyers available for you to give to your prospective guests.

Hope to see many faces in February!

President: Allan Campbell