Discussion of the economic health of the Guild logically should be happening here and elsewhere, but should that not be framed in how can each of us help in the need to overtop this hurdle?
How does negative talk of post-mortem schisms and regional BoD's and class warfare of the have's and have not's - Help in this, our need to overcome?
No one is lobbying the AIA to demand that their designs be executed by trained and certified Journeyman & Apprentices. There is some hope that such requirements might appear in the the lettings of public works projects in the restoration of publicly owned historic timber structures. There is such a need to pre-qualify those doing such work. What better way to do so than an ability to point at formal training in a Trades Apprenticeship program as part of a resumé and measure of experience and ability?
I have spent time working beside those in other Trades in dusty attics and on bridges, and have had those who have come up through Apprenticeship programs ask after ours. Someone seen doing what we do somehow always sparks such questions. In recent years I have proudly been able to explain how such a program indeed exists.
I for one might not be doing this at all, or would be working quietly knowing far less, and would not even know people from multiple directions but from just thirty or so miles down the road that I work with almost everyday, were it not for this Guild.
Despite this momentary economic pain so common to this downturn and our current moment in time, there is far too much here to expect anything other than that this community (that is what we are) will carry on.
