The Villages Woodshop Club

November 10, 2015

Laurel Manor

 

Meeting called to order by President Mike Borfitz at 7:05

 

Pledge of Allegiance and Silent Time - As always, Mike asked that all remain standing to offer up prayers and thoughts for those in our Club who need kind thoughts, prayers or just your consideration. Please keep Kay Stolte in your prayers.  She had open heart for some valve work last week and is struggling with getting some arrhythmias under control. 

 

Membership and Visitor Tally – Introduction of new members. We had 2 new members and 1 guest who introduced themselves.

As of noon today, our records show that we had 897 active members in 2015. That is up 31 members from our last meeting!   As of yesterday, we also have had 402 members join or pay their dues for 2016. Our visitors for the past month stand at 89, two more than last month, but I am sure we have NOT captured all the guest names because I can attest to the fact that we have had way more than an average of three a day!

 

Old Business –

 

Today the visiting Viet Nam War wall opened its “doors” to the public.  Mike helped man our boot today as did some generous member volunteers.  The veterans liked to stop and reminisce a bit. No one had picked up a pen with any thought of buying it.  If we do not sell the items that we thought we might, we will be well prepared for Colonial Days where folks come out in a “shopping” mood.  No matter whether we sell them now or not, very special thanks go to Frank Giaccone and Tom Miller for turning the pens and bottle stoppers and to Bill Alghren for enlisting Steve Yovan and Tom Ribaudo to oversee the erection of the wall.  Thanks to all who helped.

 

Annual Special Olympics Tree – Pam MacMann has graciously agreed to lead the Special Olympics Christmas tree decoration.  She has placed a box in the front office for placement of donated ornaments or any small items you can make.  We will need to move the completed tree to The Waterfront Inn on December 1.

 

Christmas Party – The Christmas Party date slowly, approaches.  Alice has located the raffle items and will begin to put them on display very soon.  This afternoon the doll house arrived.  It is the most beautiful one so far.  Stop by and see it.  Also stop by to see the bar-height table made from the redwood slab and matching stools of which I spoke last month.  The set is fabulous.  As I mentioned last month, we will be conducting a silent auction for this item and have decided that the minimum bid will be $500.  Before you gasp, take a look at it! 

 

BE ADVISED – ONLY 111 SEATS ARE LEFT FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

 

Colonial Days -

Card holders are being stored and pens being turned for the Colonial Days event.  Nancy has put together a postcard about the Club which we will use as a handout for people.

 

New Items

Parking for Non-Members - Some of you have observed and commented on the use of our parking lot by non-members, in particular, workers at the Bank.  To that end, we placed queries on their vehicles to obtain data as to the size of the problem and to offer a way to help them.  The responses that came back at first indicated that we were dealing with 4-5 individuals.  However, in our process of collecting data, some of them found alternative parking and it would appear that we are only dealing with one or two.  I have talked with the District and have promised them these data.  I believe that they will offer a space up the road a little for these folks.  Stay tuned!

 

New Planer – If you attempted to work at the Shop last Friday or Saturday, you found that we hadclosed for the day.  The closure was prompted by the safety concern for installing our new planer!  Yesterday instructions on how to use this new piece of equipment were started and John Herega will present those tonight!  John had a Power Point presentation showing the correct way to operate the new Planer.

 

2016 Slate - As our last meeting of the year approaches, we begin to look to the slate of officers and new directors who will be running for office for 2016.

 Tonight Anne Bell who headed the Nomination Committee is here to share the slate for next year and to instruct you as to how to nominate someone from the floor should you so desire.   The Slate of officers is as followes:

President – Jim Spallone      Vice President – Harm Borfitz

Treasure – Doug Parks          Secretary – Patty Porter

Four members are running to fill 3 slots on the Board:
Richard Bender, John Herega, Sandy Moraco and Conway Williams.

Anyone can nominate someone from the floor at the December meeting which will be held at the Christmas Party.  Anyone being nominated at that time will need to bring a short resume.  The voting will take place at the January General Meeting.  We need to have a minimum of 75 members present so everyone is encouraged to attend.

 

Special Treat! – A new Woodcraft store has opened in Casselberry, Florida.  They are working with us to provide all our members a 10% discount when we buy from them.  Bob Bell is providing them with a list of our membership and working out any issues!  Once we know that it’s a go, we will send an announcement out confirming it!

 

 

 

 

Department Reports –

IT – Paul Porter: Paul said his committee meets once a month. There has been some delay in putting into operation some new programs. Dick Hartley had a power presentation of the new touch screen login program at the shop. This program will also be set up to leave members a message, such as when the members have a class coming up or monitor duty etc.

 

Lumber – Steve Yovan/Kevin Vanscoy; Steve introduced Kevin and told the membership about the new woods in the shed that all members can purchase.

 

Certification, Monitor Training, and Mentoring –Dick Besler: Dick told of the large group who attended the Monitor training this past week. Monitors should be our first defense for any problems or situations on the floor.  There will be a new report form for the monitors soon. One of the major problems is the guard on the Delta saw.   All monitors need to know how to install the guard properly and how all of the new equipment is operated.

 

Certification:  Dick has 21 new members waiting for certification.  Dick calls the new member on the Mon. night before the class and he notifies them again several times.  The Mentoring program continues to grow and is working out great.

 

Office Administration - Anne Bell:  Anne reminded the members to try and not go to the front desk between the time of 11:45 and 12:15 each day.  That is the time of the changing of the guards and cash draws need to be counted and it is hard when they have to attend to your needs at that time. Please keep all receipts for classes. Anne thanks all those who help with the walk in quests when the front desk is busy.

 

Education – Bob Mathews:  Bob is always looking for new instructors. In January Bob and John will have a meeting of all of the instructors.  Everyone is encouraged to clean up after themselves.  Mid December the new class schedule will be out and classes will begin mid-January.

 

Shop Administration – Dave Adamovich: In Dave’s absents, John Herega thanked all those who helped on Friday and Saturday putting the new Planer together. John had a Power Point which he went through explaining the procedure of the new Planer.

 

Toys– Conway Williams/Ron Gammon: Conway reported that so far this year we have made 6,099 toys.  That is 2,291 more than this time last year.  A great many (1,000) have already been shipped to those in need.  There will be more shipped this week.  The total value is $75 short of $4,500.   

 

 

Safety/Turners –John Herega:  The Turners meeting will be held on Tuesday November 17th at the shop at 7pm.  Any McTier will be the guest demonstrator. All are welcome.

Safety:  There have been two more near accidents with the Delta table saw.  John explained again how to lock the guard back in place.  If you do not know how to place the guard on correctly please ask someone for help.

 

 

 

Break – 8:38 – 8:45

 

 REMEMBER THERE ARE SHIRTS AND HATS FOR SALE IN THE BACK!!!

 

Show and Tell: There were many beautiful things on display.

Pepper mills/cutting boards made by new members who have taken many classes.

Eagle Head carved by John Herega

Four small bowls of different wood and dys. Maple/ash/elm/ambrosia maple, these done by guest who may join the club.

A mini outty bowl by Steven Yovan

Flag box by Bill made of cherry

Cutting boards by Pam MacMann also a pepper mill and small plate to rest it on

Jewelry box in different woods and sizes by Richard Bender

Segmented bowl shown by Tom Miller

Large box with many drawers made of oak

 

50/50 Drawing: $20/ $20/ $20/ $13

 

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:07

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by Sandra Moraco, VWC Secratary