Our regular General Membership monthly meeting was held at the shop of Roy Millsaps at 7:30pm.  Roy Millsaps, President, opened the meeting at 7:35pm.  10 persons attending (Roy Millsaps, Allen Kuhl, Mike Hanna, Russell Christmas, John Herald, Mike Rietveld, Steve Boily, Tom Trahan, Sandra Meyer, and Bill Morgan).

Officers:  Roy Millsaps—President,

                Russell Christmas—Vice-President,

                Allen Kuhl—Secretary/Treasurer

Opening:

1.  The “Pledge of Allegiance” was conducted.

2.  Secretary’s Report was read and approved.

3.  Treasurer’s Report was read and approved, with $672.76 in account.

4.  Membership report:  2 new memberships were received in August and September and from the Catfish Festival in Kingsland (Harry Jadick, and Curt Lacy), with 2 more new memberships from the Rock Shrimp Festival in St. Marys on Oct 7 (Ronald Cobb, and Tim Hattaway).  One potential new member also indicated a strong interest at the Rock Shrimp Festival (Mark Bruce), and there were several other interested persons.

5.  V/P Minute:  Russell Christmas stated how well our booth at the Rock Shrimp Festival was received by onlookers.  Our raffle netted $48.00, and we had 2 new member signups.

6. Turners’ meeting report:  Mike Rietveld reported that projects and hands-on application will be the concentration for meetings.  Beginning in the new calendar year we will again be offering beginning techniques instruction.  (For any new members who attend our meetings, we will show them instruction and safety precautions commensurate with their abilities).  Possibilities for guest speakers/instructors was brought up and discussed.

Old Business:

1.  Dues of $20./year per family are due in August each year, to begin a new year.  Dues are prorated for those new persons joining in mid-year.

2.  “Guild Directory” --gives each active member’s name, address, phone #’s, and type of woodworking expertise/knowledge.  This is a means of contacting you (via e-mail, phone, address, etc), so be sure we have correct information. You can also verify info (through Curt Johnson) on the guild website.

New Business:

1.  Projects:

 “Christmas” project—Mike Rietveld suggested we design/make children’s pull toys as gifts (such as for “Toys-For-Tots”).  We could get together and make a production-line assembly style of several toy types, making a hundred or more possible turnout.  Bring your ideas to next meeting in November.

2.  Christmas Party:  Our December get-together will be at Mike Rietveld’s home on Saturday, Dec 9, which will also be a “working-on-our-Christmas-project” day.  A potluck dinner was suggested.   

3.  Mike Hanna brought up some interesting comments about how to improve member participation:

     a.  Establish a “phone tree”—so that members can inform each other and keep updated with all members and prospects, and events of the guild.  Setup reminder calls for meetings, etc.

     b.  Assign/create more positions/committees for members to participate in and become involved.

     c.  Have a “new member liaison” to indoctrinate and get interest from new members.

     d.  Continue to have classes and educational materials introduced in meetings.

(These suggestions were discussed, and tabled by Roy Millsaps until next meeting.)

4.  Roy Millsaps presented some comments/ideas to consider:

     a.  Have a meeting for the Guild at Woodcraft store in Jacksonville, maybe around Feb or March 2007—Steve Boily will check further on this.

     b.  As a “Not-For-Profit” organization, we cannot permit any affiliation with Political or Religious persons or groups to indicate our support of that person or group in any way.

5.  Roy Millsaps is stepping down as President of the Guild (at least temporarily) for at least 2 months.  Vice-President Russell Christmas is now acting President as of this meeting.  Discussion followed as to how to fill the interim position of Vice-President.  The Executive Committee met and with approval from the Guild members decided to conduct election of a new officer for Vice-President for the remaining term (through May 2007).  This election will occur at the November 2006 meeting.  If you would like to be considered and nominated, please be present. 3 nominees are: John Herald, Tom trahan, and Mike Reitveld.

Show & Tell:

1.  Mike Hanna:  Table legs made with a Weecher Power Carver.  

Safety Video / Demo:

(Roy Millsaps):  Working with Shells.   

(Russell Christmas adjourned the business meeting at 8:40pm).

Next GUILD meetings:

1)  Turners’ Meeting—Wednesday, Nov 8th, at 7:30pm at Mike Rietveld’s shop.

2)  Guild general business meeting--Tuesday, Nov 14th, at 7:30pm at Tom Trahan’s shop.

NOTE:

Directions to Tom Trahan’s home/shop—

      Take Hwy 40 toward St. Marys to last traffic light (Dillworth Ave).  Turn right on Dillworth Ave.  Go about 1 mile, across the tracks, to Hall St. (near the Nursing Home).  Turn left on Hall St.  Go 4 streets to Bartlett St.  Turn left on Bartlett, look for 2^nd house on right (904 Bartlett St., St. Marys).

                                    Tom Trahan—(cell) (904)673-8929

(Submitted by Allen Kuhl, Secretary)