Local Woodworking Club visit

[Gilrock]

So I was trying to find a local club to join so I could learn from others. What was real confusing is I found 2 websites that look almost exactly the same except one meets on the first saturday of the month and the other meets the second saturday. It turned out one is a woodworker's club and the other is a woodturner's club but they meet at the same location and have a lot of common members. I'm interested in both because I like to make all sorts of things but not sure I wanted to pay dues to two different clubs. The one I attended happened to be the woodworker's club.

Anyways as soon as I walked in the room I realized being 45 might not meet the minimum age requirement...I felt out of place. I spoke with a guy standing at the front who looked like he was in charge and was telling him about some of the things I've made and projects I'm working on. Well one of the projects I'm doing is a wooden clock from a Clayton Boyer design. So 3 minutes after meeting the president of the club he's asking me for a copy of the plans. I said "I had to pay for these plans." He said..."I know. That's why I wanted a copy...I hate when people charge for plans." I said "I'm sorry but I just don't feel right giving out copies of copyrighted material." So I walked off feeling uneasy like I'm a bad guy for not sharing the plans I paid for.

 

[The Penguin]

I feel the same way at my local woodturning club...at 40, I feel like I'm the junior member. I rarely see anyone at a meeting that is younger than me.

and I understand what you are saying about not sharing the plans.

 

[IPD_Mr]

Gil you did the right thing, both in saying no and in walking out. That is not the type of person that should head a club. I am quite sure that if he had put the time and effort into making plans, printing and marketing them and someone wanted a free copy in the mannor that he did he would be upset. Professionally produced plans are not cheap to produce.