I recently learned that some turning clubs with only a few people were struggling during these unusual times since they cannot or will not have in-person meetings. Small clubs may not have the video equipment to do online demonstrations and they may not have the funds to hire an outside demonstrator. Woodturning has been very therapeutic for my PTSD and five years ago when I started turning I depended on my local club for mentoring and learned from each demonstration. When I heard of small clubs struggling to find content or even hearing of putting meetings on hold until things got back to normal I thought that there had to be a way to help them.
I came up with a proposal and submitted my idea of the Adopt a Club Program to my local club. I outlined how we could adopt the members of a smaller club and let them join our monthly online meetings, demonstrations and chat/mentoring sessions. There was no cost factor to our club nor to the adopted club. The only time needed was to add the email addresses to our address book. Knowing what the first question might be I volunteered to liaison between the two clubs. I felt that this was important enough not to wait until the next board meeting so we gathered online through emails and unanimously voted to approve the program.
Yesterday the Inland Northwest Woodturners adopted the 14 members of the Mendocino Woodturners Guild. We’re excited to have them join us with all of our online activities until they are able to have in-person meetings again. They in turn are very appreciative to have been extended this life line.
If you have a large club and know of a small club that might be struggling please consider adopting them. I’m happy to provide more information and answer any questions.
Damon
I came up with a proposal and submitted my idea of the Adopt a Club Program to my local club. I outlined how we could adopt the members of a smaller club and let them join our monthly online meetings, demonstrations and chat/mentoring sessions. There was no cost factor to our club nor to the adopted club. The only time needed was to add the email addresses to our address book. Knowing what the first question might be I volunteered to liaison between the two clubs. I felt that this was important enough not to wait until the next board meeting so we gathered online through emails and unanimously voted to approve the program.
Yesterday the Inland Northwest Woodturners adopted the 14 members of the Mendocino Woodturners Guild. We’re excited to have them join us with all of our online activities until they are able to have in-person meetings again. They in turn are very appreciative to have been extended this life line.
If you have a large club and know of a small club that might be struggling please consider adopting them. I’m happy to provide more information and answer any questions.
Damon