August Get Together

[drdave]

Update on August get together event

As many of you know when Shopsmith cut its operational staff back 10 days ago it left out the staff who actually ran the SSUSERS Forum Get Together Event (Ms Dixie). This "party" started out to be OUR party and Shopsmith graciously allowed us to host it at their facility. Over the past few years it became Dixie's event and the forum members stopped helping on committees and even showing up. If it is going to continue the process must change

Since Dixie's departure How To Video Online LLC (the firm who owns the www.onlineshopclass.com website) has worked with Shopsmtih to see the viability of continuing the event as planned. Today we decided to put the event off for this year.

There simply is not enough man power and time to properly organize this event for 2007.

As a replacement for it over the next 12 months or so Online Shop Class will be announcing a few regional get togethers so that you all can meet and visit and learn how to use tools. Once we have them running well it is more productive to look at scheduling a national meeting where all folks can join together.

For a national meeting to be productive we need a few hundred people (atleast 150) and from past numbers plus with the current prospect list we have far less then 1/3 of that. So we are forced to postpone the event until we can get the attendance up and have sufficient time to organize things for a great outcome. So to get things rolling for NEXT year we need to look at getting smaller regional meetings set up. We need a few volunteers from each part of the US (West Coast, Central, Southern, Northeastern, Southeastern etc..) to contact me so we can assemble a standardized way to have these events so that we can announce to ALL Shopsmith owners that these events are being held and to get them to join in.

There are hundreds of thousands of MK5 owners out there and only 5K "signed up" for the forums plus most of them don't even participate. We need to increase membership, increase participation and increase overall the support so that people look to the forum as a primary way to get help AND then to use that help to begin friendships that lead to long term support and sales for Shopsmith

How To Video LLC will be handling all of these events and I look forward to working with any of you who would like to get your region started. If we can generate interest on a regional level soon then next year in Dayton should be easy and quite large

Now lets get the word out and build this forum to 10K so we can make these events work out
For those of you who have tentative plans set to go to Dayton now is the time to alter your plans. Use that time to seek out other Shopsmith users and owners and get them involved with the forum so that we have enough people nationally to put on a great 2008 event

Dr D

[woodburner]

Hi Everyone & Dr. Dave,

I have been trying to put together a West-Coast Shopsmith Event/Picnic/BBQ/Get-Together, or whatever you want to call it, for a few years now. I have posted the idea at least four times a year since 2002, on this and other Shopsmith forums (including yours on Yahoo.com Dr. Dave), have talked to other Shopsmith owners at demo's and the Traveling Academy in Fresno, San Mateo (a few years back) and Bakersfield, and have gotten little response.

I don't know if people are just not interested in attending such an event, or the forums are not a good way of getting the word out about such an event. Everyone I talked to in person, and some members in the forums, have said it is a great idea:) , but when trying to plan it, the major problem that comes to light is everyone has a different idea of "when" it should be held. None of the times suggested coincide with anyone else's availability to attend.

I would still like to organize such an event, and by the numbers that have been attending the West-Coast Traveling Academies lately (yes, they are still in operation out here and frequently sell-out completely), you would think there wouldn't be a problem with finding fellow Shopsmith owners to attend. Again, the biggest problem I have found is when to schedule the event.

I reside in central California in a town called Visalia, three-to-four hours driving time away from all the major cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and only a half-hour from Sequoia National Park, a great day trip), so it would be the ideal central location to have an event. We have a lot of nice hotels and motels if accomodations are needed. And some really nice restaurants too. We are known as an artist and restaurant community.

I feel the best time to have the event here would be in early Spring or in the Fall (October would be best), as it is to wet and cold in the Winter, and way to HOT in the Summer (100+ degrees for 30 days or more). In my opinion, I would choose the Fall because it is still pleasant enough to have outdoor venues during the event (BBQ, etc.), and the cool Autumn air lends itself well to woodworking in general.

The main problem I see in your plan is that you are offering the idea of the corporation you own, and not Shopsmith, of running/owning the whole thing, and I would like to see that more as a sponsorship than it owning the events. It makes it seem that someone is trying to make a buck from these events, and that's not what they actually are about. At least that's not what my intention is when I came up with the idea a few years ago and still hoping to have an event. They are a gathering of fellow Shopsmith owners who want to spend some time together and maybe learn some new things about woodworking at the same time, and not a way to turn a profit.

Maybe if we will look at how the woodturning clubs/organizations that are throughout the country create the successful woodturning symposiums that are offered throughout the year, maybe we can learn something from them.

Maybe we can create the same type of network of clubs/organizations like the woodturners have. Instead of woodturners, it can be Shopsmith owners/users. A National Shopsmith Association can be created (like the American Association of Woodturners), and then local chapters can be formed throughout the country. The AAW (which I am a member) has thousands of members throughout the world. They hold an annual woodturning symposium every year in a different city (it's in Portland, OR, this year at the end of June (I'll be there)). Couldn't we use this as a model for a National Shopsmith event?, A National Shopsmith Association? Just an idea?

Everyone, please chime in and give your thoughts.

[dusty]

I would be very interested in an area get together for Shopsmith users/enthusiasts.

What keeps me from committing support to what I have heard being offered is the need to travel "long distance". If I could travel like that, I would be in Dayton for shop class there.

"National Associatation of Shopsmith Users, Southern Arizona Chapter". Now there is a thought.

There is a calling that I would seriously consider. Something like this would probably need some corporate sponsorship but I would bet that it would have as much enthusiastic participation as do the Traveling Academy sessions. A place for coffee and donuts, a little sawdust therapy and a lot of sharing.

Local Chapters could even be workshops where users could come to share with others their skills, their problems and their solutions. Teach others alignment techniques (and tricks), skillful use of jigs and fixtures, safety practices, sharpening, etc. This might even become the place where a woodworker goes to see and try out that Shopsmith (or accessory) that they have always wanted. This might even be where we all take delivery of our most recent Shopsmith purchases (bulk shipping might even be cheaper).

[woodburner]

The AAW (American Association of Woodturners) is their own intety with really no corporate help. The funds all come from membership fees to help make it run. They also create funds by sponsoring their annual national symposium.

The local chapters take care of themselves with chapter fees, raffles, etc. The AAW also offers cheap liability insurance to the chapters on the off chance someone gets hurt during a chapter meeting, among other helpful things.

I see this as a model for some type of national shopsmith organization. If there is enough interest, this could well become an actuality.

[drdave]

Since Scott seems to have all the solutions I think I will let his experience take the ball from here

Good luck with your new group venture

Dr D

[woodburner]

I guess I hit a cord with Dr. Dave. I never said I had all the solutions, just some ideas from past and current experiences.

As far as a corporation/company trying to take over and run the show (Dr. Dave's, or any other) I feel that it is the wrong way to go. Some of you might not think that, and if so, please post a response. I'm listening and open to suggestions. If Shopsmith can't do it at the present time, then no other corp. should either. Trying to horn in on the current troubles that Shopsmith is currently going through, and trying to make some money because of it, is just greedy and wrong. That's my opinion anyways. You can still offer your opinions here on this forum can't you?

The event I've been wanting to create here on the west coast is its own being. Any money collected for registration fees, etc. would ALL be put back into the event, whether for the BBQ, door prizes/raffle prizes purchased from Shopsmith, and so on. I will not make, nor have I ever wanted to make, a profit from putting together an event like this.

As far as a National Shopsmith Association, what's wrong with that. There are several national woodworking associations who have local chapters all over the country, and all over the world. Why, as Shopsmith owners/users, shouldn't we have one of our own. I think it has been a long time coming and I think, and feel, the time is right for such an organization. Having local chapters branching out from such an Association will benefit all those who join.

Having local chapters will enhance everyone's woodworking by being able to offer either monthly or every-other-month meetings and get-togethers, and keeping the travel distance down to a minimum. After joining the National Association, members can volunteer their efforts toward creating local chapters in their areas of the country.

Why a National Association and not just local associations? It will be a homebase of sorts. It will allow the opportunity to create a national database of members all over the country. It will also create a supportive structure with an elected committee to create the rules and by-laws an association of this type will require, which in-turn will help in the creation and structure of local chapters. It will also be able to offer support to all the local chapters by offering certain needs associated with having local chapters. A National Association will also allow the creation of a national Shopsmith Symposium that can be held annually in different cities across the country.

As said in an ealier posting, "National Association of Shopsmith Woodworkers, Southern Arizona Chapter", what a concept. How about a Central California chapter, a New York City chapter, a Kansas City and Seattle chapter. The possiblities are out there.

If Dr. Dave wants me to head this up, I say "why not?" I have more time on my hands than I know what to do with. Being a disabled veteran of our great country and not being able to work any longer, why not? If anyone else wants to help, please jump in, there's plenty of room in this here wagon.

If I hurt Dr. Daves' feelings (which I think I might have), sorry, and oh well. If someone has a good idea, or a great idea, you shouldn't keep it to yourself. This country was built on great ideas, and it's still going strong. Speak Up! We're Listening.

[drdave]

No cord here sir
If you think you can muster enough to pull off your program DO IT

I was looking to make it work not play with it

Today I pulled my people off the project so a volunteer workforce can put their time and efforts behind it and make it work

Good luck with the project and let me know where and when to attend

After reading a few posts here about me and what I do with Shopsmith and the support I have given to Shopsmith it is easier and better if I simply stay on the "main Shopsmith forum" which is actually who the event was for anyway (it never was intended to be anything other then a SSUSERS at Yahoo members party but it grew out from there)

I would LOVE to have someone take this over and make it work WITHOUT any "corporate cash or assistance" at best it was a labor of love from those of us COMMITTED to Shopsmith CORPORATION not just the tools it produces

QED
Dr D

[paulmcohen]

The AAW (American Association of Woodturners)... hold an annual wood turning symposium every year in a different city (it's in Portland, OR, this year at the end of June (I'll be there)). Couldn't we use this as a model for a National Shopsmith event?, A National Shopsmith Association? Just an idea?

Everyone, please chime in and give your thoughts.

The way other companies do this, is they hold users group aground events like the AAW or the other traveling Woodworkers shows.

I will be at the AAW and look forward to meet the people that make the Lathe Chisels I love.

The AAW sent out a mailing about 6 months ago looking for groups of people what wanted to meet during their meeting. I thought Shopsmith users would have been perfect but they got no takers from Shopsmith.