Just what is North Carolina Woodworker?

[SteveColes]

When I started this site, its only real intent was a place to provide "where can I find in NC" and in addition provide a photo hosting site for NCers, since many were failing and/or very unstable.

Then under prompting from Monty and others, it became a forum. It stayed basically your usual website. Then in October 2005, we seemed to jump on WoodGuy's tails and got involved in the Klingspor show. Later that year I suggested to, I think DaveO, that I might have an cookout at my house for a few of the members that I knew personally, in the spring. Dave, deliberately misunderstood what I meant and he started publicly asking when I was going to announce the arrangements for our spring (2206) picnic. Thus was born the first Spring Picnic

At that picnic, something happened that changed the way I looked at the site. I was presented with a lathe and tools from the membership(now the Good Will Lathe). I got choked up and almost lost it. Then I realized we had something more than a website, we had a real community. It was at that point that I began to think of this place as a club. A club which had dues. Not monetary dues, but dues that were paid by your visits to the site. I believe "lurkers" are are just as important as the members who post all the time. Thus was born the idea of DQ.

By the fall of 2006, we had the first calendar contest in swing and Klingspor invited North Carolina Woodworker to participate giving us a room where we held a pen turning marathon for our troops.

Jeff and Scott began organizing wood hauls.

Then came the 2007 picnic, Klingspor gave us floor space at the extravaganza, We had the 2008 calendar, which I messed up.But at least we had one.

Now because Doug Robinson took both the time and initiative, we've had the first ship crawl and probably many more to come.

Next week I start the formal 3rd Annual Spring Picnic arrangements and shortly after that I'll start the 2009 calendar contest, because it really takes more time than we have giving it.

So what is my point. We are no long just a website, we are in fact and in spirit a very vibrant and active community.

We are all of the types of things that we have been doing and taking any of them away changes for the worse what we are.

For example, when I prepare my budget for this site(yes I have a budget and every year I exceed it), I prepare it for all the things that we do:

The site
The events
The door prizes
'The contest prizes

So my point, only that we are more than a website, we are more than club, and we are mor than ww organization. We are all of those things and more. And I want us to expand our activities and I will be looking for ideas, volunteers, etc.

[woodrat]

It is a community, brotherhood, sisterhood (for our female counter parts)
and much more. I am proud to say that I'm part of this wonderful thing
we all share.

Thanks Steve.

[PeteQuad]

I'm relatively new to the site, and am still practicing at building shop furniture more than anything else, but the awesome atmosphere here as already prompted me to change my home page. Whenever I start up Internet Explorer, it automatically goes here first.

Thanks very much to Steve and the moderators, and the rest of you that make this such an excellent community.

[jerrye]

Steve,

I'd like to third what Roger & Dave said. I'd like you to think about what I'm about to say. As someone that visits & posts often, but has little to offer, helping out some by aiding in defraying the costs associated with this forum would be a way that I could feel I am genuinely contributing. I do hope someday to be able to begin on a shop; build a stable of toyls; start making sawdust; and develop some skills. Until then I have to vicariously live my wood dreams through those for whom you have provided this vehicle. Right now the only way I feel I can be of any value is to provide North Carolina Woodworker Express service as I am all over NC, SC, VA, WV, MD, DE, NJ, and southern PA with work. If I were permitted to help monetarily I would feel more like a real contributor to those whom have blessed me with their skills and handiwork. Have you considered that it might be a bigger blessing for us to have a means to support this? Bigger blessing for us than for you? If I am allowed to fiscally help, I want you to understand that my contribution will be a gift. Nothing more, nothing less. As such, you & whomever else will be empowered to use such a gift in whatever way you see fit. I hope you will think about this and seriously consider my suggestion, as it comes from my heart, and I think I can confidently say, from the hearts of many that are part of this community, this family.

[alleng]

steve,and the rest of the staff.... i honestly dont know how youdo it. this is the best,most infrormative site .when ever i have a question,someone here has a answer.it may have started as just a idea,but man has it grown into a wonderful thing. improud to be a part of it,i just wish i was closer to the centralpart of the state,so i could meet some of the people on here. itis like a family.

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by Mike Davis

This is really more like a family than a community. And just like family we brother and sisters in sawdust have spats sometimes. Just like families we have to forgive and forget. We have to because we are family and love our brother as we love ourselves.

I am deeply sorry for causing Steve pain, sorrow, confusion and added work because i was not patient enough to wait for him to discuss my problem. Of course he always has the best, fairest and friendliest answer.

I have not as someone suggested decided it was no big deal. However, I am willing to put it in the past and go forward from here, without hesitation, evasion or mental reservation.

I want to start over at the bottom, if you will let me.

Thank you Steve.

Mike, I would hate to see your post lost in the middle of all this. It is a most appropriate place for it to be, but your post is very significant.
Welcome back, we really missed you. You've just made my night seeing your name back up on the list of replies. I've checked every day to see if you're logging in, in hopes that you would come back. North Carolina Woodworker'er hasn't been the same without you.

Can I put out a group hug to all

Dave

[Mike Davis]

At our survival camp outs we always have an auction and never raise less than $1000 and once it was close to $3000. That pays for all the expenses, food, some travel for members that travel long distances and the rest supports our web site.

I should think something like that would raise money to help support this site, cover some of the picnic and not be in conflict with the policy of no advertising and no contributions.

I'm sure we could get donations of tools, supplies, furniture and classes to auction.

just a thought....

[Mike Davis]

Dave,

It's not important. Let it slide Brother.

[toolferone]

Mike, I think it is a good idea. Sounds kinda fun.

[jsjordan]

What is North Carolina Woodworker to me? Let me put it this way....

When I joined North Carolina Woodworker almost 2 years ago now, I picked an anonymous username so no one would know who I was. Now I am trying to figure out how to change my username to my real name because I WANT folks to know who I am!

Originally, I assumed North Carolina Woodworker would be like so many of the other woodworking boards/websites I had found and would probably NOT be a place I would stay for very long. Bad attitudes, disrespectful postings, off-topic idealogical diarrhea, and just generally mean people with poor manners had turned me off to sites like this almost completely.

I am pleased to say that my experience here at North Carolina Woodworker has been so awesome that I look forward to checking the posts, participating in the discussions and meeting the great people here.

I certainly recognize and appreciate the hours of work that go into keeping a site like this up and running, and I am truly thankful to have found North Carolina Woodworker. Time is very short in my world right now but we all do what we can. I'm certainly willing to help with the costs of the site, provide pony express when I can, or whatever else is needed to do my part to keep this site going and growing.

We dont say this enough but

Steve, thank you and thanks to all the moderators!!

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by jsjordan

What is North Carolina Woodworker to me? Let me put it this way....

When I joined North Carolina Woodworker almost 2 years ago now, I picked an anonymous username so no one would know who I was. Now I am trying to figure out how to change my username to my real name because I WANT folks to know who I am!

Joel, you couldn't have a better user name. You're Joel S. Jordan (I don't know what the S stands for but that isn't important). Unless you want to be known as Animal, I can't think of a better name.
PS, just let one of the staff know about any user name change and we can make it happen for you.
Dave

[JimmyC]

To all,

I personally feel that it's an honor for me to be part of this community, the same as it's an honor for for me to be an NCwoodworker. This state is now my home, and I consider all of you my friends. I think Mikes idea of an auction is a great idea, maybe we could also do a 50-50 or something at the picnic. I am here to help, all anyone has to do is ask.

I think Steve has done a great job creating a site as strong as this one. Much like a bicycle wheel, the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts. This site, and community, is much bigger than us but it still needs our support to keep on rolling. As long as we all keep working together, we can start to achieve things that weren't even possible in the past.

Thank you Steve Coles and everyone else whos hard work has kept this site in running order, you all deserve our deepest gratitude.

Godspeed to all and into the future we head !

Jimmy

[John Reeves]

Boy oh boy

I joined maybe two years ago and I have grown with my association with all of you. The camaraderie, the support, and the genuine level of togetherness I see and I feel is beyond anything that I have experienced. My own difficult times and those of others I take on personally. The success that some have had with their skill and craftsmanship are things that I have pride in because of my association through this group. I am getting a bit maudlin here but this group represents a group that is what I admire about our area of the country. If someone needs help, we give it. If someone has something extra then it is shared.

I grew up on a farm in Lee county and like most farmers we can not so it alone. It takes a little help from your neighbors to get it all done.

OK, we all have or cross to bear but let’s move forward. We are blessed by our association together. There are a few people that keep this going and all of us need to start sharing some of the burden.

The other side of the coin is what to share, what can we do to help with the administrative tasks, financial burden and logistical issues?

Steve, you have a lot of people that will help, but we need to know what to do. You have developed the “personality" of this group now please delegate so you are not overburdened.

I do not think that I am capable of describing the personality that you (Steve) have developed but I like it.

How can I help, how can all of us help?

I owe something back as I have received so much. I have received and now I will give.

For an old gruff Navy guy, you have done a remarkable job.

Thank you.

[Douglas Robinson]

I just wanted to say that, aside from accepting $ which comes with complications and an auction (?), you do not have to wait for Steve to do something. You can ake the ball and run with it. If you want to set up a scrolling workshop, a lunch..post it arrange it and do it! The crawls worked that way. Steve's only direct involvement was as a shop host (thanks to all who agreed. ),

Take the initiative.

Doug

[Marcus Masencup]

Originally Posted by jsjordan

When I joined North Carolina Woodworker almost 2 years ago now, I picked an anonymous username so no one would know who I was. Now I am trying to figure out how to change my username to my real name because I WANT folks to know who I am!

That is exactly what I did!

I haven't been around much due to work but I try and check in as much as I can. This is the only forum that I have ever been on with this type of community.

I still remember when Steve sent me a message over at woodnet asking if I would be interested in a NC only woodworking site. I can't believe what it has become. Thank you, Steve, and everyone involved for your hard work.

[cskipper]

LOML and I are #90 and 91 so we were not the first aboard. I'll never forget that Steve was looking for moderators and other staff when I joined (that never does get better, does it Steve?). I told him I'd be glad to help if he thought I would be (any help). He said that he wanted to wait and see how active I was on the site. Didn't take him long to realize that I intended to be active on the site and mostly asking questions! There might have been times when he regrets that, but he's yet to tell me to hush.

I chose my user name as cskipper because I was not sure how well posts from a woman would be accepted and not discounted. Probably not as much of a concern anymore since we have other ladies who are posting now.

This site did start as information sharing. Then came some opportunities to meet each other, take some classes and meet some more ncwwers. It grew into a fellowship and then, as Steve put it - a community.

Sometimes we squabble, but not too often, and the moderators who are online more than I am do a terrific job in trying to keep the natives settled . I can not imagine how much work Steve and the Admin's and webmasters do. I do know that Steve has poured is heart and soul into this group. I'd like us to continue doing the pen turning for the troops. I hope someone did agree to make the boxes for the dog park (if not, shame on us). I think it would be great doing some community projects, though it might be difficult to decide which part of the state to choose.

This, dare I say family, is so awesome. I've come a long way in my scroll sawing, learned to turn pens, a bowl and even carve (which was a challenge presented by Mike Davis). If it hadn't been a specific challenge I would never have tried my hand at it - and it's a lot of fun! I can now make my carving tools "scary sharp", again thanks to Mike for showing me and b4man for hosting us. I love meeting other North Carolina Woodworker folks, though I do seem to be able to get my time arranged for some of the gatherings. I encourage everyone to attend any activity they can - putting names with faces (even though I probably won't remember later - darn CRS).

We offered to assist Steve financially before, but as Douglas said that, creates other issue. If there is someway we can assist with in other ways (maybe even by getting/donating door prizes - please let us know. Steve has definitely been the guiding force that's developed the personality of the site and the comrade of the members. I am very grateful for this community. If I can help, (and can get off work and afford the gas) I'd be glad to do so.