I've spent the better part of the morning reading, and then re-reading every ones responses and input. What I take from all of it......
* Meeting(s) need to be scheduled one year in advance, anything less equals an excuse not to come.
* The second highest response to this topic is from a person that has moved to JAPAN!(as of typing this response) And he gets nominated to be the President too.
* We need a structured 'club', with President, V.President, demo coordinator, treasurer, vendor coordinator, videographer, facebook coordinator, and a phone representative.(that's eight people.....)
I understand that everyone else is busy.....I do, really. I understand that everyone needs a schedule. The trouble with that is every wants 'their schedule', as seen in previous topics. (ie... someone "A" can only come on this day, someone else "B" can only come on a different day......and low-n-behold, the evening before the meeting 'person B' types a message saying 'something came up'----so all the shifting of the schedule by everyone else resulted in them not even coming, and person "A" didn't come either!)
Demos. As a small chapter, I don't think we can get 'featured demonstration type people'? I may be wrong, but if the three or four that generally attended were to chip in to pay the person coming, we might be able to come up with $30 and change.... So we are limited to 'member demos', I've volunteered for a few, as has Bob and some others, yes...even my wife Lyn did a casting demo. So those that want a detailed structure of events at a meeting, should stand up and say, "I'm going to do 'xxxx' demo for the fourth quarter meeting!"(and then do it)
Just a note: I have a 40hr/week 'real job', I typically spend at least 20-25hrs/week milling off-site logs, I spend about 45-60hrs/week to promote website or products in various locations around the web, filling orders, making product....and then I try to find time to sleep and do all the other daily chores. By coming to a meeting, I'll loose something like $750 by not running the sawmill....I'll do it though.
Vendors. Are there any vendors willing to pay to set-up at a meeting for 4 people? or less? I guess Bob and I are the 'vendors' at the meeting, but during the meetings the blanks we bring are sold at almost cost....I guess we could charge more for them and put the difference into a fund for the chapter? Not to mention the stuff we usually just give away.....
Video'ing. My only concern with offering a video of the demo at a meeting, there is no incentive to go to the meeting....especially if the demo is a 'paid demonstrator'. Or perhaps the video could be uploaded to the YouTube and a charge for viewing added to recoup cost?
Location. I have never minded hosting, although I am very limited on space in the shop(fancy name for my single car garage that is FULL). We were renting a place in downtown Little Rock, but there were only demos that were 'clean'...hard to turn something in a rented space and clean it perfectly(and it will usually fall on one person to become the cleaning crew at the end). And the place was NOT free, would all that are on the roster be willing to pay for each rental....even if they do not plan to attend?
I'm pretty sure, someone will take offense at things typed... Not what I intended at all. So I'll apologize for those reading.
Bob has already started another topic for people to try to come together and arrange a date to meet. Step forward, get involved....please.
Scott (meetings are supposed to be fun) B