We're going to have a bash!

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Scott

Scott

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Hi Everybody!

Well, the IAP is nearing the three year mark! Hard to believe! January 1st will be the third anniversary of this site. To celebrate, we're going to have another Birthday Bash!

We're planning on celebrating for the whole month of January, with some kind of contest, and at least some give-aways every week. This will give us an excuse to hold another Ugly Pen Contest - I still shudder when I remember that carcicle pen last time! [:p] And we hope to have some other contests as well. Jeff has already accumulated some nice prizes, and I will be working to round up a few more.

But we could use some input about how you would like to celebrate our third anniversary. What would you like to see? I hope to leave all seriousness behind, and just have some fun with this!

One thing I am considering is something I call "Honor the Rookie!" All of us were rookies at one time. What I'm thinking is that we have such wonderful, generous people here at the IAP, that I would see if we could find thirty-one people that would be willing to donate a care package for a rookie penturner. Then we would pick one rookie per day to receive this care package, and they would have to endure a little write-up and tell what got them into this finest of hobbies! Do you think this is worth doing?

Please, jump in with any ideas for give-aways or contests, or whatever, that you would like to see for celebrating IAP's third birthday! Also, if you can think of anybody you can hit-up for donating a prize, please let me know and then go for it! And, if you'd like to volunteer your time to help with some of the logistics of running the celebration, drop Jeff a note and he'll let me know who I get to torment - er - have help me! [8D]

So start now! Lets make this the best Birthday Bash ever!

Scott.
 
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I vote for the "grungiest lathe contest".
The one with the most ca encrusted on his lathe gets a coupon for a gallon of acetone.
 
I like that rookie idea!

How does one qualify for this? I've milked my 'baby therapist' label and 'baby lawyer' before that for all they've been worth. How long can one claim to be a rookie penturner? Considering that I didn't even own a lathe at all until about this time last year, do I still count as a rookie? It would be interesting to figure out when I did my first pen... I'm sure there's a Woodcraft charge on my Visa bill that indicates the purchase of the first mandrel sometime between January and May 2006 for my first pen. Followed shortly thereafter with the purchase of another mandrel 'cause I bent the first one.
 
What about a BITH (Blank In The Hat) event? Match up people to send each other a creative blank so we can see what the recipient does with our efforts on the blank. There have been several pens lately where one person made the blank and another turned the pen. I love that collaberation!
 
How about adding a forum titled "Show us who you are". We put a picture of ourselves in there. At the end of the month a raffle is held for the people that posted there and a prize is awarded.
 
Originally posted by Blind_Squirrel
<br />How about adding a forum titled "Show us who you are". We put a picture of ourselves in there. At the end of the month a raffle is held for the people that posted there and a prize is awarded.
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Have you seen the what do you look like thread? I think it's the most popular thread ever if I remember right. Anyway, I just bumped it so it's at the top on Casual Conversation- There are certainly new people since anything was last posted on it in Sept. who might want to post pix or just browse!
 
Hi Everybody!

I like the Honor the Rookie concept. I would like to hear some ideas as to what constitutes a "Rookie". In baseball it's what, the first year? I was actually thinking six months or less. Julia, I've seen the pictures in your album, and I think you'd have a tough time making your case as a rookie!!! Nice work!

The Blank In The Hat (BITH) idea is a good one, but I wonder if it is too close to the PITH that is just finishing up? If not, then I'm game.

Another idea I've been toying with is a pen relay, with teams of four penturners. The first one chooses and provides the blank, the second chooses the kit, and drills and glues it up, the third turns the pen to whatever desired shape, and the fourth finishes and assembles the pen. The resulting pens would be voted on and prizes awarded, and the pens themselves could be auctioned off with the proceeds to the IAP. Don't forget it would be nice to raise some money for the operation of this site while we're having fun! What do you think?

It would be nice to have a contest every week in January. I will personally be donating the prize for the Ugly Pen Contest myself (I don't need that particular piece of dog-do anyway!). If we do the pen relay, it will need to be one of the later ones just due to mailing time anyway. What other types of penturning related contests could we do? We will have raffles or give-away's, and like I said, Jeff has some 'sweet' prizes already!

Some of the things we want to come out of this is, of course, to have fun! But it would be nice to raise some funds for the IAP to keep this place running smoothly! Increasing our membership would also be a cool thing. If the Honor the Rookie thing works the way I think it will, it could be the start of a pretty nice mentoring program! I like the idea of a drawing for all the people who post pictures of themselves in the What Do You Look Like forum! I would be willing to donate a prize for that as well, and it wouldn't be dog-do!!!

We already have plans to contact the major suppliers that do business with the penturning community, to see if they will 1) donate some prizes, and 2) offer a special sale just for IAP members. While we don't do paid advertising here at the IAP (I hope you've all noticed the lack of ads here!), for the Birthday Bash we would list the companies who donate prizes, with links to their web pages, so they get the benefit of exposure here. Do you realize that in November we had over 300,000 visits, with over 1.7 million page views? Just in November! Wow! So when you contact your favorite supplier for your next order, mention that the IAP is having a birthday party, and that they might be able to get in on it!

And last, but not least, I have found the members here to be some of the best people I know! You penturners are truly some of the nicest human beings I have ever met (including Eagle!). If you would like to share some of your precious stash of blanks, or maybe that extra tool (what exactly IS an "extra" tool?), then consider donating some of these items as prizes for the Birthday Bash. For right now, just think about it. I will be putting out a call for prize donations in a little while, and will have somebody to mind that list, but I would be swamped if you all E-Mailed me right now! [:I]

Keep the ideas coming!

Scott.
 
Originally posted by DCBluesman
<br />We already have it! http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4138 . By the way, I look much better than my photo! [8D]
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I have known you for over two years and as far as I know that is the first time I have ever seen you print a lie.
 
Scott,
Put me down for a flat rate box of blanks for a prize. I'll pay for the shipping.
Happy Birthday to US[:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)][:o)]

We could have someone building a ringer for the grungiest lathe as we speak. A slow drip of orange shellac could have a machine covered by Jan.1
 
Thanks Rich!

Grungiest lathe? But Eagle, you would have an unfair advantage over the rest of us. Of course, you could be the judge for the contest - I'm sure you know a grungy lathe when you see one! [8D]

Keep the ideas coming!

Scott.
 
How about the sloppiest or neatest work area? How about a contest on the best fix job on major blowout? You could have a before and after picture. I know I have several sitting around[:(!] How about a contest on some ingenious inlays? I don't do them yet but willing to learn[:D]
 
What constitutes a pen rookie?

Several ideas, some of which are obvious:

1) You don't have a lathe yet, but you've been hanging around the forum and other turners a lot.
2) You've read books, articles, watched videos, and been to demo's, but haven't turned much but a couple of bonkers.
3) Or maybe you have a lathe, and have turned a bit, but you're still turning "firsts", Like; "your first Slimline/Euro/Cigar" (That would be me...)

Now in some ways, I'm still a rookie penturner (I still have lots of questions, and I dearly wish I'd been at the Bubbasville getogether today!) but I've been turning for a couple of years and I've been our clubs newsletter editor since late (Dec) '84. Do I still count as a rookie?

Things to think about.
 
There have been lots of good ideas posted. I wouldn't want to give too much attention to rookies. A Birthday Bash should also honor the founders, oldtimers, and regular members ...... all of whom make this place special.

How about a daily trivia contest? The questions should pertain to things that have been said or posted in IAP. At the end of the month, the person with the most correct answers wins a prize.

It would also be interesting to see the first posts that ever appeared in IAP.

Maybe,a special forum where members go back thru their own archives and post the most ridiculous thing they ever said.

Or .... a forum where members submit a brief autobiography with photos of their other life other than penturning.

In addition to a raffle, it would be nice if we did things that built comraderie and highlighted our relationships with each other. OK, I know some of you are laughing and asking if I think we should all sit around our lathes together and sing "Koom Bai Ah". I'll stop with the sappy stuff. [:)]
 
Well if we don't do "rookie" criteria, then maybe we could talk about the "messiest workshop" criteria. I might just win that one. I subscribe to the "throw it in there and figure out where it goes later" method of organizing my shop...[B)][:D]

I like the way you think though Doc...

Above all though, I say, "have fun"!
 
What about a "Rookie at _____" contest where people choose a particular pen type or kit or material that they've never worked with before and submit their first effort at that thing that's new to them? Like I'm going to do a first segmented pen.

Ron Mc shared a bit of information - simply glueing one piece fo wood between two other pieces of wod doesn't make it segmented. Those are "accents" not segments.

Hey, fella, why you popping the bubble of my delusions?

Okay already! I'll make a real segmented pen!
 
"I subscribe to the "throw it in there and figure out where it goes later" method of organizing my shop..."


You actually figure out where it goes later[:p] durn I might win this one.
 
I think that raffles are fun here and a good way to raise money for IAP. I never win them, but I have fun thinking about what I will do when I win, and then, Poof!, the bubble bursts.[:p]
 
These are some great ideas! Although, I have to tell you, 1) The proper location for anything in my shop is determined by where it lands! (Just ask my Wife!), and 2)I have so many unfinished pen projects in my shop that it would take the next month just to count them! And that doesn't even count the furniture and construction projects that are un-done! Heck, my shop is only partially finished! I got the 'lectricity to my lathe, and then everything else seemed irrelevent! [:p]

Doc, I really like the Honor the Oldtimers idea. Yeah! I think the founders of the site should be declared penturning deities, and sacrafices of pen blanks, tools and kits should be sent to them! [8D] I remember who the first and second members were - after that it is just a blur!

I'll try to get some firm choices up tomorrow to get opinions! Keep them coming!

Scott.
 
Originally posted by kent4Him
<br />I think that raffles are fun here and a good way to raise money for IAP. I never win them, but I have fun thinking about what I will do when I win, and then, Poof!, the bubble bursts.[:p]
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I'm with ya! My bubbles are always bursting, but hey, we can dream can't we [:D]
 
How about a slimline contest with anything goes. this would be a inexpensive way for some fun. I wish i could join in on some turning, but it will be april or may before i can turn again. But i would enjoy seeing what the creative minds of the IAP could come up with.
 
How about a pen-around-the-world raffle? Since we have people from every part of the globe here, what if we randomly selected people from at least three continents to construct part of a pen then move it on to the next person. When all is done we have a pen that has travelled the world during construction. Get it laser engraved and raffle it at the end of January with proceeds going to the site. Each constructor can document their part in the pen process and we can follow it in a thread as it goes adding our "comments" along the way.

Just a thought to pull eveyone together for the month.
 
I somewhat like the rookie deal, however, some guidelines need to get set up for something like that. I can just see 50 new members the moment someone tells others of it and they all say they are rookies to get some "free" prize.

The pen around the world sounds "interesting" but would we have enough time to do something? How much differently could the pen be made?

The trivia sounds fun, maybe an identify the wood contest. No pictures just some clues, (color, region, hardness)?

Maybe a guess the member contest. Someone can choose 20 members and have them give some clues about where they live. (temperature, climate, population, what type of clothes they wear right now, ANYTHING they can think of but not too easy) I entered my 6th grade class ( student teaching in college to get out of taking finals) into a contest like this. We got 27 of 30 correct. Placed about 150 out of 600, but the kids were proud and learned about other places.
 
OK everybody! It's time to decide what we want to do. We've had some great suggestions. Here's a short list:

Ugly Pen Contest (my favorite!)

Honor the Rookie

Grungiest lathe/sloppiest (or neatest) work area

Blank in the Hat

BIG raffle!

Best Fix Job

Name the Pen Contest

Daily Trivia

Most Ridiculous Post

Slimline pen contest - anything goes!

Pen Around The World raffle

Guess the Member

We don't have to choose any specific number of these. We could do them all if we want to (but it would be a busy month!). We don't even have to do any of them! Please chime in and let em know what you think!

Scott.
 
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Lou,
I wish you'd stop posting my picture for all to see. I'm starting to get mad and when I'm mad, I ..........................................................................................eat! Does it show?[:D]

Anyway, This is a cool idea. I like the idea of more than one prize. I haven't read most of these posts yet, so this may have been suggested. I don't like the idea of sending pics of ourselves, as I may bend my camera (it can only handle so many pixels wide). Doh!

I would be happy to donate some really nice blanks.
Rob
 
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