April 2013 Meeting Highlights

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The April 2013 Guild meeting was well attended. Thanks to the 100 or so members who have paid their annual dues and are now in good standing. Again this month, we had outstanding participation in the “Show and Tell” portion of our agenda. Box making aficionado, Jim McCord, won the drawing for those who participate in Show and Tell. Jim regularly displays his beautifully designed and constructed wooden boxes and this month was no exception. Several members have taken Jim up on his invitation to visit his shop for demonstrations of his box making techniques. Thanks Jim for your good humor and willingness to share!

Our feature speaker this month was guild member, Dr. Dale Chapman, who addressed work shop safety and injuries. He shared his proactive thoughts regarding emergency supplies to have on-hand and recommended first aid procedures for cleaning and care of lacerations. In addition, we would be well served if we took the good doctor’s advice regarding the prevention of those injuries that could affect our hearing, touch, smell, and especially vision. I’ve personally had only one bonehead accident requiring stitches caused by the misuse of a wood chisel. But if you’ve ever had a near miss, like most of us have, a near miss should be treated the same as an accident so that we can learn from it. Those sitting around me agreed that injures they’ve sustain could have all been avoided. Injuries, to an otherwise cautious and experienced craftsman, are normally caused by fatigue or a momentary loss of good judgment. Dr. Dale showed X-rays of some horrific amputations and provided us medical advice on how to possibly survive such an injury with the use of a tourniquet. He stressed that a tourniquet should be used only in a life and death situation.

Thank again to Dr. Chapman!

Next month’s meeting will feature the Annual Breakout Demo Sessions with 3-4 members demonstrating various woodworking techniques and Steven Todd will assist those who have not visted this website. Please contact Roy Wall if you would like to do a breakout demo. Personally, I wish we had so many members willing to do a 10-20 minute demo that this type of meeting would demand semi-annual breakout sessions. We need more members who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and get involved so that our guild can be an inspiration to the sages of the guild, as well as those begining their journey in the art of woodworking!

Respectfully,

Jay S. Helland

Thoughts to Live By
The poet William Arthur Ward said: “I will do more than belong – I will participate. I will do more than care – I will help. I will do more than believe – I will practice. I will do more than be fair – I will be kind. I will do more than forgive – I will forget. I will do more than dream – I will work. I will do more than teach – I will inspire. I will do more than learn – I will enrich. I will do more than give – I will serve. I will do more than live – I will grow. I will do more than suffer – I will triumph.”