PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE JUNE 2026
I spent the weekend working in my shop with the garage door open. It seems like a small item, but with spring almost past, this has been the first week I have been able to enjoy warming weather while doing woodwork, it seems glorious. With summer approaching quickly, it might be time to review your wood storage and come up with a new and challenging design using only items that you already have in your shop. Perhaps you got a new hand tool or power tool that you haven’t gotten full use or recently taken a class or shop talk and learned a new trick or technique that you can apply. Consider finding a Youtube video that trains you on use of your new implement.
After the Skagit Valley Wood Expo, I was asked by the Hospice of the Northwest foundation to ask our members to help with their upcoming auction. They will be conducting a Gala & Auction on September 12 and need items that can be auctioned off. In the past I have seen everything from cutting boards, boxes to fine furniture donated for this noble cause. The cutoff is August 15th, so please consider making something you could donate and feel good about. Attached to this newsletter is their donation form.
Our Program Committee has been working hard to bring us relevant content for each monthly meeting. It appears the June meeting is another home run. We will be touring the massive facilities of Lynden Door, a huge manufacturing facility that makes thousands of doors weekly. They also have training facilities for interested high school aged youth as well as a trucking company and numerous other supporting enterprises. I am eager to pull back the curtain on this community minded conglomerate and see how they have achieved their success. If you liked last year’s tour of Grizzly Industrial, this tour should be similar, enlightening and inspiring.
Don’t forget the President’s Challenge coming up in September’s meeting. Instead of our usual Bring and Brag, we will ask those participants who have built something from recycled materials to show their accomplishments. This year, anyone who enters will be given a raffle ticket and a random drawing will be the winner of the $100 gift certificate.
Finally, I have had the pleasure of attending the monthly Shop Talk Breakfasts at Skylark’s Cafe in Bellingham every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 9 am. I have learned lots of pointers, tips and tricks as well as shopping ideas from fellow members. No reservations are required, just show up and join the group. All are welcome.
Earl Kessler