Portland Woodworking show+ WA member get together

It looks like I am not going to be going to the show after all – family emergency mostly.
Now I know a few of you are going and would like to get together and meet.
I also know that some of you live in Vancouver which is just across the bridge.

Seems you guys could find a place or someone in Vancouver could offer a place – maybe a church social hall, some paper plates and cups and everyone bring something for munchies. It looks to me like there are about 9-15 or so of you going to the show at some time durring the weekend, so it wouldn’t be too big of a problem finding a place big enough to meet.

Please someone take the initiative here and everyone else chip in for the refreshments and clean-up. That way no one will be put out too much and everyone would have a chance to get to know each other face to face and find out what you have all been up to in the shop.

I have found about 35 active members of LJ who live between Vancouver Wa and 1 in Bellingham. There are at least 2 more in Wenatchee. Those are just the people who have posted in the last 45-60 days there are many more that have been here and not posted for a year or so who may be interested in a face to face group.

I was hoping we could get a woodworking club going – meet once a month, by monthly etc. or so – do show and tell, some of the more experienced ones could mentor the less experienced, share shop tips in person, whatever folks are interested in doing. Maybe even have a weekend seminar or something.

When I was having a problem with a woodworking class I was taking Karson sent a post that his woodworking club was having a weekend class building a hall table $85 including supplies. Unfortunately Karson lives in Delaware so the commute to class would have been a bit expensive. By the way Karson did post his table that he made at that class if any of you wants to check it out.

Seems to me that’s a lot of knowledge – and the internet is great, but working together and building friendships with folks who share in interest sounds like a great idea too. This get-together could be a seed to start something like that. Maybe we could have a South Wa branch, a Central Branch and a North Branch with a possibility of an East WA branch. Then we could all get together once in a while for big events or cooperate in offering seminars. I saw two shop teachers among us – possibility of renting school shop classroom for seminars? I supposed if we had insurance included in tuition and a liability waver that would help.
Those are some of the ideas I wanted to bring to the table, however I won’t be there to set it.
I Hope Those of you who are going to the show will step up and organize a get-together. Let the folks here know how it turned out. There are lots of us here in Western WA, Many just can’t make the show but would like to meet some of the other members in the area.
Make it happen then post pictures and tell us all about it.