DL,
To follow up on your thoughts of money / contributions - here are some things most people can do to help: (copied from another thread)
1. Become a Member
2. Volunteer by contacting Brenda Baker, our program director: brenda@tfguild.org (we'll have need for volunteers after the BoD's February Face to Face meeting, where we hope to lay out some strategies for 2014 - many short term, but some long term)
3. Consider donating to the Heritage Appeal:
http://www.tfguild.org/about/heritageappeal4. Contribute to Timber Framing (contact Ken Rower via our website),
And more things: contribute to Scantlings, host a regional meeting, advertising in our publications, taking on an apprentice (if you are in the Journeyworker program), volunteering for a project (we have a couple of nice ones in development for 2014), buying a gift membership for a family member, friend, or co-worker, etc. etc. etc.
Where the rubber meets the road is an ACTIVE membership, getting involved in the heavy lifting of our workload (now that we are trying to control costs with limited administrative overhead), volunteering for tasks, writing, and of course, cold, hard $$$$.
I know not everyone can contribute $$ - and I can tell you that my work on the BoD has taken a bite out of my billable hours - we welcome contributions in many forms.
