Hi Shedders

Tis newsletter is a tad early but I’m away for the last half of the month.

 We’re already into October and Spring seems to have brought more members out of hibernation, as we seem to be regularly getting 15 to 25 members turning up each day. There are still jobs flowing through the door plus at least two Toy making projects that guys can get involved with.

 If you have an Engineering bent then there is no shortage of work in that area at present….with Neale and the crew knocking out steel racking for the timber store at the back of the barn and also the steel framing for the 2 x sets of doors for the barn project plus other stuff.   

 For your own safety…..If you do bring in your own project to do at the Shed please make yourself known to the Duty Manager (blue Jacket) he will ask you what machinery you are going to use and whether you are competent in the use of that machinery…..please be honest and tell him if you are not familiar with a machine and he will ensure you have a quick tutorial or supervision while using. Please be upfront about this as better to be safe than sorry.  

 We have contracted a consultant to give 12 of our members (all 9 of the Duty Managers + 3 others) a 2 hour First Aid training course which is scheduled for this coming Thursday and we have enquiries underway re sponsorship of an AED machine for the Shed.

 Peter Moore (member) has submitted an application to Fonterra for sponsorship for our 3 x History Boards which are being put together at present by a couple of enthusiastic volunteer ladies who are history buffs…..if we get the sponsorship it will cover the cost of Signboss making up the boards and the material for us to make and install the signs themselves. They will be installed on the Carlyle Street side of the property about a metre back from the fence-line and easily seen from the walking path.

 The BIG news this month is that our application to the Jumble Around grants committee has been successful and they have given us $10,000 to be used to renovate the ½ round barn. A huge thank you to Jumble Around who if you don’t know, are a small Op Shop amongst the shops on Shakespeare Street Leamington, run by a dedicated group of ladies and who each year distribute virtually every cent they make to worthy causes/organisations in the area.

If you get the opportunity to support them by dropping in secondhand goods for disposal please do so….it’s some small payback we can give to them for their generosity.

 Also on the funding front the formal presentation ceremony from Niagara Timber who recently gave us $5,000 went off very well with a good turnout of members and the presentation of a certificate from Niagara to the Shed commemorating the Grant.   

 Not sure if I’ve already mentioned this but a big thank you to David Linthwaite and Gus Wackrow from the Social Team who put together the monthly BBQ at the end of September and also to Les Walsh and the guys who regularly man the Trash & Treasure stall.

 The opening hours survey is now complete and the results are being analysed and will be on the agenda for your management committee’s monthly meeting on Wednesday of this week….we will let you know the outcome of that and any changes that the survey has thrown up.

 There was some talk at the AGM about other Sheds having formed groups to play music and the possibility of likeminded members of our Shed with a musical bent getting together to play music at the Shed….with that in mind Rob Saywell (who is a musician) has been building an equipment rack (portable and on castors) from shelving units we were given by the local library…..this rack will house all the amps, speakers etc necessary, to hook up to by any budding musicians. Drop in and have a look at it I know Rob will be only to happy to show you what he has created.

 Last but not least Michelle Roley and others from Forsyth Barr Cambridge will be at the Shed at 9.30am on the 15th October for the official plaque attachment ceremony…..they gave us the funds ($1,700) to cover the full purchase cost of our new bandsaw and in return we will put a name plaque on the machine commemorating the fact that they have kindly donated the machine. Mark up your diary and come along to the ceremony, there will be photos and a slap up  morning tea so make the most of it. Plus….In conjunction with this there will also be a videographer/film maker from the Museum documenting (filming) the history of Cambridge and the transition of the Shed from a dilapidated wreck into what it is now….he will want to interview (on camera) any of you who would like to be contribute your thoughts on the Shed. Be sure to shave, clean your teeth and comb your hair men as you never know who will be looking at this in 50 years’ time.

That’s it….take care and see you at the Shed.