National Shopmith Woodworkers Association

[rkh2]

I really like the idea of a National Shopsmith Woodworkers Association to function as a parent organization and then once up and running, starting regional groups which are not to far away to be able to participate in them. You all have my vote and support for this proposal. Keep the updates coming. This forum isn’t that old and seems to be growing everyday, so lets give our own association a go at it.

[Ed in Tampa]

...As far as making this forum better goes, do you mean more participation?
If so, I agree. More input, more useful (usually:) ) information.

What if once a week or month. the forum Admin. sent an email to all registered users of a recent hot post on the forum. This would not only remind them of the forum but, seeing the variety of topics discussed on a regular basis, may whet their interests and get them involved. Sometimes a little nudge is all it takes. A body at rest tends to remain at rest......!:)

Alan

Alan
When I say better I mean at doing what it is that convinced us to buy SS. Again I think we need to rebuild the community feeling owning a SS included.
When I bought my SS I felt like I was joining a club.

I got a nearly monthly copies of Hands-on which gave me information about my machine, plans to build projects, how to do's, questions and answers, and pictures of completed projects done by Shopsmith owners from all over the country.

When I called customer service and identified myself they instantly knew what SS equipment I owned and etc. (very easy to do today with computers back then they had to have savy people).

If you went to a traveling academy back then it was a fraternity meeting and you were one of the boys. Instructors shared insider and industry secrets. They thought tricks of woodworking that only skilled craftsmen knew. They talked and taught woodworking SS style and it was fun.

I believe this forum can replace much of that but it has to turn into a Shopsmith WOODWORKING forum instead of a complaint desk. Techniques, How-to's and look outs need to be shared. The weekend blog threads are excellent in letting us know what others are doing. But we need to see more completed projects, new jigs and fixtures we just came up with, and more basic woodworking secrets.

I would like to see enough participation that a new guy, seasoned hobbiest and even the old pro can learn, and increase his wood working abilities and techniques.

I think there is a wealth of infomation within SS in guys like Nick and others. I think SS needs to start sharing that info. SS needs to increase it's "active" owners base immediately. Someone said there were 2 million SS out there. I guarantee if SS could get them all active again by stirring interests and then started to offer what SS owners are looking for in design and price that SS profits would be back in the black again real quick.
Ed

[woodburner]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I've read your posts in this thread and they all have some valid points.

The number one thing I'm hoping to accomplish with the NSWA is to create a community of fellowship of Shopsmith owners, by first creating a national hub that local chapters can grow from. This will allow local Shopsmith owners to get together for monthly meetings (or what ever the local chapter feels would be a good schedule, at least every other month).

The difference between this forum and and NSWA will be a personal touch, where fellow Shopsmith owners can make friends with other local owners. The meetings can be used to demonstrate various Shopsmith techniques and uses by fellow members, it can be a social event, again with the number one factor being fellowship.

I have been a member of the American Association of Woodturners for 10 years now, and I have enjoyed making friends and learning a lot about woodturning also. It is much greater than just a computer forum. In fact, most of the members in my local chapter don't even use their computers, they're to busy in their woodshops to worry about such a thing.

The reason I am using this forum to promote such an association is because at this time it is the best means of getting the word out to other SS owners. When this association becomes viable it will take on a life of its own without really having to rely so much on a web forum to sustain it. A website will be useful for getting information out to fellow members, but it won't be just a web forum association. It will be a pesonal fellowship association.

There are a lot of pluses in joining such an association.

As for this thread not getting a big response, not everyone who is interested in joining NSWA will leave a post in this thread. They might read it, many have, and that is what's important.

This afternoon I will start a poll here on this forum asking people if they would be interested in joining such an organization. All they will need to do is answer a simple yes or no. This will help a lot in determining how many people are actually interested. Hope you all vote yes.

Fellowship, making friends (in person), woodworking advice from other Shopsmith owners, fun and informative get-togethers, these are just some of the goals the NSWA is looking forward to creating.

[charlese]

"... it can be a social event, again with the number one factor being fellowship.

... It is much greater than just a computer forum. In fact, most of the members in my local chapter don't even use their computers, they're to busy in their woodshops to worry about such a thing.

...There are a lot of pluses in joining such an association.

... not everyone who is interested in joining NSWA will leave a post in this thread. They might read it, many have, and that is what's important.
...This afternoon I will start a poll here on this forum asking people if they would be interested in joining such an organization. All they will need to do is answer a simple yes or no. .

Guess I will be voting NO. Just don't need a social organization - or fellowship at this time in my life. Had years of these things and although rewarding, enough is enough!

They don't call me a curmudgeon for nothing!

[rkh2]

You have my simple "YES" in joining NSWA. Keep us posted.

[charlese]

Alan
I believe this forum can replace much of that but it has to turn into a Shopsmith WOODWORKING forum instead of a complaint desk. Techniques, How-to's and look outs need to be shared. The weekend blog threads are excellent in letting us know what others are doing. But we need to see more completed projects, new jigs and fixtures we just came up with, and more basic woodworking secrets.

Ed

Although I don't like to disagree with you, Ed - I have seen many posts that share techniques and "How to's" on this Forum. True, there a quite a few complaints, and some of them unfounded, as they resulted from operator error. For the most part, however, many of us have expressed the value of this Forum. It has been posted quite often that the forum is both interesting and informative.

A side benefit of this Forum is; it can be taken at our own time - no need to schedule and attend meetings. One of the biggest problems I find with the Forum is trying to keep up with all of the posts. That's a good problem to have!

[Ed in Tampa]

Although I don't like to disagree with you, Ed - I have seen many posts that share techniques and "How to's" on this Forum. True, there a quite a few complaints, and some of them unfounded, as they resulted from operator error. For the most part, however, many of us have expressed the value of this Forum. It has been posted quite often that the forum is both interesting and informative.

A side benefit of this Forum is; it can be taken at our own time - no need to schedule and attend meetings. One of the biggest problems I find with the Forum is trying to keep up with all of the posts. That's a good problem to have!

Chuck
I think I was misunderstood. I didn't mean the forum was nothing but a complaint desk> O meant to say we have to work hard to keep from becoming nothing more than a complaint desk.

I totally agree this forum is probably the most useful for pure woodworking information based on the SS today and I hope it stays that way.
I also agree the best part about it is, is you can visit it on your time not being tied to a particular time or day.

So I don't think we disagree I think I just failed to fully explain myself. Sorry!

Ed

[charlese]

That's why I was reluctant to disagree. Whether it's in black or blue - we seem to mostly agree. (geez! a poem?)