Welcome everybody, to the first Digital Newsletter!
This is a bit of a test run so we need your feedback, email Jo at joannacrompton@gmail.com with any suggestions, comments, difficulties, compliments, or otherwise.
There are bound to be a few challenges but this is a great way to move forward and save a few pennies in the process. We are pretty excited about the possibilities! There are also lots of opportunities for you to contribute, and the format will develop a bit more finesse as we get used to the way things are done here.
Don't forget to check out the column on the right hand side for current photos and items of interest.
Have fun
Jo
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Workshop Update
David Caddie, Arthur Harrison and Mark Atherton have been working on the design for a new bench pin that will be compatible with the new workshop at SIT, see attached photo of the prototype. David has subsequently manufactured 15 more of the wooden part and Arthur has purchased another 9 of the suction devices. We are hoping to complete all required bench pins next Tuesday (24 may 2011) when we visit SIT again at 10am. Everyone welcome to swing by to see the new facility - directions below.
The next major undertaking is fabricate the shelves to fit inside the storage unit that we have been allocated. Arthur and Mark have been shopping around for low cost timber and are currently planning to build units about 1900mm high, 1400mm long and 340mm deep. One for the left, the other for the right of the space. Each unit will have four full length shelves, as well as space below the lowest shelf (for gas bottles, tall items etc). This will hopefully provide adequate storage for some time to come.
Timing for the construction is as follows:
31 May 2011 purchase and cut timber
7 June 2011 assemble sides
14 June 2011 add shelves, start unloading boxes
21 June 2011 final tidy up
28 June 2011 finishing touches
This of course assumes that it is convenient for SIT to allows access on these dates.
There are a couple of un addressed details such as the polishing mops. The workshop has some grinders with polishing/buffing mops attached. We should be able to temporarily remove these (clean) mop heads and replace them with our buffing mops, but we will need to make a crud-catcher to place behind the rotating mops. It could be as simple as the cut-in-half blue containers placed on a plinth - we don't want polishing compound hitting the wall of the workshop (new euphemism, "when the compound hits the wall" ?)
So with a tailwind, we could be fully open again by the first week in July - final details of workshop access will be published in due course.
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Report on May Guild meeting held on Tuesday 3 May at 7pm
- Present: Karen Atherton (Chair), Diederic Ruarus (Treasurer), Jo Crompton, Arthur Harrison,
Chloe Judd, Crystal Mathieson, Solvejg Ruarus, Noeline Walker, Mark Atherton, Bob Cathro,
John Ogilvie, David Caddie and Lesley Marsh
- Apologies: Alish Roughan and John Weeber
- Financial:
Diederic presented the Income statement for the year to 31 March 2011 to be audited and presented at the AGM on June 7, 2011. He also presented a working budget.
- Silver:
Karen did an inventory of the Silver box. Following a discussion it was decided to set the price at $2.61per gram to reflect the recent jump in cost.
- Classes:
The aim is to eventually run one Level 1 and one Level 2 evening class per week for ten weeks catering for ten students. Also a combined Level 1 and 2 class on Saturdays – five hours for five weeks. The number of classes initially will depend on enrollments. Course fees will be $240.00. Previously enrolled students who couldn't complete their course due to the earthquake will be given the opportunity to attend and pay proportionately based on the previous amount of $210.00.
Katrina and Gerry are not available as tutors. New tutors are Karen, Solvejg, Chloe and Crystal with backup from Arthur, John Ogilvie and Noeline. Where the role of tutor is shared the remuneration for the classes will be shared accordingly. There will be compensation for travel $10.00 per class. Bob Cathro is no longer available to coordinate the classes. Karen volunteered to take on the role and Lesley will assist.
-Workshops and studio time:
Workshops will be part of the future but will be stopped for the time being until we get the new workshop set up and classes running. Fees will be $10.00 plus costs and a minimum of five participants required. It is noted that the Guild does subsidise these activities. Studio hours for individual work will also happen in the future.
- Move to SIT:
Mark presented an outline of the move from the Art Centre and thanked the team responsible. They managed to recover all but the big fixtures. Some items are stored in Arthur's Bromley lockup and the rest went straight to our new site at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). meeting is arranged at SIT for Monday 9 May at 10.30am – Karen, Mark, Arthur and anyone else welcome. (Note:See the report from this working group also in this newsletter) This is to finalise details for our use of the space and to view and plan workshop setup. There are things to be done to make it workable for the Guild.
David offered to make benchpins and plinths will be required for the rolling mill and Foredom drills.
- The AGM to be held at SIT and we plan an 'open house' in conjunction with the AGM to show off the new facility to the membership and to open the doors to SIT visitors as an attraction to new students.
-Annual Exhibition:
Members were keen to hold an exhibition in some form this year – suggested venue being the Hagley Cafeteria over a weekend. We could also contact Salamander Gallery to see where they are at with a view to exhibiting with them again this year. This can be further investigated at the next meeting.
- Membership:
The booklet presented to new members needs updating
- Facebook and Website:
Chloe has setup a Facebook page for the Guild as a not for profit organisation with photos of previous events, coming events and happenings and Guild members can contribute. You have to be a member of Facebook to access it – just logon and from your page search for 'Silversmith's Guild of Canterbury'.
It looks great.
Next meeting: The AGM has been postponed
Our overdue AGM to vote on acceptance of our audited accounts has to be postponed. The accounts will not be audited in time for the planned June 7th meeting. New date for the AGM to July 5th.
Our monthly committee meeting will still be held on 7th June 2011 at 6pm at the new Guild space at SIT, followed by a potluck supper and a chance to look around our new work space at 7pm. See you there.
* Your membership needs to be current and your fees up to date to be able to vote at this AGM - get in touch with John Ogilvie on jogilvie@clear.net.nz or phone him 03 323 6995 to update your membership.
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Facebook Page
Chloe has put together a Facebook page for the guild, as a place those who are either up with the play, or willing to try, to keep in touch with things that are going on, and to share ideas, opinions, places of interest, photos,links, or anything else that seems like a good idea. The only recommendations we offer about security is that personal details are not published. ie. personal addresses, phone numbers, anything else that you would not want anyone else to have access to. This leaves a lot we can share and could lead to new contacts, members, and opportunities. Social media is a good vehicle to publicise ourselves and certainly worth a try!
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Report on Moving (again!)
On the 28th April 2011 six members of the Guild were allowed into our workshop at the Arts Centre to remove all of our belongings. We split the contents into stuff to be used for classes, and stuff to be stored. Arthur Harrison has been extremely kind in allowing us to use his lock up garage in Bromley for storage.
On Monday 9th May Crystal Mathieson, Jo Crompton, Arthur Harrison, David Caddie, Noeline Walker, Mark Atherton and I went back to SIT to move the project forwards.
Noelene, Jo, Crystal, and I sorted the contents of our storage area, moving a further 25% into storage in Bromley. This allows us to figure out how much shelving we will need to hold our possessions.
Arthur, David and Mark worked on a non-invasive bench pin that will allow us to work using the SIT work benches without causing any damage to them. David will be fabricating part of a prototype in the next day or so and Mark will find some 1.6mm mild steel that will be required to complete the assembly.
SIT were kind enough to drill out their existing door catch on our storage area so we can secure our possessions with a padlock. Peter Healey (SIT manager) has been given one of the keys to allow emergency access.
Lyn Winstanley will be working to get us security access to the SIT building in the next couple of weeks
We are planning a further visit (Tuesday 17th May at 10am) to try out the prototype bench pin and start work on designing the storage shelves for our area. All members are more than welcome to come along and join us (directions below).
Following are some photos of the new space.
To get to SIT from the city, get on Blenheim Road, cross over the main Sockburn roundabout, exit to the left marked "Riccarton Racecourse". Turn under the main road and keep going until you join Racecourse Road. Go about 500m then bear left into Buchannans Road. About 300m down Buchannans turn left just before No 37. This is marked "SIT TRADES, DELIVERIES AND STAFF ENTRANCE ONLY". Go between two concrete buildings then turn to the right though a sliding chain link fence gate. Phone Mark to be guided in from the car park 021 032 4446. If you have difficulties, ask for directions to the Refrigeration Workshop. This journey took about 15 mins from St Martins.
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STOP PRESS
"we have just been advised that the workshop will no longer have daytime access so Arthur, Karen and Mark will be going through security procedures and key pickup at SIT on Thursday morning (2nd June). This will allow us access as we please for evenings and weekends. There are however, still a couple of logistic issues that require resolution. Also, planning and acquisition of timber for the shelving is proceeding at a pace, much due to Arthur's effort"
Mark
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Finally, this is a trial run for using Blogger for our digital version of our newsletter. We really need your feedback, and any contributions are welcomed with open arms! Contact Jo at joannacrompton@gmail.com.
