Shopsmith Weekend?

[ryanbp01]

I was reading a related thread and I would like to address the following question to the moderator(s) of this forum: are there any plans to have another Shopsmith Owners weekend this year? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

BPR

[dcottrill]

It would be nice to have some advance notice if you are going to have a ShopSmith weekend.

[mickyd]

I was reading a related thread and I would like to address the following question to the moderator(s) of this forum: are there any plans to have another Shopsmith Owners weekend this year? Thanks for taking the time to read this.

BPR

BPR - You may get a response quicker if you send PM directly to admin. You find that from the main ShopSmith forum page, directly under the forum heading in a red band where it says "View Forum Leaders". They many not be reading every thread.

[woodburner]

I doubt they will have another Shopsmith picnic for a while. Those who planned it and ran the whole show are no longer with the company. They were part of the work force Shopsmith laid-off.

With as little employees they have now, I doubt they have the time and man-power to take on such an event. It takes a lot of time to plan and carry out.

I've always wanted to have an owner-driven event on the west coast, but it seems there has not been enough interest to go ahead and make it happen. Only about three owners responded saying they will like to attend. That might be different now that Shopsmith is no longer doing theirs.

If anyone is interested in having a Shopsmith event/picnic/weekend on the west coast (strictly owner/user sponsored), let me know. Maybe there is a chance we can get the ball rolling again.

[etc92guy]

I'm for it. How about regional events across the country?

[Ron309753]

I asked this question in January and got no responses:

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=2797

Ron309753

[Gene Howe]

[QUOTE=
If anyone is interested in having a Shopsmith event/picnic/weekend on the west coast (strictly owner/user sponsored), let me know. Maybe there is a chance we can get the ball rolling again.[/QUOTE]

I'm in AZ and I'd be interested in a western US get together. CA, AZ, NM, CO, UT, NV.....or ??.

[woodburner]

Hi Ron,

I checked out your posting and saw what might be the reason why no one responded. You said "I have no facility to host the event." And; "I know someone who 'might' let us use his shop." That's a killer right there. That's like saying "I have this great idea, but I want you and you and you to do it and make it happen." I hate to be downer, but that just doesn't work.

I'm a member of a couple of woodworking clubs in my area and at least once at every meeting someone suggests some type of get-together outside of the regular club meetings, but at the same time that member can't/won't step up any further to help with the planning or location.

They want the same members who always volunteer to do this work for the club to step up and do it for them, again. You know the ones. It's the same small group of members who always volunteer to help plan and carry out the event, and then are there at the end of the event cleaning up while everyone else walks out the door. I know this because I'm one of those crazy members who always volunteers. Well, that pretty much kills the idea every time. You have to realize that for those volunteers, the event isn't all fun and games, but is work. When you watch everyone leave and you're there picking up the trash they left behind, it's work.

Now, if the member who came up with the idea is willing to step up and work, and work hard, in helping create and run the event, then it usually works out great. But if all you are doing is offering an idea and letting others do the hard stuff, then it just won't fly.

I'm not saying you won't help out or its a bad idea. But when you offer this kind of an idea you need to go the extra mile beyond just the suggestion of the idea.

Myself, if I can get some type of event planned, I will open my own shop for the event for Shopsmith/woodworking demos and even have a BBQ (I love to BBQ), but then I will need to charge something, and decide if it will be a one or two day event, etc. I will need to decide what time of the year to have the event. Will others like to demo, or will it be strictly myself? What's the limit to how many can attend? (I will need to limit the guest list to 25-30 if it's held at my shop). If I get a large response can I move the event to another location such as a park or event center? If so, what will that cost? And the big question; "How much to charge those who attend?" It costs money to put on an event like this and I, nor anyone else I know, can afford to do it for free. I will also need to find other owners close by who will like to help out with the planning and at the actual event.

You see, there is lot to putting together an event like this, and I've just scratched the surface with what is required. It's a good suggestion, but a suggestion like this needs some meat behind it. Otherwise, you won't get any responses to it.

I've helped with planning my woodworking club's annual picnics and events and we usually start at least six months or so in advance, and we still hope we got it right when the time comes, and didn't forget anything.

Planning an event like this, even for 30 people, takes a lot time and preperation. You can't say "lets do it this weekend" and think you can make it happen and be successful two days later. If its just local friends getting together for some shop time and a BBQ, that's fine. But if you have people coming in from all over the country, there's a bit more planning involved.