j_b_fischer
Local Chapter Leader
Location: Victor's house - 2430 Girard, Warren, MI 48092 ... 586-563-0441 (This is a corrected location!)
Date: Sunday, July 27th
Time: 1:30 for the regular meeting (with a 1:00 Tutorial for beginners)
At the spring meeting I asked those who were there about ideas for boosting attendance ... things we (or I) should do differently to make sure we were maintaining the interest level. We purposefully concluded nothing because I wanted the discussion to take place here on the forum. This is the thread for that discussion. Please feel free to comment on any aspect of our meetings that you think could improve.
While I'm putting everything on the table for discussion, there are some things that will require high levels of convincing before we change them. For example, we've learned through experience that having a set schedule is very important. So, while we might discuss the schedule, we will continue to set a schedule a year at a time.
I'll start ...
Demonstrations are important and difficult. Important because they are (IMHO) the key item that will draw people to the meetings. Difficult because very few people express their opinions on what they want to see and learn about. Once I have a topic in mind, it isn't too hard to find someone to demonstrate. You've herd me plea for suggestions in the past; we need to figure out a way to identify and schedule demonstrations.
BTW, to actually demonstrate doesn't always mean we have to turn on a piece of equipment. Watch someone turn something square into something round can be a little boring. So its OK to prepare a number of partially completed project pieces and 'talk-through' the project steps.
I'll develop a list of topics, including topics we've covered in the past, and post them later in this thread.
Leadership of the group does not involve a lot of effort. But perhaps that is part of the problem (that I think there isn't much to it). Maybe others would like to have a more active role. For example, does anyone want to take charge of the raffle & trinkets? How about someone owning the demonstration topics and getting them scheduled? (Gee, sound like a leadership team.)
OK ... There's a start, lets discuss !
BTW, before we get started I want to make sure that you understand that I am not at all whining about my role in the local chapter. I'm only concerned that interest may be waning for some of you and we aren't reaching others that would benefit from our face-to-face pen (and wood working) information exchanges. The primary measurement of our success is attendance, so I'm trying to get attendance up to where I think it should be. I thank each of you for your support of the group; I hope to see all of you a the July meeting.
OK ... lets discuss...
Date: Sunday, July 27th
Time: 1:30 for the regular meeting (with a 1:00 Tutorial for beginners)
At the spring meeting I asked those who were there about ideas for boosting attendance ... things we (or I) should do differently to make sure we were maintaining the interest level. We purposefully concluded nothing because I wanted the discussion to take place here on the forum. This is the thread for that discussion. Please feel free to comment on any aspect of our meetings that you think could improve.
While I'm putting everything on the table for discussion, there are some things that will require high levels of convincing before we change them. For example, we've learned through experience that having a set schedule is very important. So, while we might discuss the schedule, we will continue to set a schedule a year at a time.
I'll start ...
Demonstrations are important and difficult. Important because they are (IMHO) the key item that will draw people to the meetings. Difficult because very few people express their opinions on what they want to see and learn about. Once I have a topic in mind, it isn't too hard to find someone to demonstrate. You've herd me plea for suggestions in the past; we need to figure out a way to identify and schedule demonstrations.
BTW, to actually demonstrate doesn't always mean we have to turn on a piece of equipment. Watch someone turn something square into something round can be a little boring. So its OK to prepare a number of partially completed project pieces and 'talk-through' the project steps.
I'll develop a list of topics, including topics we've covered in the past, and post them later in this thread.
Leadership of the group does not involve a lot of effort. But perhaps that is part of the problem (that I think there isn't much to it). Maybe others would like to have a more active role. For example, does anyone want to take charge of the raffle & trinkets? How about someone owning the demonstration topics and getting them scheduled? (Gee, sound like a leadership team.)
OK ... There's a start, lets discuss !
BTW, before we get started I want to make sure that you understand that I am not at all whining about my role in the local chapter. I'm only concerned that interest may be waning for some of you and we aren't reaching others that would benefit from our face-to-face pen (and wood working) information exchanges. The primary measurement of our success is attendance, so I'm trying to get attendance up to where I think it should be. I thank each of you for your support of the group; I hope to see all of you a the July meeting.
OK ... lets discuss...
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