MPG was fantastic!

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ZanderPommo

ZanderPommo

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
1,537
Location
Tenino, Washington
Thank you to Rich Coers and all others associated with running this awesome event once again. I had a great time, met some great people, and had way too much stuff just given to me for free!! :mad::rolleyes::biggrin:

Once again it was a great day, I'm very much already looking forward to next year.
 
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Me too. Big props to Rich Coers for organizing the whole thing and I thought it came off very well. Really impressed with the demos and picked up some neat tips which I'm sure will really help.

Zander gave a great demo on his ca finish. I think I'm gonna give his methods a try as I sure loved the results. Very nice looking pens.

Great tips from Gerry Wilhite on marketing your wares as well as drilling antler blanks. Loved that one!

Had a great day, my only bummer was I was 1 number away from winning one of the Woodchuck Pen Pros! Aaaaargh! At least it was won by one of the folks with me.

Thanks to all involved for a real fun and informative day.
 
Hey ZP!! For what it is worth, I thought you did a great job with your presentation!!!!! And kudos to Rich for getting the job done and putting another MPG into the history books!!

Sleep well tonight my friend!
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It was great to attend this years MPG. The demos were great and the company was even better. Rich did a great job organizing the gathering. I came home with some nice blanks and some new ideas. It was nice to put a face with some names and hang out with people like Rich, Ed, Dawn, Gary, Freddie, Eric, Gerry and many others. Thanks for the wonderful day!
 
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Wish I could have made it... Sigh - maybe next year... But hey I did get a little time in the shop at least (ok.. that didn't make me feel as good as I thought).

Did anyone get pictures?
 
Great job Rich, the demos were (as always) very informative. I brought home more blanks than I have time to turn. It was very nice to finally meet, and put a face to, other members of the forum. Thanks to Rich and all that helped him host another great gathering.
 
Thanks guys. I was really happy with the way it went as well. I asked Greg about loosing sleep wondering what the attendance would be in his years, and he confirmed that it is pretty stressful. So really, the success of this gathering is EVERYONE! I tried to keep count of people, and I think we went over 50 in attendance. So thanks to everyone that came today. With the higher gas prices, it may not have been cheap to get there. But with the all free to everyone, you can't beat this deal. Speaking of gas, it was nice of Champaign to have the lowest price gas on my trip, and they lowered the price 3 cents today for my fill up home. It's $3.98 in Peoria, I paid $3.79 in Champaign.
Special thanks to all the demonstrators;
Ed, for his incredibly informative primer on turning that weird Petro Chemical alternative to real wood pens.
Gerry for his great marketing presentation in the morning, then inlay and antler work in the afternoon. Thanks for the double duty! His marketing belief that we are selling gifts and not pens is right on the mark in my eyes.
Alex for a great review on CA finishing. He said he was nervous for his first demo, but I see great things in his future.
Alice for providing Corian inspiration. She tried a technically difficult pen, but had a little trouble. She may think her very informative demo was overshadowed by the difficulty, but we all know better. We all learn from each demo we give, even the most seasoned learn each time up. Alice, your fantastic pens tell the story of your skill. Don't fuss about the hiccup.
We raised $91 on the "guess the blank quantity contest". The Union Hall refused any donation, so it will be going to The Children's Home in Peoria. They are the annual charity recipient for The Central IL Woodturners, my home AAW Chapter. 138 blanks for a $2 donation guess.
We also had enough door prizes that everyone in attendance got something, and a few went home with two items. I didn't write down the pen contest winners, first year oversight. It was fun to break the tie for first with the flip of a coin. Rich B, keep that Grandson, he's a good luck charm! Thanks to Greg for bags of blanks and plaques to the winners.
So if you didn't show up, maybe you will take the hint for next year. You really missed out if you decided not to come. Thanks again everyone!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Rich, you hit the nail on the head. No matter the amount of preparation put into the MPG, it is the attendees that make this event what it has become. Thanks to all who attend, gave demonstrations, and helped in any way they could. My hat is off to you all. The stress for me wasn't so much in wondering about the turn out (if ya build it they will come, eh?!!!), but more so for me it was in wondering if I did enough to make the event a success in making sure everyone goes home having learned something new that would help them to become a better craftsman. Thanks again for taking the reins this year!!! My hat is off to ya!!!
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Enjoyed being at the meeting. Took eight hours to get there but the people made it worth the trip. Had a great time visiting with Ed, Dawn, JohnU, CaptG, Gerry and others. Rich did a great job of putting it together and keeping it moving. Well done.
 
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I went home really feeling great after a fantastic time with all of you. I have to thank Rich for a great job organizing. It really felt great having my son Eric (Buzzzz4) and my only grandson with me this year. Thanks to everyone for the demos I picked up a lot of ideas from everyone of them. Ed and Dawn, now I know who I am talking to on the net, not only you two but everyone else. It was the best time being there. I hope everyone had a safe trip home, we did. RichB
 
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My first time and I had a great time. I too missed out on the woodchuck by one number. It was great to put some faces on the names inside my computer. My orginal plan was to ride the motorcycle to save on gas but glad I took the truck. A couple of degrees cooler and it would have been snow and not rain outside. looking forward to next year.
 
I'm sorry I missed it again this year.... we had talked about coming up... the wife is from C-U and we have all our grandchildren there, but we had some health problems and my step son is home for two weeks on medical leave from is job, so it didn't work out... I was at the very first meeting and had a blast... hopefully we can make next year.
 
Sorry I didn't make it , it sounds like it was a great gathering, I sure plan on making it next time, Lord willing and no one is having any medical garbage.
 
Just to add my kudos. Rich, you did a great job. I want to say that I learned something from every demo presented. You can research, read, practice all you want but its always great to see firsthand how someone else does it.

And, certainly it is nice to put faces to names, gives a little more familiar feel on the forums. My wife came along this year and although she's not a turner she knows enough that she enjoyed herself. She mentioned it was nice to see so many ladies in attendance.

Again, Thank You EVERYONE, it was a genuine pleasure. Looking forward to the next one!

Carl
 
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Just wanted to mention a couple more things. Ken, EVERYBODY was on the edge of their seats when I was drawing numbers for your tools. I believe I saw some drool marks on the packaging. Hope you get two emails from those lucky so and soes that won them. LOL!!!! I even asked for a consensus of the crowd to make sure it was okay for me to get a door prize ticket. Dern it, I didn't win. Thanks for the generous donation.

John U, I have always been impressed with the pics of your feather blanks, but in person they are absolutely gorgeous! I bought two, and thanks for that freebie!!!! Now I have to buy some higher end Sierra kits to do them justice. You guys know John? He surprised most of us because of his younger age. He didn't meet the demographic of the typical turner, you know, white hair (what there is of it), facial hair, and a gut. Definitely give his work some consideration if you need something special!

Also special thanks to Ed and Dawn for their generous donations for door prizes, and to Gerry for his generosity at the door prize table as well. Well, thanks to everyone that set something on the door prize table. I thought about keeping door prizes to a smaller quantity this year, but before I knew it, the table was almost full. You were all very generous.

Sorry about going on and on, but I am so relieved that it went off so well. It's either that relief, or finally catching a good nights sleep last night. HA, HA!
 
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It sounds like a great event, I had planned to go, but had to work at the last moment.....
I'm glad it was a great success and will do my best to come next year.
Congratulations!
jeff
 
Home again!

The MPG was FAN----Tastic!!!!

Met lots of "computer friends" and had a blast. Rich kept things on track, the many folks who helped us pack up and get out of the hall were REALLY appreciated.

We really look forward to doing it again next year.

Once again, Rich--thanks for the invite---see ya again next year!!
 
I thought I would chime in as well. What a great day of demos, vendors and getting to know some of the people we hang out with here on a daily basis. Rich, you kept things moving very well, and put together a great day. Thank you! If you ever need a care pack of GF oats, say the word and they will be on the way.

Now, about next year... think I can pull off Founder's choice three years in a row?
 
Eric, to be honest, it was a tough decision between the pens of your father's and your's. Being a closed end your's got the nudge. Your gonna have to kick it up a notch or two to score a hat trick next year!!!
 
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