The Villages Woodworker’s Club
March 10, 2015
Laurel Manor 7pm
President Mike Borfitz called the meeting to order at 7 01pm
The Pledge of Allegiance and s short silent time was honored by all members.
Six new members/guests introduced themselves.
It has been a very busy time these few months into the new year. In March we have 828 paid members. That is up 13 from last month, so our prediction of hitting 900 by year end is on track.
While the membership role keeps growing so do the visitors coming into the shop. In January we saw 195 visitors, February there were 226 and so far in March we have had 95. The wood shop continues to be a big draw for those deciding to move to The Villages. Because of the increase in membership and the fact that the seasonal members are here the parking becomes an issues. In the vein Mike would like all members who can to please use their golf carts as much as possible. In doing so, we can accommodate more members. Please try and park in such a way as to allow 4 carts to one space. Thanks for keeping this in mind.
To start the evening off, Mike thought it would be fun to see some of the bloopers that took place while some of the educational videos were being taped.
It Department:
The long term members may remember when we were pretty much a paper-run organization. There were many forms and the long process of paying your dues. It would appear that the computer is a mainstay and everything from joining to receiving automatically printed receipts is the way of life. We have been fortunate to have some knowledgeable members in the background who have given of their time to establish system, databases, and hardware to make us run as smoothly as we have. We have grown and now it is time to create, or resurrect the idea, that a permanent department for Informational Technology is important for the Club. As active members you should know what is going on. Ray Roberts has accepted the challenge of leading the effort to firmly establish this department, define its responsibilities and generate a plan of what we are and where we are headed. His committee is made up of the gurus who have gotten us to this point. They are; Anne Bell Dick Hartley, Ed Ott, Hans Zassenhaus and Steve Yovan.
What is your part in this? As beneficiaries and/or users of this system, we need to understand what works for you and what doesn’t. We will be meeting separately with all of the other department managers to sort through those questions. If you feel you have some pertinent insights, please step forward and share it with the committee. Also, if you have experience or just an interest in this area, please make it known. One of our biggest outages is the lack of back-up for these people. It does not take a person whose whole career has been in IT, it only takes a person willing to learn and share his/her time to keep us up and to speed. Please consider this plea.
Department Reports:
IT Department: Ray Roberts
Ray explained that there will be a 1st meeting together and then there will be a meeting with each department head to examine their individual needs. Ray would like to keep things as simple as possible. Good communicate is needed for it to all come together. Dick Hartley is doing an inventory of all of the data. Hans Zassenhaus is working on the website. If any member is receiving any kind of information from our computers please download the info on to a flash drive and take it home. Hans is also working on security and passwords. We need better back up and better descriptions on how it all works.
Certification and Monitor training: Dick Besler
Monitor training will be on the 18th and the 25th of March. Certification will be on Thursday the 19th 212st and 26th in March. The dates will be posted on the white board in the front office. There will be training in April for 11 people and by that time we will have caught up with those in rolled.
Dick along with John Herega and Jim Spallone, have set up a mentoring program for all of the new members. 51 members have agreed to offer their services toward helping new members understanding the basic workings of the shop, simple things like how to order wood, etc.
Office Administrator: Anne Bell
Anne thanked all of those who take the time to give tours and information to our visitors. There are many name tags on the board in the kitchen area that members have not picked up. By March 31, they will be taken down and put in a bucket. Members will have to fish for them. Anne also asked that members be aware that between 11:45 and 12:15 there is a shift change at the front desk. So if you need anything done up front can you please do it before or after the change.
Shop Administration: Dave Adamovich
Dave thanked Wayne for not putting any of Dave’s bloopers in the video. The maintenance team has built and three sided spraying booth that is hung on the outside back wall of the shop. It is easy to unfold and to refold when you are done. Please take your spray cans back in or take home. No power sprayers allowed. It is also recommended that you wear a face shield when spraying.
The table saw motor is being repaired but will take several weeks.
Toys: Conway Williams
The toy department has made a lot of progress, with a lot of good help in filling the short fall of toys from 2014. February showed 1,000 shipped. There are 1,060 in the wood shed. So far in March 277 toys have been completed.
Urns: Tom Miller
We are still in a holding pattern on making any more at this time. Tom explained the program to the new members.
Safety/Turners; John Herega
John reminded everyone that the shop at this time of the year is always so busy, so please be considerate and keep the areas clean. Keep the guard in place on the table saws. There are new signs on the side doors for all members. “Caution Do Not Enter”. The door can be used for loading your car but for all other time please use the front door.
Two of the signs in the front that are for Motorcycles will be covered during this busy season. Those spaces can be used for golf carts. One spot will be for the Motorcycles.
Special Projects:
There is a hold on excepting any new projects at this time. Alvin is working on making the card holders, which we can hardly keep in stock.
Break from 7:547 to 8:07
Show and tell:
Segmented vases by Skip Banks he use purple heart, ash, cherry, puduk, and the finish was CA glue
Clocks from different wood bases made by Tom Miller
Golf cart basket made by George Bennett
50/50 $20/ $20/ $10/ $9
Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm
Minutes respectfully submitted by Sandra Moarco, VWC Secretary