How many guilds do you want? Each with their own BOD, treasurer, etc.? I think the Guild, as it stands now, really needs the support of as many members as we can get. If it fails, I don't see how there is going to be a rebirth. If there was support for that, then those people would be supporting the Guild we have now.

Measures have been taken, such as e-publishing the Journal, to help us keep afloat so that the Guild can restructure how it will operate in the future. I haven't studied the past financial reports to see what the major assets and liabilities of past operating practices are, but I'm sure that is being taken care of by the BOD.

I will continue to support the Guild with my membership dues, and maybe a little something extra if circumstances allow.

Ken,

I think your comments are horribly unfair to the BoD members that you call out by name. And the use of this forum as some barometer of activity is a poor measure of the work anyone is doing. And that is true for the 2 people you mention. Some folks just don't live 'plugged in'. The overall use of these forums have dropped off over the years. I happen to be one who is online most of the time whole working - so I can post here.

No one is asking you (or anyone on this forum) to support 'their Guild'. The notion that the TFG is organized for the benefit of a chosen few is ludicrous. Guild business is posted to the website, our financial information is updated per our charter and by laws, and all of the board members and volunteers have their contact information available on the website. I've spoken via email and phone to many many people familiar and new to me over the past year.


And, dues of members support this forum, and pay for the website. You don't need to be a member to post here (as you know), nor do you need to be a member to view (most) of the website (or by materials from the store, attend a conference or project, etc.).

I'd be curious to hear, offline via email or PM why you aren't a member anymore.

Mike,

I have tried over the years tried to help The Guild and its members and especially those who visit this forum to take part in the "on line" timber-framing community that is so kindly hosted by The Guild.

I have written and had published articles in Timber Framing and Scantlings and have attended Guild Conferences, taken part in Guild workshops and even co hosted same along with Tom Musco & Jack Sobon.

Over the past few years my input to the forum has waned (though still well in excess of yours) mainly for personal reasons but my desire to help the timber-framing community remains strong.

The fact that most board members do not bother to turn up here together with the tone of your reply above does little to provide me with encouragement to continue contributing and makes it just a little easier to "not be bothered".

Instead of trying to drive me away would it not be more fruitful for you to direct your energy into encouraging board members to come here and interact directly with "their" on line community.

Ken Hume

Ken, I don't Know what is driving your contrarian attitude and perception of malaise now but I would expect the BOD to be ready to deal with discontent after a complete reversal of course after the the previous complete reversal of course, however in the spirit of the season all the best to everyone and hang in, especially you Ken.

Hi Roger,

Happy Christmas to one and all !

I don't think that I quite followed the above post but since the original question was quite challenging in its nature I thought that it would be permissable to make a "glimpse of the obvious" remark here in the vague hope that facing up to some home truths might encourage The Guild and its board to become more responsive to members requests and in maybe in particular to past members gripes.

I am sorry if this has offended anyone that remains in favour of the status quo but the original post was quite shocking stating that "the Guild is on life support and fading fast".

Ken Hume

p.s. Just why did Joel loose his post as executive ?

Is there a new executive ?

Hi Ken,

My intent wasn't trying to push you away. Not sure how my words came across like that.

I took offense to you calling out BoD members by name and disparaging their apparent (or lack of) work on behalf of the TFG based on their use of this for forum. As you know, this forum serves members and non members alike, and the percentage of members that participate is very small in relation to our overall membership. And, as noted, and something that is just a fact of life - not everyone is 'plugged in'. Regardless, we likely won't see eye to eye on this issue.



As to your other questions regarding executive leadership - much of that was covered in person at the Burlington conference, in our (nearly) weekly emails to current members, and in Scantlings.


I'm unsure of what you mean by 'facing up to some home truths' and not being responsive to members (past and present). So I'll again extend an invitation to reach out to me (link below, contact information on my website) or PM me on this forum, so I might have a better understanding of what you might be driving at. Or feel free to post your grievances and concerns and suggestions right here.


PS, I'm unsure what you mean by 'Over the past few years my input to the forum has waned (though still well in excess of yours)...'

It sounds mean spirited, but in the spirit of the holidays I'll let it go as a transatlantic misunderstanding.

Hey Ken

2013 has been such a year that using descriptions of the BOD and TFG that include "malaise" and "status quo" is just getting it wrong. The BOD is in active engagement without precedent. A full account of the changes is beyond me, but just changes that might be reflected in the letterhead. Offices have moved from Alstead NH to Reston VA to Beckett MA. Three people wore the executive director hat, there is now no executive director. All this in 2013. It might be a few years before a status quo will be developed.

I was at the Burlington conference and put some thought into these issues then. It was my first conference and really my first major exposure to the guild. It was a great conference and a great experience for myself and the whole crew.
However, I found that while I really want to care about the Guild, and I really like the idea of the Guild, I found it difficult to find it as relevant as I would have liked. I felt that the Guild gave little reason to believe in it or to inspire passion.
It seems to me that timber framing has submitted to our modern malaise of compartmentalization. Why are we timber framers? Do we exist only to debate arcane bits of historical knowledge, or to build ostentatious mansions for those with more money than sense?
Or did we all get into this because we saw in timber framing a truth and a beauty that might just make the world a better place, if we could just share it.
Timber framing in the past was vital because it was fully integrated into it's surrounding culture. We need to recapture that. We need to make timber framing accessible to the masses again. Timber framing needs to be an integral part of destroying the pervasive ugliness of our culture.
I have so many people come to me with the idea that only the wealthy can afford a timber frame. It's part of the slick, pornographic, consumer image portrayed by venues like "Timber Home Living". I can say that I have built many of my most satisfying projects for people that are pretty low on the totem pole. Houses that are efficient and utilitarian, yet do not sacrifice craftsmanship. I know that there are a lot of framers that are right there with me, taking the knowledge of past and creating a relevant present. This is something that I don't feel that the Guild represents though. Until it does I can't help but think that it is a dead letter.

Hi Everyone,

I received a well deserved poke in the eye with a sharp stick on Christmas morning from one of the past TFG executives when it was "pointed" out to me that the BOD at the time did listen and act upon some of my gripes / suggestions and in particular to initiate a move towards the publication of Scantlings and Timber Framing in electronic (pdf)file format. This was accompanied by a restructuring of Guild dues to make membership more affordable and to stop the unnecessary flow of cash to the US postal service. Credit where credit is due - they listened and they acted.

I was also sent an extract from TIMBER FRAMING No 109 - pages 2&3 - "Whither the Guild" (Sept 2013) where Kenneth Rower provides a short history of the Guild and its management which is quite illuminating, though in places a little difficult to follow especially when the reader does not have first hand knowledge of some of the times and events concerned.

I simply don't buy the idea that board members should be given a permission slip not to attend the most powerful means of communication that is available to The Guild. I am sure that TFG Board members are all busy people with many of them running successful timber-framing businesses but I bet that every last one of them employs websites, blogs, electronic newsletters and email to get the message out to potential customers.

I am getting the message that the Guild is now operating in survival mode and that means frankly that the excuses need to stop and that those who have the vision and ability to turn the ship around need to step up to the plate.

I am reminded of a quote by Lord Kelvin made in the late 1800's when he stated (in shortform) that "Unless you can express what you are dealing with in numbers you might know something about it however it is hardly the beginning of science". From my reading of TF 109 it would appear that a modern day Lord Kelvin has attempted to follow this principal but the outcome from the analysis of same is not particularly evident in this article.

Ken Hume

Hi Ken,

I will confess to being a "lurker". I've definitely visited the forums since 2011 but in listening mode rather than commenting mode. I think this is an excellent conversation, although it could have a better title. I, personally, don't think the Guild is going to "die". There are too many of us personally invested in it for that to happen. The fact that we're having this discussion is evidence for that. But I don't want to understate the challenges we currently face. It's going to take all of us pulling together to overcome those challenges and to find the way or ways forward. Maybe regional chapters would be a way to keep all of us more involved.

Thanks,
John