Share and Share Alike

In looking back over the last few years of BAWA meetings there are two things that seem to me to be both important and helpful. Of course the presentations have been interesting, lively and informative, but the "Show and Tell" section of our meetings has been, I think, under rated in what it brings to us. This is a chance to show what you've done or what you are doing and for all of us to learn from each other. Two members, Arnie Champagne and Bill Mannix, stand out in my mind as bringing projects to share most often and I thank them for this. Given the few minutes that one has to present the piece, often an incomplete project can be as informative or more so than a completed one. Showing a piece in progress and asking a question about how to do the next step on it will elicit information from the group that not only will help you, but will help the rest of us too. Our recent jigs and fixtures meeting is perhaps the best example of this sort of thing. Wow, what a treat! It proves how much knowledge we have right here in BAWA.

So why don't you resolve to bring a project to the next meeting. It doesn't have to be beautiful, it doesn't have to be complete. You don't even have to worry about giving a polished presentation. Members will ask you questions and before you know it you'll be off and running. Let's see multiple Show and Tell items at every meeting this year. The more the better! Happy woodworking!