Peter Wronsky

Over a dozen BAWA and spouses attended the memorial service for member Peter Wronsky this past Sunday. Program Director Paul Reif, who had become good friends with Peter, spoke about their friendship and Peter's life in our club. We knew Peter as a woodworker in BAWA, who held Toy Workshops in his home shop and served in at least two different officer positions. He taught several subjects in the local school system including teaching woodshop the last few years before he retired. Many may not have known he also built cabinetry and did other woodworking for many homes and businesses in his community, and he was a neighborhood activist, an active bicyclist who helped enlarge/form a local cycling club, and he served in the Peace Corp, where he met his wife Marilyn Luce many years ago. Peter did not blow his own horn. Although he had a reserved demeanor, he managed to persuade people to help in those things that he saw as important in life. I think this is why a standing-room only crowd of several hundred people filled the school library to celebrate his life. Peter touched so many of them --- as a relative, a teacher and as an active participant in community life. We would do well to emulate him and how he lived his life!

Before he died, Peter named two charities to receive donations in his name. BAWA was one of these! This is an indication of how much Peter cared about us. Donations are coming in, and the Board is deciding how best to use these funds. We want to use them in a way that would be compatible with Peter's goals and wishes. BAWA members have also volunteered to help Peter's family by organizing a sale of his shop equipment and supplies. Paul Reif will be heading this effort and has already spoken to you about some of this at the January meeting. We will miss Peter and his contributions to our club, and perhaps we can best remember him by helping out his family at this time.

It's a New Year, Part Deux

Wow, was I blown away during the January meeting! Our Treasurer/Newsletter Editor Mark Rand presented me with a pin --- a miniature pewter plane by toolmaker Veritas --- in recognition of the three years I've served as president and the tremendous changes we've undergone as a club during that time. I was tongue tied and hardly knew what to say. This is indeed exciting stuff! The presentation of this pin was very thoughtful --- thank you very much! But I want to make it clear that although I received the recognition, it really belongs to all of you hardworking souls who care about BAWA enough to volunteer to help. This is how we've been able to nearly double our size and have many active new programs. It truly has been an honor and a privilege to serve these past three years and I look forward to serving you the rest of this year. This may sound trite because it's been over used, but every day I feel that we are able to accomplish all that we do only because all of you volunteers who are willing to do the tasks that the Board asks you to do. Most of the ideas for these new programs and different ways of doing things have come from you, the members. So these changes that have taken place and the tremendous growth we've had are proof to me that all of you believe in BAWA and its mission as much as I do. Thank you for your support, both in the past and over the next year. Together we will achieve even more impressive results and our club will continue to get better and better.