Matthew Dymond, Jim Stewart, Jim Beck, Mike Riebl, and Bill Ziegler move a white oak beam.
WOODWORKING CLUB continued from 17
Riebl said the club is a great way for hobbyists to expand their knowledge and advance into professional-level skills thanks to ongoing education in areas including proper kiln drying, moisture content, wood shop setup, and much more. Each year, one club member receives a scholarship to attend a weekend class of their choice at Mark Adams School of Woodworking.“ So much of the knowledge shared in this group isn’ t something you can Google or find on YouTube,” Riebl said.
But perhaps the rarest aspect of the club is the woodworking camaraderie. Stewart said. He couldn’ t find a woodworking group near his home in Bloomington but was excited when a neighbor told him about the Brown County club.“ There’ s so much value in getting to work with a group,” he said.“ The truth is, a lot of woodworkers work alone in their basements.”
Riebl said that club work nights were one of the few destinations where many of the retired members felt safe during the COVID pandemic; that social interaction became invaluable.
Do members boast about the value the club is adding to the Brown County community? Nah! They simply consider themselves a group of volunteers meeting to work together on projects, share stories, and laugh.
“ There are just so many good people willing to contribute, and there’ s so much energy surrounding our community projects,” Riebl said.“ That’ s the value. That’ s the positive.”
Brown County Woodworking Club typically meets at 7 p. m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Brown County Public Library. For more information, email forshee @ iu. edu. •
18 Our Brown County • Nov./ Dec. 2024