Hi everyone,
If you’ve checked your email lately, you may have read the note from my father, Dennis Gordon, stating that he is taking over the site. There really isn’t much that can be added to his email, but I’d like to discuss what’s happened in my own words and recap a few events that got us to this point.
This website took about eight months to develop, at a great expense of not only my money but hundreds of hours of my time, plus the time of several software developers.
I don't say that to try and impress you in some way, but to impress upon you how happy and relieved I am that my father is going to pick up where I left off and will make this site into something truly spectacular.
Like dad said, my “day job” is taking up more and more of my time. In the past year, I’ve been gone a lot. Too much, really. I’ve travelled through South Dakota, Iowa, Omaha, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Toronto and New Jersey. I’ve also taken three international trips: twice to France and one trip to Belgium. Most of it was for business.
Although my passport has gotten quite a workout, my carving tools haven’t. I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t picked up a carving knife in nearly a year. Let alone try and maintain a website about carving.
Before I launched the site, I was very blessed to assemble a “dream team” of carvers I could go to for advice on certain matters. I can remember a private conversation I had with a very well-known and respected woodcarver who wondered aloud what would happen to his tools when he died. You see, his kids had other interests and he really didn’t know anyone who would need the tools.
I was profoundly saddened by that statement, and it fortified my resolve to create a place to let woodcarvers connect with and inspire each other. I had also hoped that maybe a few younger, more “Internet-connected” carvers would become involved and could possibly be mentored by some of the older, more experienced folks.
There were a number of people who immediately understood the concept and even invested something of their own personality into the site. People with great talents and even bigger hearts, like Will Hayden, Ol’ Don, Trudy Ginest, Maura Macaluso, Teri Embrey, Pat Shwigar, and David and Sally Nye. My sincere apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone.
Other carvers that I came to “know” (at least online) and really respect include Tawodi, Jeff Pretz, and others. We’re up to about 70 members now, so I just can’t name everyone.
A few other carvers acted threatened by the concept, publicly attacking me and my motives. They seemed to feel that woodcarving was some sort of gated community; a place where not everyone was welcome.
Folks, that attitude is dangerous. I hope that you are doing your part to help introduce others to the art, and teaching and encouraging them. If you don’t, it may never happen. I'm very happy my dad shares the same vision I do, that this community be a friendly, inviting place for new woodcarvers as well as the seasoned pros.
In that spirit, I ask that as I hand the reins over to my dad (the carver who encouraged me the most), that you join with him in his efforts to revive the site. Membership is completely free, and as fall and cooler weather approaches, it’s a great time to invite your friends and fellow woodcarvers.
As for me, I’ll still be around. I’m a regular member of this site now, just like you. I’ve promised the new owner that he’ll have any technical help he needs. He’s already come up with some better ideas than I ever had for the site, and you’ll be hearing about that and more over the next few weeks.
See you on down the road,
Well, it's the Sunday night before we officially open to the public, and I'm just sitting around going through all the lists in my head of what I need to do before The Big Day... lots!
Interviews to be uploaded, some website code to be fixed, emails to write, people to help....
All is well, but busy. None of it will get done until I get back from vacation tomorrow, which is pretty much a travel day for me.
Get to "fly the friendly skies" again, courtesy of Southwest Airlines.
In other news, I broke down and announced the name of the site yesterday! Had lots of questions; more, in fact, than I expected. But that's fine. I just need to work up a "Frequently Asked Questions" sort of thing and post it over on the news site.
Thanks to all my great preview members, who are already making the empty shell of this site feel like home. Without you guys and gals, this would just be another half-finished woodcarving website!
Until later... Matt.
Tags: Mycarvingclub.com
