Building Connections - Spring 2002

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Spring 2002 Winter 2001 Fall 2001

Spring 2002

Building Connections

Volume II Number 1

A publication of Vermont Woodnet, a network of small wood workers in Addison and Chittenden Counties working to support Vermont wood products businesses based on a commitment to the sustainability of the forest

Page 1 Mortise and Tenon-Rural Woodworkers Join Forces
Page 2 Governor's Table Update, Certification Opportunity
Northern Woodlands Magazine Subscription Offer
Page 3 New Committees Welcome Member Involvement

New Committees Welcome Member Involvement
This winter, through a strategic planning process, the steering committee has been setting long and short term goals for the future of Vermont WoodNet and developing committees to achieve these goals. All committees welcome help and input from WoodNet members. There will be an opportunity to get involved at our next quarterly meeting 4/29. The following is a description of the new committees.

Education Committee
The Education Committee aims to first, identify topics for classes, programs, presentations, demonstrations and lectures that are of interest to members. Second, identify existing sources of classes, programs, etc. that address these topics and make this information available to members. Third, organize and present a series of ongoing classes, programs, presentations, demonstrations and lecture. Coordinator: Barry Genzlinger

Marketing Committee
WoodNet is looking into a number of ways to promote members businesses and increase awareness of the organization. There are several outlets being considered, including retail venues, trade shows, displays, brochures and Web sites, news media and professional contacts.

In the retail venue, our idea is to negotiate with established galleries and stores with window displays for displays by our members that would be subject to some sort of jury or peer review.

Trade shows offer an opportunity to share information and booth displays, working with the sustainable wood organizations.

We hope to add an online gallery of member products to our website. We could also produce a brochure to place at highway stops.

Press releases on our events, accomplishments, grants and other news would increase our visibility. The diversity of our members' skills may be an interesting story to pitch to Vermont Life magazine and the Burlington Free Press series on the Arts. Coordinator: Brian Jones

Membership Committee
The first project of the committee is a membership drive to new members and every person we have
in our data base for Addison and Chittenden County.
Our goal is for continued membership with a 20% increase in membership over the year. Coordinator: Randall Ouellette

Organizational Development Committee
One aspect of VT WoodNet's future is the expansion beyond the Chittenden/Addison County Region. To this end, a list of 150+ additional potential members has been formed in northern and eastern portions of Vermont.

By early summer, a group get together will be held in the greater St. Johnsbury area with a special invitation to new and potential members. That will begin the second of five area centers for VT Woodnet. If successful, plans will be to expand to the central and southern parts of the state by the end of 2003.

Another goal is the addition of a part time administrator to help our volunteer effort. With some luck and the support of our membership, that person can be in place by early summer.

This years edition of the resource guide, to be published late summer, will include all new members along with the support resources that those members use. This will help all of us expand our resource knowledge base and add to the success of our business efforts. Coordinator: Bob Bouvier

Sustainable Woods Committee
The success of the day-long sustainable forestry workshop last fall provided a solid beginning for both the networking and educational emphasis of Woodnet's involvement in promoting the use of sustainably harvested wood.

Current projects include pursuing chain-of-custody certification from forest stewardship council (see page 4) and publishing a directory of sources for FSC materials to help producers market their materials.

This will also be our first year for co-operative efforts with the Yestermorrow School in Warren Vermont. We will be presenting an evening talk in August that will include information and examples of work from local shops built using certified stock. Coordinators: Nils Per Shenholm & Jim McCarthy

Vermont WoodNet
P.O. Box 4562
Burlington, VT 05406
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