Greetings! It is a busy year with meets in Florida and Australia. It was great to see some of you at the Lake Yale meeting. This event was very enjoyable and profitable, making around $6,000 at the craft and wood auctions. Around 45 attended, including 3 new members. Rick Long will once again host the SE Regional meeting in Shocco Springs, Alabama during March 2025, so stay tuned for details later this year. This venue is fantastic, the food is good, and it’s located in a beautiful setting.
I have heard that at least 8 members will be travelling to Australia for the AGM representing the USA during the 3rd week of October. Plenty of events are scheduled in the surrounding area. It will be an awesome event, and I will be handing over the gavel to our new President John Lyons. I encourage you to attend.
As you read this, Eric L. Krum will be taking over the Secretary/Treasurer duties from Patti Dickherber, who has retired. Thank you, Patti, for all your hard work and dedication to the IWCS over the years and all the best to you and Bob into the future. Also, Rick Long has been appointed to the interim SE Regional Trustee position. Thank you for stepping up and good luck to you. We are still looking for a NW Regional Trustee.
As of February 25, 2024, we have $9,690 in our checking, $33,360 in our savings and $230,448 in our Vanguard accounts. Our membership stood at 541 in March 2023, and as of February 2024 we are down to 528. While we picked up 58 new members in just over the past year, membership is trending downward, and this is disturbing. We all need to do our best to try and recruit new members. We should all be ambassadors of the IWCS, just as all of our Regional Trustees should. Our presence should be prominent at local and national wood shows, wood turning events and other venues. We should have extra copies of the WoW and membership applications ready to hand out, older copies and membership applications should be available at local Rockler, Woodcraft and retirement community woodworking shops, such as in Central Florida and Sun City, Arizona. We will be ordering 1,000 reprinted membership applications to reflect the new dues structure and have Eric Krum’s contact information on it. Remember that IWCS is like a big family, and as we always say, come down to visit me and we’ll hunt down some great wood. Spring is beautiful in Central Texas with our wildflowers.
Enjoy the rest of the Winter and bring on a blessed Spring.