As you probably know if you're reading this, I am a candidate for California Carvers Guild Director in the Southern Region. Here's what I want to say to you as a member of the CCG, before you vote for officers or directors.
I am a retired engineer, with 35 years of experience in rocket science as an Air Force civilian employee. In addition to “hands-on” engineering, I managed contracts and “in-house” programs, and served in leadership and supporting roles in organizations that coordinated technical efforts and developed engineering standards nationally (Army, Navy, Air Force and NASA) and internationally (NATO and other organizations).
I am a life member of the CCG and first joined in 1977. I am a member of Craft-T-Carvers and Tehachapi Mountain Carvers, and have held various offices in both chapters. I also belong to the California Caricature Carvers Chapter. I was a CCG Director in 2002 - 2005, and have maintained the CCG website since 2001. In CCG competition, I have reached the level of Expert.
We (CCG) have money in the bank. We need to use some of that money to sponsor and promote woodcarving activity in California. I think the Directors should provide the funds and the general objectives, not try to micro-manage programs. Some Chapters already have educational programs. Grants to those Chapters might be one way to get official CCG programs going. If we can get more new people carving wood, we'll all benefit. If we can't, I fear that the CCG may soon die out.
Durwood Thrasher