Donations

[Bruno of NH]

The biggest radio show in the State has a fund raiser for the NH Food bank this Thursday and Friday.
It's on rock 101.7 and wheb 100.3 it's called Lend a Helping Can.
This year they accepted 5 different hardwood slabs and 2 end tables I built.
I hope they do well for them.
They have a large listening audience in New England. 

[Bruno of NH]

Well
The radio stations legal department ended up not letting them take my donation. 
Because the bid winner would have to pick up the slabs at my mill.
Even with all the insurance that I have.
Lesson learned, stay local.

[Southside]

Dang.....What do you call a ship full of lawyers sitting on the ocean bottom?  A good start..... ;D

[red]

They will take CASH

[GRANITEstateMP]

RED, only if the bills aren't too new. Can't run the risk of paper cuts :(

[TKehl]

Maybe best.  My first thought was,"How are they going to show all the slab character,... on the radio?"

Good on you for trying though!

[SawyerTed]

Thought I would piggy back on Bruno's thread with a story of other ways to donate. 

Don't forget your local schools for donations.  They are always raising money for field trips, playground equipment and the like.  

Benches and other projects for raffles or silent auctions are a good way to advertise.  Happily donated by "fill in your business name" on a card.  

I heard through the grapevine there's a long term substitute teacher in one of our middle school technology/industrial arts programs.  He has struggled for activities and projects for the kids.  Being a sub, he's not qualified to teach the kids how to use more than basic hand tools.  So no kids using machines which means limited projects.  

Also through the grapevine I heard he needed donations of materials for cigar box banjos.  I don't have cigar boxes, pegs or strings but I do have materials for the necks.  

I donated 50 or so 1x2x36 blanks for banjo necks.   It took 4 or 5 pieces of 1x6x10 and about an hour to cut the parts.  That's just 25-30 board feet - may cost less than $75 or so for me. 

Hopefully, the substitute teacher can provide some kids with a good hands on experience and maybe introduce a few to making music.  

[Bruno of NH]

Awesome 

[Ianab]

Schools are usually short of cash, and want materials for various projects.

Taylor is Year 7 at school now, and they get to do some "tech" stuff. This year they wanted to build some plant propagation tables (they have a vegetable garden at school). I had mentioned to the Teacher at the start of the year that I could source some wood for them for various projects, and he sent home a wish list, just asking if i could supply any of it. I had the mill set up and spare logs, and it turned out that most of the cut list was short 2x2. Next log was a bit punky in places, so cutting the smaller shorter pieces actually worked out good. I also threw some other random shorts / miscuts through the planer and sent them in for use with their new laser engraver. Saved them ~$500 over buying the timber at the local hardware store. Cost to me was negligible , but the value to the school was great.

[SawyerTed]

Here's one of the student's cigar box banjos.  Turned out as a pretty nice folk art instrument.  The poplar neck is what I provided.  

[Old Greenhorn]

Man that's neat. I have wanted to make one of those for over 10 years now and in fact I bought a book on making them with a lot of ideas. I just need the right conditions and motivation. There are a lot of parts and details in those. I see that one has frets and that alone is a lot of work, and if not done right, the first time, can be disappointing. Frets take some special tools also. The pitiful thing for me is that I have easy access to at least 3 high class luthiers for advice, help, and the occasional tool loan. Truly, I have n excuse.
 But I envy that young persons work. I have heard some pro musicians pick one of those 3 strings up and make some incredible music with them. I mean amazing sounds and melodies. I also figure 3 strings might be easier to learn.

 Anyway, it's real nice to see your wood go into something really worthwhile and long lasting.

[Resonator]

I wouldn't call it a banjo though, they have either 4 or 5 strings (I count 3). Would be considered a folk instrument though, looks nice! 

[Old Greenhorn]

"What's in a name? Would a rose, by any other name still not smell as sweet?" (Billy S.)
I have seen gourd banjos and other very old made ones not conforming to 'current' standards. But usually the defining point is that it has a head and not a 'box'.
 Here's a fella with a 3 string banjo he made (with a head) and this guy is pretty resourceful. Listen to his description of the parts and where he got them. Quite a trip, sharp guy. I think he's one of Howard's neighbors.

[SawyerTed]

It's just nice to see what the students are doing with what were essentially stickers.  

Maybe I'll hear them play in a couple weeks.  

[Ianab]

Some pictures from Taylor's school. I guess it's easier to find a retired carpenter grandparent, than a luthier.  
He did comment the wood (Sugi) was nice to work with

[nopoint]

Schools can really use the HELP! Project specific donations can go along way. More apt to actually go to a good use. I'm a teacher here in Wisconsin and we are fortunate enough to get some sporadic lumber donations that help keep us going. School budgets are tough and convincing administration to buy a bunch of lumber can be tough. Even that random pile of whoops pieces can make a difference. Tech Ed (shop) teachers are harder and harder to hire which means we are not all as qualified as you might think. Also it is not uncommon for a teacher to be put in an area of little experience. Metals teacher bumped to teaching woods etc. It also seems that teachers and everyone else for that matter jumps around from job to job more your local instructor might not even know that you exist. Could be good for PR, tax deduction or minimally a good feeling at the end of the day. Without the support of local businesses programs are dying. Support might mean materials, it might also mean being vocal about the importance of hands on practical education. 

[SawyerTed]

I've been on both sides of the coin - as a Tech Ed teacher and as an administrator of Career and Technical Education programs.   

It's 100% correct that budgets are shrinking and not just for CTE/vocational programs.  

Arts, drama, music/band and other electives suffer from budget cuts as well.