To All Club Members – Results from January 5 club meeting

Webmaster Note: This is a copy of the email that Bob sent out to all the members on 1/6/19.

At the BRWC meeting yesterday, January 5, the club voted on two important issues: 1) To pursue either a limited or a growth oriented club membership and 2) whether or not to implement club membership requirements. These are both related to the unexpected annual growth of the club and the issues that it has created.

On the first issue, limited vs. growth membership, the members present voted by a large majority to maintain a smaller membership and thus limit growth. This will allow us to continue to meet in owner shops and to have skill topics that involve large equipment usage.  It also affords our members more opportunity to see other shops and to get ideas for their own shop organization.  Both of these seemed to very important to most members.

On the second issue, implementing membership requirements, the members present again voted by a large majority to do this. They voted to accept the recommendations of the exploratory committee that studied both of these issues in November.  Those recommendations, which will be requirements for 2019 in order to rejoin in 2020, are as follows:

• Attend a minimum of 6 Club Meetings per year

Do a minimum of 2 (or 2 of the same) from the following list:

• Participate in a Community Service Project
• Participate in an Education Outreach Event
• Serve on the Executive Committee
• Serve on the Community Service Committee
• Serve as a Club Steward
• Serve as the Club Historian
• Serve on a special committee (such as Nominating Committee, Tool Swap Planning Committee, Meeting/Topic Planning Committee, Membership Committee, etc.)
• Write an article for the Tips Page
• Host a meeting
• Present a skill topic
• Host or attend a workshop, make a presentation at a Club Meeting regarding the results of the Workshop.
• Present 2 Show-and-Tell projects or items
• Other Club activities as they may arise, such as Museum Presentations, etc.

Certainly there will be other options added to this list as we identify them such as teaching a seminar or workshop for club members on a relevant skill or topic, building a number of bird house kits, etc. I think this list is a very workable starting point, and there are plenty of items that will appeal to those who have difficulty spending time away from home. Also, I see no reason why we can’t exercise a little discretion and flexibility when someone is faced with difficult circumstances and may have trouble meeting the requirements as stated.

These requirements are being added to the membership application so that each prospective new member will be fully aware of them at the time they decide to join the club.

At this time we are not implementing a hard limit on membership. Our preferred path is to see if the membership requirements become a self-limiting factor. If that doesn’t happen then it’s possible that a hard limit with a waiting list to join may be the next step.

Finally, if you have already joined for 2019 and feel that this doesn’t work for you then we will refund your dues until the end of February. Just contact Brian Fitzgerald and he can arrange to get you your money back.

Thank you for your patience as we have worked through these difficult issues.

Bob Chambers
President, Baton Rouge Woodworkers Club