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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on June 18, 2011 at 7:37am

Well you know what they say.  Those that can't...

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Permalink Reply by Paul H (PRH) on June 18, 2011 at 10:49am

Hi,

I'm in the Chicago Park Dist adult woodcraft classes too. My experience has been very different from yours. The head guy started with rules n safety and how to use the tools but progressed to table saw/drill press pretty quickly.

Very encouraging of growth etc.

Text is a terrible medium for talking something through I hope this comes out right, but is it possible you were (profiled)?

Some CPD workers feel that they have little kingdoms and have been known to discourage people who they think might not fit in (watch for this particularly in wealthy neighborhoods) are you in Lincoln Park/Yuppieville?I heard the locals like to keep this one to themselves (lots o equipment there).

 

That's BS.

I/we ran into this when my buds played volleyball. If we didn't fit the profile or someone felt life was crowded we got the bums rush.

The working neighborhoods may be more receptive to new members. Try Portage or Horner for east or Shabbona or Merrimac for west. As long as you approach these with some humility I'm pretty sure you'll be welcome.

 

Sessions are over for the summer but I'd stick with it. It's your park after all (insert muttered curse here).

 

Hope this helps.

Paul H

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on June 18, 2011 at 11:03am

Hi Paul. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I'm not going to reveal which CPD I'm at, but I think your assessment is spot-on -- concerning the instructor.

The wood shop members have all been incredibly welcoming and kind, and a handful of them even expressed interest in using shop time to make CBGs. (One of them teaches a children's woodshop, and he picked up right away the idea of bringing it to his class.)

But at my first class, the instructor seemed to make a snap judgement about me when I told him I didn't share his ambition to make chairs and tables. Even when I actually brought a guitar to show him, he offered no input on what I could work on to better future builds. I was really disappointed.

I have a feeling this is going to end with a letter to the park district manager.

Paul H (PRH) said:

Hi,

I'm in the Chicago Park Dist adult woodcraft classes too. My experience has been very different from yours. The head guy started with rules n safety and how to use the tools but progressed to table saw/drill press pretty quickly.

Very encouraging of growth etc.

Text is a terrible medium for talking something through I hope this comes out right, but is it possible you were (profiled)?

Some CPD workers feel that they have little kingdoms and have been known to discourage people who they think might not fit in (watch for this particularly in wealthy neighborhoods) are you in Lincoln Park/Yuppieville?I heard the locals like to keep this one to themselves (lots o equipment there).

 

That's BS.

I/we ran into this when my buds played volleyball. If we didn't fit the profile or someone felt life was crowded we got the bums rush.

The working neighborhoods may be more receptive to new members. Try Portage or Horner for east or Shabbona or Merrimac for west. As long as you approach these with some humility I'm pretty sure you'll be welcome.

 

Sessions are over for the summer but I'd stick with it. It's your park after all (insert muttered curse here).

 

Hope this helps.

Paul H

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