A Message from the President: (Rick Orr - 2012) Every couple of years, the direction of the Front Range Woodturners changes ever so slightly. This January, that happens again. First I want to personally thank Ron Ainge for his significant contribution to our club. Over the pasts few years, Ron has given many, many hours to the FRW – as Treasurer, as VP/Program Director, and the last two years as our club President. Ron has also participated in many of our annual events. I’ll have a few words to say at the January FRW regular club meeting on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 on Ron’s behalf. Ron continues to stay active in our club, by again standing up to the plate and volunteering to be our wood raffle chairperson. The members of FRW are very fortunate to belong to such a strong, active woodturning club. Current membership sits at 242. We have an incredible club, including: a large and growing library, a strong bulk buying program, one of the better AV departments (with large screen TV’s, sound and recording equipment, new lighting and camera booms), terrific demonstrators – both from within the club and from across the world, a strong financial balance sheet, a well thought out newsletter, and a state of the art web site. Ladies of the Lathe got off the ground in 2011. All of these programs will continue to be strong and become even better. As I look to 2012 and try to incorporate my thoughts and ideas as well include the member input I have received so far into the direction of the FRW, I offer the following. I solicit any and all input from our members, as this is your club, not mine. I am only the temporary leader during this current change in our operation. Our main method of communicating our club’s actions, ideas, and direction is the web and our newsletter. I urge all members to become active in the use of our electronic tools. The web contains a relatively new feature towards the bottom of the home page – a club calendar. It contains updated information as to many of the scheduled events for the year. Before you plan another function, refer to that calendar – and be aware of potential conflicts for yourself and other club members. Contact Ron Howard or myself to have items added to our calendar. We have scheduled quarterly executive board meetings. They are listed on the club calendar. The direction of the club will be determined at these board meetings. I urge all members to attend. The January meeting, scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 2012, will include the budget for the upcoming year, as well as other various topics. I want to trim the regular monthly meetings – and yet keep the major items in place. The monthly meetings will continue to consist of short business announcements, show & tell, the wood raffle and most important, the demonstration. I want to shorten the business portion and will address those ideas down the road and at the January 7th board meeting. Last of all, I want to thank not only those members who have volunteered to hold both executive positions and the various chairs for 2012, but also all of you who have contributed in the past as well. It’s the people who step up to the plate in these roles that we owe so much. Thanks again, and I look forward to a great 2012. Rick Orr President, FRW