On page 12 of the "Tools & Shops Annual Issue" (Winter 2009), published by
FWW, there is a letter from Peter Corn, Executive Director For Furniture
Craftsmanship, he observes that interest in woodworking has not waned during
the recent recession, he writes:

....I'm sure this comes as no surprise to the authors and readers of FWW.
With the promise of Wall Street tarnished, the enduring satisfaction one can
discover in the workshop seems to glow brighter. Woodworking exercises a
person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in a holistic way that is
both enjoyable and empowering. Instead of buying happiness, you learn to
make it. Instead of acommodating a world built by others, you learn to
construct your own. Craft has long been a road less traveled. Yet there is
much to be said for meaningful, self-expressive work in today's world;
whether one does it as a hobby or a profession.


Although everyone reading this has found there own individual route to this
forum, I thought that most of the people here could probably identify with
this statement and that some might enjoy it.

Bill

On Sat 31 Oct 2009 06:24:49p, "Bill" wrote in
:


On page 12 of the "Tools & Shops Annual Issue" (Winter 2009),
published by FWW, there is a letter from Peter Corn, Executive
Director For Furniture Craftsmanship, he observes that interest in
woodworking has not waned during the recent recession...

Bill

My interest certainly hasn't waned and I believe Peter when he says he
hasn't seen it, but I have definitely noticed an increase in the amount of
woodworking equipment I've seen on craigslist.

Some of it looks like contractors sizing down and some looks like hobbyists
who bought themselves a whole shop but never got started and are finally
admitting they need the money more than their pride but whatever the reason
there's been an increase. It's helped me realize my shop is more complete
than I'd realized. The prices are decent (another change) but usually I've
already got one, whatever it is.

Dan wrote:
On Sat 31 Oct 2009 06:24:49p, "Bill" wrote in
:

On page 12 of the "Tools & Shops Annual Issue" (Winter 2009),
published by FWW, there is a letter from Peter Corn, Executive
Director For Furniture Craftsmanship, he observes that interest in
woodworking has not waned during the recent recession...
....
My interest certainly hasn't waned and I believe Peter when he says he
hasn't seen it, but I have definitely noticed an increase in the amount of
woodworking equipment I've seen on craigslist.
....

I interpreted the letter as reflecting them seeing interest in their
courses and training. It seemed quite natural to me; community college
and other tech school attendance is up nation-wide as it always is
during periods where it is more difficult to find good-paying jobs
straight out of high school or where those who are just out a couple of
years are the ones laid off and now realize they should've had some
training. The local CC academic course enrollment was up by 15%; the
associated tech school by almost 60% this fall.

--

dpb: wrote:

I interpreted the letter as reflecting them seeing interest in their
courses and training. It seemed quite natural to me; community college
and other tech school attendance is up nation-wide as it always is during
periods where it is more difficult to find good-paying jobs straight out
of high school or where those who are just out a couple of years are the
ones laid off and now realize they should've had some training. The local
CC academic course enrollment was up by 15%; the associated tech school by
almost 60% this fall.

What you said may be perfectly true, but the letter expressed a point that
may be worth repeating, it said:

"Woodworking exercises a
person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in a holistic way that is
both enjoyable and empowering. Instead of buying happiness, you learn to
make it. Instead of acommodating a world built by others, you learn to
construct your own.".

We all showed up at this forum for our own reasons, but those remarks
help me understand how I got here. I'm here for reasons which have
little to do with my livelihood. Financially, I'd probaby be better off if
I just
played my guitar and avoided TAS ("Tool Acquisition Syndrome"). Although
admittedly, the related malady GAS ("Guitar Acquisition Syndrome"), has
been the ruin of many a poor boy (...and God, I know I'm one.)--LOL.

My wife recently came down with BAS ("Bass Acquisition Syndrome")--that's
not a pretty sight either... she'll pick it up tomorrow. Of course, you
don't pick
a bass, but you know what I mean...

Make a joyful noise, but keep your mouth closed when you're using your TS.
; )

Cheers,
Bill

Bill wrote:
dpb: wrote:

I interpreted the letter as reflecting them seeing interest in their
courses and training. It seemed quite natural to me; community college
and other tech school attendance is up nation-wide as it always is during
periods where it is more difficult to find good-paying jobs straight out
of high school or where those who are just out a couple of years are the
ones laid off and now realize they should've had some training. The local
CC academic course enrollment was up by 15%; the associated tech school by
almost 60% this fall.

What you said may be perfectly true, but the letter expressed a point that
may be worth repeating, it said:

"Woodworking exercises a
person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in a holistic way that is
both enjoyable and empowering. Instead of buying happiness, you learn to
make it. Instead of acommodating a world built by others, you learn to
construct your own.".
....

Well, I'm a pretty straightahead kinda' guy--I do woodworking to
basically make stuff I either want or need w/o worrying too much about
the "why's"... I suppose that's reflected in being engineer and
farmer, not "artiste"...

Not that I don't like pretty stuff, but don't go out of way to place
"interpretations" into it--iff'en I think it looks good, that's good
enough. I'm one of those who had a difficult time trying to write much
more in American Lit about Moby and Ahab other than it was "a whale of a
fish story".

I guess if there's some "deeper meaning" for somebody and any/all of
their students, power to 'em...

--

"Bill" wrote in message
...


dpb: wrote:

I interpreted the letter as reflecting them seeing interest in their
courses and training. It seemed quite natural to me; community college
and other tech school attendance is up nation-wide as it always is during
periods where it is more difficult to find good-paying jobs straight out
of high school or where those who are just out a couple of years are the
ones laid off and now realize they should've had some training. The
local CC academic course enrollment was up by 15%; the associated tech
school by almost 60% this fall.

What you said may be perfectly true, but the letter expressed a point that
may be worth repeating, it said:

"Woodworking exercises a
person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in a holistic way that
is
both enjoyable and empowering. Instead of buying happiness, you learn to
make it. Instead of acommodating a world built by others, you learn to
construct your own.".

We all showed up at this forum for our own reasons, but those remarks
help me understand how I got here. I'm here for reasons which have
little to do with my livelihood. Financially, I'd probaby be better off
if I just
played my guitar and avoided TAS ("Tool Acquisition Syndrome"). Although
admittedly, the related malady GAS ("Guitar Acquisition Syndrome"), has
been the ruin of many a poor boy (...and God, I know I'm one.)--LOL.

My wife recently came down with BAS ("Bass Acquisition Syndrome")--that's
not a pretty sight either... she'll pick it up tomorrow. Of course, you
don't pick
a bass, but you know what I mean...

Fresh water or salt?

On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:21:20 -0600, dpb wrote:

Bill wrote:
dpb: wrote:

I interpreted the letter as reflecting them seeing interest in their
courses and training. It seemed quite natural to me; community college
and other tech school attendance is up nation-wide as it always is during
periods where it is more difficult to find good-paying jobs straight out
of high school or where those who are just out a couple of years are the
ones laid off and now realize they should've had some training. The local
CC academic course enrollment was up by 15%; the associated tech school by
almost 60% this fall.

What you said may be perfectly true, but the letter expressed a point that
may be worth repeating, it said:

"Woodworking exercises a
person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in a holistic way that is
both enjoyable and empowering. Instead of buying happiness, you learn to
make it. Instead of acommodating a world built by others, you learn to
construct your own.".
...

Well, I'm a pretty straightahead kinda' guy--I do woodworking to
basically make stuff I either want or need w/o worrying too much about
the "why's"... I suppose that's reflected in being engineer and
farmer, not "artiste"...

No farmer here, engineer from an engineering family (father was an EE
prof, three of us are EEs and the weird one a veterinarian .

Not that I don't like pretty stuff, but don't go out of way to place
"interpretations" into it--iff'en I think it looks good, that's good
enough.

Yep. Our Amish built cherry dining and bedrooms were beautiful so I
bought 'em. ;-)

I'm one of those who had a difficult time trying to write much
more in American Lit about Moby and Ahab other than it was "a whale of a
fish story".

I guess if there's some "deeper meaning" for somebody and any/all of
their students, power to 'em...

"So the fish took the bait. Next story." Sounds familiar to me. ;-)

krw wrote:
....
No farmer here, engineer from an engineering family (father was an EE
prof, three of us are EEs and the weird one a veterinarian .
....
Grew up on farm, future wasn't certain on how it was going to (or was,
even) stay in family when needed a decision; so got BSNE/MS Nuc Phys
coming back after Dad passed away suddenly after 25+ years consulting
primarily for R&D side for electric utilities. Do have the weird vet
brother, too, though...

Been back about 10 years now...

--

On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:23:59 -0600, dpb wrote:

krw wrote:
...
No farmer here, engineer from an engineering family (father was an EE
prof, three of us are EEs and the weird one a veterinarian .
...
Grew up on farm, future wasn't certain on how it was going to (or was,
even) stay in family when needed a decision; so got BSNE/MS Nuc Phys
coming back after Dad passed away suddenly after 25+ years consulting

Coming back? To the farm?

primarily for R&D side for electric utilities. Do have the weird vet
brother, too, though...

My dad passed away 45 years ago and mom last December, at 95. I'm the
only electronics type (other than a couple of nephews). They were all
power engineers.

Been back about 10 years now...

Where abouts?

krw wrote:
....
Coming back? To the farm?

Yes...Dad did in the end work out a buyout arrangement w/ his siblings
to consolidate the place...

primarily for R&D side for electric utilities. Do have the weird vet
brother, too, though...

My dad passed away 45 years ago and mom last December, at 95. I'm the
only electronics type (other than a couple of nephews). They were all
power engineers.

Been back about 10 years now...

Where abouts?

Far SW KS...

--

Bill wrote:
....

BTW, my experience with farmers is that they are some of the most
imaginative problem solvers I've met!

My Dad was one of the epitomes of the phenomenon, indeed...

Amazing what can come from an old F20 front steering gear case and a few
other various castings and scrap iron and an afternoon w/ the torch and
a weld rod...

The modern 4-wheel drive large tractor began w/ two MN farmer brothers
in their shed over a winter for a reasonably well-known example (Steiger).

--

Bill wrote:
....
For me, personally, I would edit the expression down to "Woodworking
exercises a person's full capacities--hands, heart, and head--in
a holistic way that is both enjoyable and empowering.".

Life, religion, art, philosophy, woodworking, architecture and
engineering are surely as deep as anyone wishes to make them...
....

Indeed, as is farming. I recall during school summer days making up and
solving differential equations in head and/or other diversions to pass
time on tractor working mile-long row crop rows that seemed sometimes
interminable between one end and another...

The thing about the letter that I was commenting on was, in fact, the
writer's viewpoint and I was wondering how much of it was colored by his
own interpretation while thinking there was a real good chance most of
this apparent (in his viewpoint) increase in interest was in fact simply
folks looking to find an alternate or second career.

I'm on board (current prez) of local community college/tech school
Foundation is why I'm so attuned to the current increase in interest and
enrollment. We've had very hard time meeting demand this year w/ the
big jump in numbers in conjunction with performance of investment market
over the last year.

'Tis interesting to consider whether most of these current students here
and there will still be following their new track down the road when
things have turned around as inevitably will. At that point will he
then write a letter decrying the lack of interest in woodworking?

--

On Nov 2, 8:07 am, dpb wrote:

'Tis interesting to consider whether most of these current students here
and there will still be following their new track down the road when
things have turned around as inevitably will. At that point will he
then write a letter decrying the lack of interest in woodworking?

I think that is a very astute observation and an excellent point.
Once things get "back on track", the interest in a perceived more
simple life full of simple pleasures will go away.

All the self doubt, the self examination of where we went wrong as a
society, etc., that leads folks to a yearning for "the old ways" will
be gone when unemployment goes down and money is easier to come by.

Most folks seem to appreciate what they have and what they can do with
what they have only when there isn't something new to lust after on
the horizon. A shortage of disposable (or just the regular) funds, an
ass whipping in retirement savings accounts, uncertainty of
employment, and a government that will possibly commit to a trillion
dollars in debt certainly seems to make people more thoughtful.

I remember reading about this "back to the simple life" phenomena in
the 80s when the market collapsed and we had
the famous Black Monday of 1987. Leading up to that day had been
tough, but it was the end of businesses, jobs, money in the market,
and on an on like I had never seen. So many of my business friends
filed for bankruptcy I was astonished.

Then the SnL industry collapsed, and so did the mortgage lending/
buiilding/remodeling industry.

A lot of folks found new hobbies. They went to national parks for
vacations, or went to out of state venues for vacations instead of
trips to Europe. They quit going to Vegas once a month "to blow off
steam". Likewise, trips to New Orleans were canceled that were
previously seen as rewards for closure of savvy business deals.

They sold their Rolexes, and drove older vehicles. They cut down
their office and staff sizes.

But you know what?

AS SOON AS THEY COULD, they hit their old groove. They were "back" in
the 90s, and they went right back to the old habits. Just about all
of them.
All those wonderful old ways they were learning were replaced with a
sigh, and the observance "who has the time for that anyway?".

Rest assured, when/if this newest economic downturn is over, so will
the interest be in returning to traditional crafts and trades.

But the good news is that we will be able to read about the few that
hang in there and decide they really like it. Those few will show up
in the woodworking magazines with a mini bio next to their work
talking about how they "left it all behind one day".

Baloney. Those few are excepetions. Times change but people don't. I
would say, don't add too much to the college now unless you are going
to get the feed from the folks that can no longer afford the state run
schools.

As always.... just my opinion.

Robert

wrote:
On Nov 2, 8:07 am, dpb wrote:

'Tis interesting to consider whether most of these current students here
and there will still be following their new track down the road when
things have turned around as inevitably will. At that point will he
then write a letter decrying the lack of interest in woodworking?

I think that is a very astute observation and an excellent point.
Once things get "back on track", the interest in a perceived more
simple life full of simple pleasures will go away.

All the self doubt, the self examination of where we went wrong as a
society, etc., that leads folks to a yearning for "the old ways" will
be gone when unemployment goes down and money is easier to come by.

....[elided rest of excellent posting simply for brevity]...

But the good news is that we will be able to read about the few that
hang in there and decide they really like it. Those few will show up
in the woodworking magazines with a mini bio next to their work
talking about how they "left it all behind one day".

Baloney. Those few are excepetions. Times change but people don't. I
would say, don't add too much to the college now unless you are going
to get the feed from the folks that can no longer afford the state run
schools.

As always.... just my opinion.

And that last is, Robert, a most astute observation indeed...

We are a part of the State regents' system and as community college/tech
school (these two were merged in KS as of last year by legislative
decree unless tech schools chose to become fully commercial/independent
non-tax-district entities) and as such are and must be very attuned to
local needs in what is a very rural community.

There are always (particularly the younger, of course) those instructors
or department chairs that see the momentary increase and immediately do
petition to add programs or other expansive plans. We are very careful
to not follow such trends too closely and only after we are sure there
is and will be a long-term future in an area will we add anything more
than perhaps some temporary staff.

(For a little in late summer it looked like I might have to teach an
intro-engineering class or two but fortunately was finally able to find
and--more importantly--coerce somebody else into it... )

--

wrote in message
...
....

As always.... just my opinion.

Robert


Interesting post. Some nice observations/hypothesis concerning humanity.
; )

Bill