FORTHCOMING MEETINGS - For our April meeting we have our Patron, Gary Rance who has agreed to make it a ‘Hands on’ night and he will be available with his son to offer first hand advice to anyone struggling with a certain technique.   At the May meeting we have Mark Baker who will be new to quite a few Club members.   For your diary there is the A.G.M. of the A.W.G.B. being held at Daventry on 6th April, 2008, also there is a competition being held by the Worshipful Company of Turners on 3^rd June 2008 at Carpenters’ Hall, Trogmorton Avenue, Moorgate, London.  I imagine the competition will be of a high standard with a Gold medal, £200 and a £100 voucher for first prize. (Puts our £5 for first in the monthly competition in the shade)

END OF AN ERA -  Many of you will have noticed the passing of Dennis White at 100years of age recently, through his videos and his great skill he will be known to most woodturners and will be sadly missed by all interested in the craft, as noted in the various obituaries he was sufficiently skilled and willing to operate ‘outside the box’.  When looking at his workshop you realise it was not fantastic machinery or technology that produced those wonderful barley twists and many other shapes but his great skill.  I note he had been made an Honorary member of the A.G.W.B. only two months before his death, obviously the Association do not award that privilege too often

ARE WE FRIENDLY? - It has been suggested that our Club is not as friendly as some in the District, this is very difficult to assess and I know most members do their best to welcome visitors.  It is a point to bear in mind, if you see someone with a Visitor Badge, do have a chat with them as it is easy to feel isolated on your first visit to a club, if no one makes an approach to make you feel welcome.  Two meetings ago, I was chatting to a visitor and then he realised we had both been members of a camera club over twenty five years ago, I did not wish to be reminded that so much water had gone under the bridge, but we suddenly found we had a lot to discuss.    I hope we are not like the Chelsea Football Club Manager, when he was asked for his comments by the press, he said , ‘You know why the fish is dead on your plate, it is because it opened its mouth’.

THE DREADED QUESTIONNAIRE - At our last Committee meeting a number of matters were discussed and we felt we did not have the ‘up to date’ views of members of a variety of subjects, in particular, the programme.   It was then decided to send round a questionnaire for the views of members and also take the opportunity to ask members for their current phone and other details, as these quickly get outdated.   I know with all the other forms you are required to complete, this maybe a bit of a pain, but we do ask your co-operation, as it is your Club and as a Committee we should be carrying out your wishes.

CAMERA CONTROLS - I think we have an excellent camera operator and now we have a ‘stand in’ volunteer, which are things that help a Club function, and the efforts of these members is very much appreciated.  Speaking of camera positions has anyone tried to fathom the electrics of the system used by the East Herts Club as shown in the latest Revolutions circulation. I think that is taking it just a few steps too far, I could understand it, if it was used daily, but for a monthly meeting demonstration it is really a Rolls Royce, where a Ford would suffice.

TAILSTOCK - A Nun ran out of petrol in her car, but fortunately there was a garage nearby, but unfortunately the owner did not have a can.    Being a nurse she found a urine receptacle in the boot of her car, which she then filled from the pumps, and took it back to her car and poured it into the petrol tank.    As she was doing this, two Anglican clergy were leaving the church opposite, and one said to the other, ‘If that car starts I am changing my religion to R.C.’

Paddy rushed into the pub and said to his friend Joe, ‘I have just seen someone stealing your car’.  Joe said, ‘Did you see who it was’.   Paddy replied, ‘No, but don’t worry I took the number of the car’

John  Green  Ed.