I'll get my share done and sent to you ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Outten
Here is my suggestion;
Write your name, city and state on a sheet of paper then Wrap each pen in a sheet. The paper wil protect the pen and provide the recipient with the name of the person who made the pen. You can include a written sentiment if you like and include the SawMill Creek logo on the sheet as well. Whatever suits you will be fine.
Send all wooden pens to our office at Hampton Roads Online and I will personally box and deliver them for shipment.
SawMill Creek
Hampton Roads Online
1213-H George Washington Memorial Highway
Yorktown, VA 23693
I bought 50 of the cardboard boxes from Laserbits that will be nice to write information on and protect the pens. Great idea.
Thanks,
Ron
Lets All Get Going On THis
Keith and I talked about this idea bright and early this morning (5:00am) and we decided it would be a great thing for Saw Mill Creek to get started.
I believe it will really go over good and I have some thoughts on the subject after nearly a full day of thinking about it. Some of my thoughts are as follows and may answer some of the questions already asked today.
** I believe the program will be more than just one stab at getting 1000's of pens and make one big shipment to the troops. I believe it should be an ongoing thing to give some people (like the non-turners) time to figure out a way to provide some pens.
** I personally will have a shipment ready to go to the central point (Hampton Roads) next week.
** Maybe some of the penturners would be willing to accept kits/blanks from those who do not make pens, make a few for them to donate. If you are not a pen turner - get a SMC buddy, or a non creeker for that matter, who is and work out an arrangement for him/her to turn some for ya. I am sure there are folks who would be willing to do that.
** I thought about getting a large purchase of kits at a discount however after refecting on that, by the time you get em - send them to whoever wants some of them the packaging and shiping costs quickly evaporates the money you save on the kits.
** I will be able to make some for other folks since I have about 200 FT American kits and a 100 or so slimline kits on hand. Of course I can't make em for every non turner :D but will take on a few.
** If you want to buy kits for someone else to make you should contact that person to find out what type kits he/she has bushing sets for. Berea Hardwoods is the best source (IMHO) to purchase kits. Also remember to supply pen blanks also. E-Bay is a good source for pen blanks.
** We shouldn't get in a big rush since I believe this program will really grow to the point we will be overwhelmed with responses not only from SMC members but other woodworkers who only lurk here. Besides "hast makes waste"
** my plan is to either donate or make for others to donate pens on a continuing basis all year long.
I am sure as we proceed along - particulars on "how to" participate will solidify.
I have drafted a brief note to include with each pen I donate. I think a personal touch would be important to the recipient. I think everyone should consider enclosing a note albeit brief.
MORE TO COME AS TIME PASSES i
Some more thoughts - kind a long
In order to help this program succeed and to get people energized we need to set a realistic goal for the program. I think with all the woodworkers around this nation we can enlist enough participation and support to produce 20,000 pens by year end. That sounds like a huge number but when broken down it would only come to each Sawmill Creek member either making or have made less than 1 pen per month to meet this goal.
We should, if we handle this right and spread the word around the woodworking commuity, be able to surpass that goal.
We have a lot of work to do to iron out all the little details which we need to consider. Lots of ideas will emerge which we will need to consider. One of those would be to come up with ways for non-turning woodworkers and the general public to participate.
A program like having people contribute a fixed amount of money to provide kits, materials to those turners who wish to donate their labor to make pens but do not have the financial resources to buy a large number of kits and also produce them. We could start a program where the average person on the street, a neighbor or a friend could contribute "X" number of $ (amount yet to be determined)to have a pen made and their name as the donor attached to a pen sent overseas. That money could be given to the turners to produce the pens and offset the expenses (kits, supplies, etc) involved. We don't expect the turners to foot the entire bill for this venture.
Other things come to mind like packaging these pens in some standard manner to facilitate shipping and distribution. That might require either donations to pay for some type of paper or plastic sleeves to house the pen and the note from the donor, or we may be able to convince a supplier to donate them.
If this program grows as I am sure it will, I can arrange some special prices on pen kits in bulk. As an example I am sure I can get slimline pen kits in the range of approximately $1.50 ea. These would have to go to 1 central location, repackaged since they are bulk parts and not kits per se, where they could then be shiipped to the turners actually making pens.
As this program grows, as I am sure it will based on all the positive feedback from people I have talked to today about it we should have a lot more people involved aside from the SMC membership.
Talk to your friends, other woodworkers, spread the word on other forums you are associated with (woodworking or otherwise), and above all offer your time and whatever resources you have available.
I have personally committed to donating a minimum of 50 pens this year myself and probably will make more for other people to donate.
There is a lot of work yet to be done. If we all pull together we can make a huge positive effect on the morale of our troops overseas. If we work together we can meet or exceed that 20,000 pen goal. As General Patton once said "any obstacle built by man can be overcome".
Please let us know of any ideas you may have for this program. You can either post those ideas here or you can e-mail them.
Just a few thoughts - I will have more in the upcoming days.