The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall operation of The Villages Woodworkers Club in accordance with the club By-Laws.
Board members serve for a term of three years. Members are elected as part of the first General Membership meeting each year from a list of nominations prepared by the Nominating Committee.
The Board of Directors meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, except November and December when the meeting is held on the third Thursday. Meetings start at 7:00PM in the shop.
All VWC members are encouraged to attend the meetings as observers.
The Villages Woodworkers Club
Officers
John Keil Scott – President 2022 - 2023
First took woodshop in junior high school. Worked on a couple of dairy farms where we worked with wood plenty of times, built and repaired hay wagons, made shelves in the shop etc. All of this was working with wood but not real fine furniture like stuff.
When we bought our first home, 1971, I made several pieces of furniture for it, kitchen table, end tables, bedroom dresser etc. Each piece got a little better in quality of workmanship. Also got a small wood lathe and turned some candle holders and table lamps. Begin to acquire equipment for the shop at the same time.
In 1978 bought some land in VT and began building a log home. I hired a contractor to rough it in so we could move in, then I did the finish work on the inside. Laid down the hardwood flooring, put up the interior walls, hung the doors and made the windows etc.
In the early 80s I took a 3-day wood turning course. By this time, I had a pretty well-equipped shop and began to turn bowls and salt and pepper shakers etc. and sold a few at a couple of craft shops in VT. When we moved to Florida and after seeing the Villages Woodshop I sold all the contents of my shop knowing the VWC would more than meet my needs.
For the past three years, John has been a member of the VWC Board of Directors and is a valuable member of the VWC IT staff.
Rik Peirce - Vice President 2022 - 2023
Rik has been Vice President for the past year and was the lead designer and interface with The Villages ®in both the design and construction of the Brownwood shop.
Ed Deitch, Treasurer
Ed has been our treasurer for the past two years. He successfully guided the club into building and equipping our new Brownwood shop without incurring any additional financial loans or obligations.
Cindy Bloecher - Secretary 2022 - 2025 In 2012 we purchased our home and moved to The Villages in 2014. I have been a member of the woodworkers club for about 5 years. Taking classes and learning a great deal from all the wonderful members. I have tried turning and attended the monthly meetings. Recently I joined the front desk staff and enjoy working with Kathy and all the other members. I have been secretary for my quilt guild chapter for a 2 year term. I am organized and dedicated and feel confident that I could be an asset to the club.
Board of Directors
Alice Besler - Chair Person 2022 - 2023
• Rn for 57 years. • VWC member at the front desk for 9 years. • Member of the safety committee for 8 years. • Supply person for 7 years. • Assisted the certification team for 5 years.
Ron Badami 2021 - 2024
I've been a VWC Member since 2007
Also active in a number of other social clubs in the Villages
Joe Benkowski 2022 - 2025
Community service • Habitat for Humanity House Project. Project Manager 1999 • Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Wildwood FL • Member St. Vincent de Paul choir • Member Villages Woodshop since 2013
Woodworking Experiences - Three Major remodeling Projects: • Appleton WI Home addition 14' x32" did all work except basement cement work • New Berlin WI. Remodeled kitchen, built new cabinets • The Villages FL. Removed lanai and enclosed area • Personally designed and completed all work except concrete and windows.
Some of the other wood Projects • Took First woodworking class, Night school 1970, built a grandfather clock. • Built sons bed and dresser Built granddaughter's bed and several dressers • Built entertainment cabinet, end tables and a dining room sideboard
Wood Classes taken Villages Woodworkers Club • Basic Lathe Turning Instructor John Herega Segmented Bowl Turning Instructor Steven Yovan • Ring Master Turning Instructor Tom Miller • Certified on CNC Router Instructor Lowell Sundermann Certification Instructor Villages Woodworkers Club
Over my career I have always been involved with various organizations, my teaching and business experience can help continue the direction the woodshop has done over the years. The board has to make many decisions in the selection of equipment, customer service, public relations, safety, budgets, etc. Being a board member will allow me the opportunity to use the skills developed over my career.
Harm Borfitz 2022-2024
Dipak Dhabuwala 2022 - 2025
Training: • Fellow in Surgery and Kidney Transplant Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan • Board Certified in Urology 1981 University School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan Faculty appointments: • Professor of Urology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan 8/99 – • 06/2007 • Associate Chairman Department of Urology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit, Michigan 05/02 to 06/2007 • Clinical Professor Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Lansing, Michigan 11/10 April 2014 • Chief of Urology Harper University Hospital Chief of Urology Hutzel Women's Hospital Detroit, Michigan 07/2007 to April 2014 • Urologist Leesburg regional Medical Center 01/2015 – 01/2019 Publications : • Published about 60 Papers on different subjects in Urology
Joined The Villages Woodshop 10/28/2017 • Attend the wood shop 3 to 5 times in a week Some of the things I have made • Made on Lathe Regular platters, Bowls, 3 and 4 leg bowls, mini bowls for serving nuts, eggcups, lidded jewelry boxes, wine goblets and wine glasses, Coasters with ancient Greek design. Brick pattern Segmented bowls, Maple Segmented 10” vase with accent, Bubinga rectangles A 14" Segmented bowls with accent inverted triangles 16" tall, segmented European wine decanter with several accent rings • End grain Cutting Boards and serving trays Rail tract cutting board Brick pattern cutting board • Optical illusion end grain cutting boards Truncated pyramids Cutting board Floating squares Cutting board Emerging squares Cutting boards Serving tray with truncated pyramid illusion. After retiring as a urological surgeon, I have immensely enjoyed wood working. Planning for the new project takes a lot of time and executing the plan is very fulfilling for the soul.
Voytek Kulesza 2022 - 2025
I was born in 1962 in Poland, where I was raised and got a diploma in Machine Tools Design and application from Technical School in Krakow. I immigrated to US in 1987 and was employed by Scot Forge Co. in Spring Grove IL, where I worked until the end of 2014. I studied at McHenry County College and received Certificate in Manufacturing Supervision in 2003, Certificate in Manufacturing Processes in 2004, and Associate degree in Applied Science/Manufacturing Management in 2005. In 2017 I moved to The Villages, Florida where I joined the VWC and that became my hobby for which I commit most of my free time.
Steve Mendelsohn 2022 - 2023
Ray Roberts 2022 - 2024
Dan Rozko 2022 - 2023
Tony Torra 2022 - 2025
I have been a wood shop member for 3 years. Back in Massachusetts worked in the computer industry for a few years before starting a custom home and remodeling business which I ran for 30 years prior to moving to The Villages. I also served for many years on our youth Lacrosse BOD and our local 1000-member Shooting club BOD. I am currently on the WWC safety committee.
Conway Williams 2021 - 2024
Joined The Villages Woodworkers Club, The Villages, Fl 2010- present
Elected to the Board of Directors 2020-2022
Member of the Design Committee 2018-present
Elected to the Board of Directors 2016-2018
Member of the Expansion Committee 2016-present
Joined the Executive Operations Committee 2015- present
Appointed Toy Department Manager 2015- present
Joined the Toy Department 2011- present
ERA, Realtor Gettysburg, Pa. 2002-2009
A leader among all ERA Real Estate Franchises with over $1.0 Billion in sales
Sales Associate – Gettysburg Office
- Member - National Association of REALTORS – NAR
- Member - Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS – PAR
Board of Directors 2007-2009
Member - REALTORS Association of York and Adams County – RAYAC
Treasurer 2008-20,09
Areva Corp, Framatome Connector International, Etters, Pa 2000-2002
Global leader in Electronic Components for industry with $2.4 Billion in sales that has more than 60 production facilities in 28 countries.
Director, Global Supply Chain Logistics
AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg Pa 1999 & Prior
A $5.5 Billion global designer and manufacturer of electronic, electrical, wireless, and Electro-optic interconnection devices, with more than 200 production facilities in 60 countries, which is now part of Tyco International, LTD.
Director, Worldwide Materials and Logistics 1999-1999
Director, Global Materials and Logistics 1998-1999
Director of Logistics and Materials, AMP Incorporated, Europe Middle East and Africa, London, UK 1997-1998
Director of Logistics, AMP GB Ltd., London, UK. 1995-1997
Director of Information and Analysis, Customer Satisfaction and Business Effectiveness, AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. 1994-1995
Director of Information and Analysis, Global Quality, 1985-1994
Director of Material Services, . 1978-1985
A variety of positions in Materials from scheduler, planner, materials analyst, industrial engineer, Production Control Supervisor, Production Control Manager, Divisional Materials Manager and Group Materials Manager. 1966-1978
Education
CPIM certification - American Production and Inventory Control Society.
Shippensburg University - Shippensburg, Pa.- Masters of Business Administration.
Gettysburg College - Gettysburg, Pa. - BA Economics and Business Administration.