[gene messer]

I dont know if this is general to the forum . But to a sad note.. I just returned from a monthly meeting of our carving club in southeast texas and our discussion was ... because of a lack of interest in member's coming to meeting's and no new members joining in the last ten years .. A possible disbandment of the club is in the works . I remember 15 years ago we had as many as 30 to 40 members .. but because of illness and members passing away ... we have less then 5 members show up for the meetings .. Now because of lack of interest and fellowship .. It looks like it's almost over .. How sad .. Unfortunately in the last several years we have tried very hard to get new members with demo's and small show's . But no luck .. Maybe it's our area .. I dont know .. but the younger generation doesn't seem to want to learn this wonderful hobby .. Maybe if we put joysticks on the handle's of carving knives .. it might draw a interest .. Ia'm not knocking the younger generation .. but I know their world is so much faster then mine is .. Anyway.. I was just wondering ... Has any other club's been seeing this trend .. I hope not .. I hope it's just our area .. Even though Ia'm new to this forum .. This WIC forum is great because it allows people like myself who are facing loosing our carving club soon to ask others if this is happening elsewhere .. Let's pray it's not .. I would appreciate your output .. I Thank you for allowing me to ask ...

[mwilleson]

Gene,

Our club is not necessarily shrinking, but it certainly isn't growing by leaps and bounds.

You might ask yourself where your looking for members. Who is your target audience?

The younger generation is often "busy" so within that group you need to find the niche people - who is it that likes to work with their hands and where do they hang out?

Also, who has more time? Where do the retirees hang out? Are there any senior centers around? How about churches?

How about flyers in hobby stores? People apparently visit those places because they're looking for something to do.

Maybe you've looked at all these idea. Just wanted to throw out a few thoughts.

Good luck, it's tough when you can't get participation.

[feb]

The club Im in Mohawk valley arts and woodcarvers used to put on big carving shows and then things slowed because some of the new leaders didn't work as hard at keeping things interesting. We have about 25 carvers that show up every thursday. To make are monthy meetings better for the people that live far away. We decided to come at 2 o'clock carve until 5 get together for a lignt dinner and come back have are meeting. We had a small show last october abd it went well, so were gonna try it again, if it does good again we might try a bigger one. I guess to build a club back up you have to take baby steps. try calling a talk show ,tell them about your club or put an ad in the paper. something might click feb

[moon r3]

gee this seems to be the norm. I carve with two groups one on monday that a lot bigger than the group on wensday. they are both at diferent cities at the senior centers. At both are carvers that will drop what they are doing to help out. But the rules hamper us from bringing in the younger carvers. So we only see the people who are testing the water that get bored and loose intrest. Even my schedule between the old doc. and therapy and the job (as I'm not retired yet) means that I half to skip some-times
moon

[rick-in-seattle]

Moon,
I know exactly what you mean, I visited a senior center at the request of an older friend.
He was hoping I would sharpen everyone's tools (free) and perhaps help some of the carvers with their projects.

I was told I wasn't welcome because I was under 55 years of age.
Although most of the carvers were very nice, there were a few who complained to the facility manager.

One old bat in particular told me (quite loudly) that I couldn't be there.
I understand the need for age related rules at senior centers, but I wasn't there to use their services, I was there to provide some.

If we are unable to encourage younger carvers, we all lose.

[mdallensr]

We shouldn't feel alone with our problem. All groups, clubs, even churches lose about 10% of their members each year (on average). If you don't keep repalcing those who leave, you shrink. We see it in service clubs like Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis, and it's a big problem with older churches with older congregations.

Younger people have different priorities, and you need to adapt somewhat to their wishes if you want them to participate. Clubs that meet every week for a dinner meeting seem to be doomed; very few people are willing to give up a night every week anymore. Our local service clubs that meet at night have dropped back to once or twice a month.

We have some younger carvers in our group class, but time is a problem for most young people with small children. We need to be patient, keep folks interested, and have spot for them when their time allows their passion for carving to bring them to our group. Mike

[squbrigg]

Our small group hasn't been together long enough to see any pattern of decline or growth yet. The majority of our group are younger, (non-seniors) and we don't meet at a seniors center, so perhaps that's a good thing!

Poor Rick, getting kicked out of a seniors center for looking too young!!! LOL Don't feel bad Rick, they probably thought you were going to take their spot next to the heater!!! Young whippersnapper!

The growth and decline of groups is something that interests me though, I am curious to hear what others are experiencing, what sort of events or methods they use to advertize. Our area is small and not a big population, mostly rural population, largely dependant on the land or sea, perhaps that is why folks around here have such an interest in things hand carved. Cities are more technology based, so perhaps the connection to wood and the maded-by-hand crafts are less strong?

We also have a several First Nations members, there are several reserves in our surrounding area, and their connection to carving is very strong.

Always looking for ideas to encourage the group, maintain interest, though at present they all seem to have lots of enthusism to learn.

Bob

[Tom H]

Wow! What a silly thought. "You're too young to carve with us at the senior center". I carve at a senior center, and I'm only 67. I feel welcome. And we have some who regularily carve with us who are quite a bit younger. I sure hope that they feel they are welcome. Tom H

[Ron Davidson]

I know what you mean Rick. I belong to several support groups for the blind and one in particular is a senior group. I have been in this group for 5 years and some give me static for being therenuder age at 52 but the rest like me being there because I can remember to do things they don'tlike where the meeting is and when. I always feel like I am some where between the young and restless and the old and senseless. It seems like our carving club has allot of members that come to different meetings. We meet twice a month and more show up to one more than the other but I am a new member so what do I know. It seems like the younger people don't have time or make the time to enjoy a hobby like this. I know we have allot of young people on here and am glad we do It lets me know they will carry on the tradition. OK I yapped enough.

[Mitchell]

Many carving "groups" are really more like social gatherings....making it hard to expand as they are also specialized gatherings. In other words, it's a group of people that get together to socialize, but also carve. They are not REALLY interested in getting bigger...until it's too late and there aren't many people left to get together anymore.

The draw back is that this does not foster growth.

Another point: Many Clubs that put on shows are on a budget and the venue is often not really "public" as it's in a remote location and not highly publicized to bring in big crowds.

To grow, the art needs to be "sold".

Our club is lucky to be tied in with a great supporting company to help sponsor our show. This off sets much of the expense and we get a good flow of non-carving visitors. We are not growing by leaps and bounds, but do have some younger members.