Bravo, Ken!
If I may:
I think we all agree TTRAG is a who's who of TF. They are the major league players who love the craft and lament the constant erosion of a time-honored trade. It is through their efforts groups like this "Guild" even begin... they seek out one another to celebrate, learn, perhaps hold workshops, with the ultimate goal of preservation and dissemination of skills and existing models of the craft. Of course, something must drive it all...ZEST!...and we all know how exciting our topic is--one that's highly facinating and diverse. Few buildings are the same.
"Seeking out" is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for these aims. Well, friends, the internet is high octane fuel for the seeking. We no longer rely on telephones and postage stamps to find those interested, or to put conferences together (that Ken has mentioned) happen few and far between...or ask if purlin roof systems are common in a particular area. Just get online and ask, discuss, share pictures...
I have never been to a TTRAG event. But it is time we hear from more TTRAG members here. Even if they don't have computers, which I thought might be the case, they surely have been to a library and seen those things that look like a marriage between a typewriter and a TV. Perhaps the next TTRAG conference should include a presentation on using a public computer?
Like I said in another post, my desire to hear from TTRAG folks on this forum is not completley selfish-- They too stand to benefit in any ongoing research they may be involved in by asking the rank-and-file about buildings far and wide. Google Books alone would no doubt be facinating to them. They would absolutely love the information availible from other enthusiasts and groups all over TF-Land. They'd probably kick themselves...
To ignore the "tools" at hand for research these days is a loss to all of us who love the craft, and goes against the principles of the seeking.
Please come and join us.
Ken, my thought all along has been to incorporate TTRAG folks into this forum. You're right, we do not need any more forums. This is the most likely place for TTRAG folks.
