Just Wondering---

[Dirk Hoogendoorn]

I was wondering just how other guilds do their fund raising? In the Grey Bruce Guild on the shores of Lake Huron we just finished a week school of basic wood turning in co-operation with the South Hampton Arts School. It was set up that we would run a class for the adults in the morning and kids in the afternoon. A one on one instruction with a demo of the day's project to start. 2 students to a lathe one turn one watch and the instructor at each lathe. We had 5 lathes there. It was very successful with lots of great comments and we raised a real good amount for the guild kitty.

 

[John Torchick]

Our chapter has a wood raffle at each meeting. Members donate wood and tickets are $1 each. Wood pieces are numbered, tickets are drawn and the ticketholder gets the appropriately numbered wood.
Another fundraiser would be a game- jacks or better to open.

 

[Dirk Hoogendoorn]

Thanks for the response John. It looks rather like no one wants to talk about what they do at their club, or no one belongs to a woodturning club.

 

[Charlie Knighton]

we took the summer off, but expect to meet in september, may show a video

 

[Patrick Miller]

Fund raising

Our members turn smalls and donate them to the club. We sell them each November at a large one day craft bazaar catching the holiday shopping crowd. Helps keep us in the black.

 

[Dirk Hoogendoorn]

That is a neat idea, gives a great occasion for the public to see the quality of work done in the club. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Col Smith]

Our club http://www.mandurahwoodturners.com/ hold BBQ's & Sausage Sizzles at the entrance of a local major hardware store.

These we hold 3 or 4 times per year & depending on the weather they are a very good fund-raiser.

HTH
Col

 

[bernie]

wood raffles

Several of the clubs I belong to do simpler(?) wood raffles.

Members put their names on a dollar bill which goes into a bucket (or bowl). Names that are drawn get to pick which chunk of wood they win based on the order in which their name is drawn.

A variation is to have a bag for each specific chunk of wood - members drop their named bills into the bag for the specific wood they hope to win - winner gets the wood they wanted - club gets all the $$.

Another variation is to add $10 gift certificates from places like Craft Supplies into the wood raffle - winner either picks a certificate or a chunk of wood.

Yet another variation is to auction off each chunk of wood separately.
Bernie

 

[Dirk Hoogendoorn]

Are any of your clubs involved in community work as a club? The art school pays us to do the teaching and we volunteer for the club so this brings in over $1,200 for the club for 1 week of teaching. We also do the wood raffles in the club and that raises about $500. for the club.

 

[R Henrickson]

For fund raising the last several years we have partnered with the state arboretum here in town. Each year we get wood from one or more trees they have had to cut. Pieces of various sizes are available in November/December at meetings. Members then have several months to turn whatever they choose from the wood. In May all the turnings are brought to the monthly meeting for discussion, evaluation, and pricing. They are then displayed for a month (June-July) at the Arboretum in a silent auction; a reception and demo is held one Saturday. If the posted price is bid, the item is sold; otherwise items go for the highest bid at the end of the display. Proceeds are split half and half between the club and the Arboretum. This year there were almost 50 pieces, turned from cherry and walnut. Last year all pieces were cherry, and our share was roughly $1500.

 

[KellyDunn]

We collect dues once a year. $20. Pays for coffee and donuts. When we really need money we maybe bring a pile of wood and ask members to make something that we will put in a gallery. Gallery takes less of a cut than normal and sends us a check when a work sells. Gallery says they are helping the local turners club raise money. We have done xmas ornaments a couple times. We did calabash bowls a couple times. Some of those sold for hundreds so when one sells its a nice check for the kitty.
Most clubs are all about education. Breaking even is good on a demo. If we come up short we dont sweat. the members are great at donating a piece of work for the cause. We do tend to bring the wood to our members though. Which means a member donated the wood also.

 

[Hal Taylor]

Dirk, most of our donations come from members donating wood. Other members then buy blanks/logs for $1 or $2 which goes toward projects etc. When a prized piece comes in like some burl, the price goes up. Over time it adds up.
I'm glad you asked the question. I now have other ideas for the club.

 

[Dirk Hoogendoorn]

Thanks for the response. We do a wood raffle with 1 ticket $2 and 3 for $5. What is the most impressive though is the involvement in the community events and that is how we also attract new members. I am not aware of how or where other clubs meet, but we have the use of a large 2 bay old firehall and have 2 large lathes set up there along with 4 midi lathes that we use for the community demonstrations. Out of the basic wood turning class we also get lots of interest in the club and the one we run for the kids, this year we had one teen that this was his third year back for the course. For us this is a great way to promote the Grey Bruce Woodturners Guild and goodwill in the surrounding communities as an active part of community life.
Attached is a picture of one of the students along with the guild volunteer turning teachers

 

[Jack Savona]

Ashamed at our treasury $$$

Here at the Southern Maine Woodturners we have a $20 annual membership fee. With over 120 members, that adds significantly to our treasury. We meet at our local Rockler (sometimes with 60-90 people) once a month. Our local Rockler continually supports us by giving our Club items for our monthly raffle...gift cards ($1 for each member purchase that previous month) as well as several items from their inventory. Occasionally, members will bring in wood for the raffle. Our monthly raffle ($5 for six tickets) brings in quite a few dollars. I don't think anyone buys just one ticket.

Our supportive Rockler Manager, Molly Petit, is part of each meeting. She announces special promotions and reminds us there's a 10% discount for all members for any non-power items they buy (smart business move); she also provides a OneWay lathe and physical space and chairs for us to have our monthly meeting. She and her exceptional staff are incredible!! Her support for the Club, especially for our "Empty Bowls Project" each fall, helps net $1500 for the statewide Good Shepherd Food Bank. (Shout out to you, Molly, your "baby-to-be", and your experienced and wicked-friendly staff.)

Even after Alan Lacer spends a full day with us on Sept.14th, our club treasury will be ........well.....I'm embarassed to say. Ask our Treasurer how much moolah we have. It is very significant for a club that is less than five years old.

Our ol' duffers (self included) are willing to shell out a few bucks for their fav'rite hobby,... sumfin' they love. Ayuh.

We may be 'n Maine, but we gotta a 'ceptional club that also promotes AAW membership.

BTW: another club in the Woodcraft store in Portsmouth, NH, gives us space to hold our meeting, a lathe to use, and a 10% discount for non-power items.
Haven't been able to get there in several months, but I think their 20+ attendees are going to start a $20 annual dues. It's a fledgling ten-year old, informal group, but under pro-active leadership. it may take off.