Our club in Cleveland Ohio meets at a local woodworkink supply store and we were notifed today that it is closing in one month.. What types of locations are your clubs meeting at? Also do you have any suggestions as to where we might relocate?
-
January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details) -
Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Gabriel Hoff for "Spalted Beech Round Bottom Box" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 6, 2024 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
Need new club location --- help!!!
- Thread starter rmuniak
- Start date
One of my clubs meets at a local Woodcraft Store (tight space, but the price is right (free)). The other club I belong to meets at a nature center at a County Park (really really nice facility and no charge).
Other options you might consider:
Members shop.
Another woodworking related store with available space. (You could even try HD / Lowes)
Local schools.
Local parks department may have space somewhere.
Call your city / county government and ask about community meeting space.
Call local arboreteums / public gardens and ask about space.
Call local museums and ask about space available for local artists / art groups.
How about a local scout camp (maybe trade space for turning demos / training).
It's generally possible to find space in an urban area, the trick is to find free (or low cost) space. That's like winning the lotto.
Ed
Other options you might consider:
Members shop.
Another woodworking related store with available space. (You could even try HD / Lowes)
Local schools.
Local parks department may have space somewhere.
Call your city / county government and ask about community meeting space.
Call local arboreteums / public gardens and ask about space.
Call local museums and ask about space available for local artists / art groups.
How about a local scout camp (maybe trade space for turning demos / training).
It's generally possible to find space in an urban area, the trick is to find free (or low cost) space. That's like winning the lotto.
Ed
Meeting Space
Our club meets in an Employee Association Building. In our case is the Boeing/Spirit Employees. There is a charge.
Look at your large employers in the area.
John🙂
Our club meets in an Employee Association Building. In our case is the Boeing/Spirit Employees. There is a charge.
Look at your large employers in the area.
John🙂
Thanks guys you've been very helpfull
Besides the meeting place, we also need a secure storage space for the Oneway 2436, several club lathes with accessories and library materials.
We have more than 100 members, usually we have around 70 people attending the meetings.
Those factors add to the difficulty in finding an affordable meeting place fast.
We have more than 100 members, usually we have around 70 people attending the meetings.
Those factors add to the difficulty in finding an affordable meeting place fast.
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
We are currently running into the same sort of situation. Both clubs I belong to have outgrown the members house meeting places we are currently using. We've been looking around in our small towns and have had a real difficulty finding anything. All of the places that are free have problems such as no heat, or no air, or you can't actually turn anything that makes a mess or you have to bring everything,chairs, lathe, etc, and then remove it when you leave.
The other side is everyplace we find that might meet the bill is charging way too much money. We're still looking of course. I'm going to talk to the School principal about meeting in the shop. We tried that once at another school and everytime they closed the school for summer or snow, holiday, etc we couldn't meet. I went through the wood instructor that time. This time I'm going to see if I can deal with the principal who might allow us to have a key.
The other big club I'm a member of has moved 4 times over the years. A cabinet shop, worked well but was crowded and noisy during the summer because we had to run fans, A church, worked very well, except we had to put down a 30' plastic tarp and move all the chairs twice. A university, great place to meet but parking was a nightmare. The woodshop of a church school. That was OK but the noise was still a problem. The current meeting place is a gym at the same church schoool. Excellent facility but we do have to remove the lathe. We bought a trailer and load everything in there and one of the members takes it home each meeting.
So as you can tell it can be a challenge to find a perfect place. some clubs are lucky enough to have a member with a large shop. Woodcraft has been incredible about allowing clubs to meet there. I've demo'd at 4 different woodcraft/club locations. They deserve our thanks.
The other side is everyplace we find that might meet the bill is charging way too much money. We're still looking of course. I'm going to talk to the School principal about meeting in the shop. We tried that once at another school and everytime they closed the school for summer or snow, holiday, etc we couldn't meet. I went through the wood instructor that time. This time I'm going to see if I can deal with the principal who might allow us to have a key.
The other big club I'm a member of has moved 4 times over the years. A cabinet shop, worked well but was crowded and noisy during the summer because we had to run fans, A church, worked very well, except we had to put down a 30' plastic tarp and move all the chairs twice. A university, great place to meet but parking was a nightmare. The woodshop of a church school. That was OK but the noise was still a problem. The current meeting place is a gym at the same church schoool. Excellent facility but we do have to remove the lathe. We bought a trailer and load everything in there and one of the members takes it home each meeting.
So as you can tell it can be a challenge to find a perfect place. some clubs are lucky enough to have a member with a large shop. Woodcraft has been incredible about allowing clubs to meet there. I've demo'd at 4 different woodcraft/club locations. They deserve our thanks.
One of our other Club is lucky enough to use the facility of the YMCA Camp. They even provide us with a storage room which we have access anytime, adding 220 Volt and additional 110 V outlets for us. We provide turning workshop for their summer camp. We maintain a very good relationship with them. I really enjoy volunteering in them.
http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=5058
Unfortunately, our local Woodcraft store doesn't have a large enough shop to accommodate meeting of our size.
http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=5058
Unfortunately, our local Woodcraft store doesn't have a large enough shop to accommodate meeting of our size.
Like John's club, the Woodturners of Olympia (WA) has to pack up the lathe after every meeting (one of the reasons we choose on that is fairly portable, but still has a 16" swing.) We meet at one of the buildings at the county fair grounds (except in July, when the fair is running.)
We usually have between 50 and 70 people attending, and there are a couple of buildings that we can use (depending on the program for the meeting.)
When we have turn & learn sessions (a couple of times a year,) that are usually an all day event (Saturday) we have worked with the VFW to use their building which can handle about 130 people.
We run a wood raffle every meeting (members donate the wood) and sell tickets for $1 ea. Most everyone buy tickets at the meeting, and the money collected more than pays the rent.
😀
If you club size is very large, this may not be an option.
We usually have between 50 and 70 people attending, and there are a couple of buildings that we can use (depending on the program for the meeting.)
When we have turn & learn sessions (a couple of times a year,) that are usually an all day event (Saturday) we have worked with the VFW to use their building which can handle about 130 people.
We run a wood raffle every meeting (members donate the wood) and sell tickets for $1 ea. Most everyone buy tickets at the meeting, and the money collected more than pays the rent.
😀
If you club size is very large, this may not be an option.
We meet at the Carpenters Local 44 Hall
We have several members who are members of the carpenters also.
We have plenty of room and no one is waiting for us to leave the store so the store can close.
Jerry Rhoads
Flatland Woodturners
We have several members who are members of the carpenters also.
We have plenty of room and no one is waiting for us to leave the store so the store can close.
Jerry Rhoads
Flatland Woodturners
Our Golden Horseshoe Woodturners Guild (about 100 at meetings and 50-60 at hands-on) has been meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Burlington, Ontario for six years. Prior to that over ten years we had met in Community Center rooms, High Schools etc. They have even built us a locked closet so we can secure our General 260, three Jet minis and all other turning "stuff". We cleanup after ourselves and it is a great relationship. We even have a key to let ourselves in! It is a tile floor so we don't have to worry about carpet and wood chips etc. They can count on the about $250 monthly income (for two evenings) and we have a room full of happy members and volunteers.
Our club currently meets at Woodcraft.
I asked the same question about 2 years ago. Check here for the responses I received: http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=2919
I asked the same question about 2 years ago. Check here for the responses I received: http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=2919
Don't forget to check out the local "Senior Center".
I think the storage is going to be a real problem though with most places. Nice for your club to have a Oneway 2436 though.
Hugh
I think the storage is going to be a real problem though with most places. Nice for your club to have a Oneway 2436 though.
Hugh
I've taught high school shop for 25 years now. When the local turning club "WNCWT" approached me two years ago about holding their meeting's in my school shop I took them up on their offer. One of the best things I've done in my years teaching. They along with a communtiy org. put a new 3520B in our shop last year. My students get to use it and two smaller lathes the club aready had, plus chucks and tools that we wouldn't have, without the support of the local club. With the two old rockwell lathes that where in our shop we now have 5 lathes for my students to use. What makes this really special is that there are olnly 90 students in our small high school. At a local Art show for high school work, two of my students have won best in show last two years with their turnings. We just had John Jordan for a day long demo few weeks back. Working with the local club has been great for my students and our community. If any of your clubs can work a deal out with a local school shop it can have great influence on the next generation of turners.
Good Luck,
Jack Mincey
Good Luck,
Jack Mincey
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2005
- Messages
- 13,038
- Likes
- 5,480
- Location
- Dalworthington Gardens, TX
- Website
- pbase.com
Our club, Woodturners of North Texas meets at a community center that has a very nice spacious room that easily accommodates our needs. Some of our equipment stays at the community center, but we have a trailer for the lathe and other bulky things. The cost for the facility is very small.
Loacal Meeting Place
Our club meets at a high school. The club helps with instruction on turning and we get a meeting place. I brought this to the attention of my cousin from another county. He went to his local high school and they were delighted to let a club use their woodshop. Great for demos and how to's. You may have to have an insurance rider for the school but that is easily attained. We do get new members from the classes. Also, try a community college. The club teaches woodturning for a night class and we are allowed to use the school.
Our club meets at a high school. The club helps with instruction on turning and we get a meeting place. I brought this to the attention of my cousin from another county. He went to his local high school and they were delighted to let a club use their woodshop. Great for demos and how to's. You may have to have an insurance rider for the school but that is easily attained. We do get new members from the classes. Also, try a community college. The club teaches woodturning for a night class and we are allowed to use the school.