Club Meeting frequency

[Cliff Walsh]

I often wonder about the frequency of Club Meetings that various members enjoy at their clubs. Many times I see that a Club will meet, say, on the third Monday evening (or whatever). One club I am a member of meets every first & third Saturday morning, and every Monday afternoon. The other meets only once a month of an evening. How often does your Club meet?

 

[john lucas]

One club meets once a month and then has a Saturday hands on day. The other club just meets once a month.

 

[hockenbery]

Hi Cliff,

I did some work with the chapter reported data this past year. this list is from 6 Dec 2013 so we have a few more chapters than
350 chapters now. At least 2 are regional symposiums, 3 virtual this is just a count of how the chapters reported it.
Some slop in the data you will see things like 2rd(sic) Saturday is that 3rd or 2nd?.

two meetings is rare; I counted 4. Also some clubs have scheduled turning times that don't show here.

Meeting day count
1st Friday 1
1st Monday 6
1st or 2nd Saturday 1
1st Saturday 12
1st Sunday 3
1st Thursday 15
1st Tuesday 24
1st Wednesday 11
1st&3rd Saturday 1
2nd & 4th Monday 1
2nd & 4th Saturday 1
2nd & 4th Thursday 1
2nd Monday 5
2nd Saturday 38
2nd Sunday 6
2nd Thursday 28
2nd to last Sunday 1
2nd Tuesday 33
2nd Wednesday 13
2rd Saturday 1
3 times a year 1
3ird Tuesday 1
3rd Monday 3
3rd Saturday 25
3rd Sunday 6
3rd Thursday 26
3rd Tuesday 16
3rd Tuesday, 1
3rd Wednesday 9
4 yearly 1
4th Monday 3
4th Saturday 11
4th Sunday 1
4th Thursday 8
4th Tuesday 6
4th Wednesday 3
Annually 1
anually 1
bi-monthly 2
Last Monday 2
Last Saturday 1
Last Thursday 4
last Wednesday 3
meeting: websit: 1
Monthly 2
varies 7
Virtual 3

 

[Cliff Walsh]

Thanks, Hochenbery, for that very comprehensive list. From what I had read over time,, I suspected that meetings were only once or twice a month. I wonder how woodturning skill levels can be improved and good personal relationships can be formed if the opportunity to mix & talk is limited. Maybe I am missing something? If a member doesn't own a lathe, and has decided to postpone the purchase of one until he (or she) has had some experience with turning to decide whether it's something he wants to do, when can he obtain enough turning time to decide?

 

[hockenbery]

Thanks, Hochenbery, for that very comprehensive list. From what I had read over time,, I suspected that meetings were only once or twice a month. I wonder how woodturning skill levels can be improved and good personal relationships can be formed if the opportunity to mix & talk is limited. Maybe I am missing something? If a member doesn't own a lathe, and has decided to postpone the purchase of one until he (or she) has had some experience with turning to decide whether it's something he wants to do, when can he obtain enough turning time to decide?

Cliff,
The fasted way to improve woodturning skills is to take a quality 3-5 day class then practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.....

I am not sure how the once a month began. The whole AAW MEETS once a year at the Symposium. The chapters were started as a way for AAW members to meet more often. The work involved in setting up meetings, the availability of demonstrators, cost of meeting has to be balanced with the Medes of the members.

The clubs I have been closely associated with have classes, sawdust sessions, turning nights etc that are in addition to the club meetings. These are usually 3-4 times a years. One club has a small turning meeting once a month and the regular meeting with that starts with an open board meeting, short business meeting, wood auction and demonstration.

Some clubs have formal mentoring programs.

 

[Cliff Walsh]

Club Meting Frequency.

Thanks, Hockenbury for that info. The clubs in Australia have a committee that handles all the admin. stuff so that meetings are not bogged down by members who feel they must have that last word. If they want a voice, they join the committee. The meetings therefore are free to get on with the demonstration, or the hands-on activities. One Saturday morn. & every Monday afternoon is hands-on. One Saturday is for Demonstrators, etc. Some clubs have several hands-on days each week, or they can grab a coffee and just talk to each other. We are rather laid-back, but happy.🙂

 

[Bill Dalton]

Our club only meets once a month, 3rd Thursday of the month at the Fern Park Woodcraft, but we have a group that meets every Wednesday night that is very successful and brings in more new turners than any other recruiting program we've tried. The usual attendance at the weekly meeting ranges from 10 to 25, usually around 18, Danny has 8 lathes set up so there are plenty of opportunities to make chips fly.

 

[Cliff Walsh]

Those evening meetings would be important to people who are still working full-time. Many of the clubs here have evening meetings for that reason. We rely on the Saturdays, when 20 to 30 attend. We have about the same number on Mondays, too, out of a total membership of 58, including 3 women.