Symposium Registration Registrations continue to trickle in. I want to encourage all of you to get signed up. Rates go up 20% June 1st. Video presentations continue to come in. I just got a commitment from Ryan Fitt to build a Toffolo style goblet as interpreted by Ryan. I’m very curious to see what that might be. I’m deep into editing the Allan Brown double coil distillation head recorded by Kyle Meyer. Right after that comes the convert a soft glass electrode to boro by Aaron Kirchhoff. There are several more after that. It’s going to be a good symposium. Consider attending. Register here.
Art Auction New items are coming in and we could use a lot more. It’s now viewable with a countdown clock to when it opens. Take a look at the offerings here. If you’d like to contribute something to the auction look at the bottom of this page for links to upload your item.
2027 Budget At the most recent Board meeting the board approved a budget for 2027! For the past few years there wasn’t a budget of any kind. Historically we’ve been $15- $20k in the year after year. Because of the hard work Kevin Moeller, Don Gossard, and I did, it is not quite a balanced budget but comes within striking distance of being one. This is an accounting document and not easy to interpret, but in pursuing my interest of transparent governance, it is available for Members to see on the reports page. We’re not out of the financial woods yet but have made great progress. I’m proud of the board and of what we’ve accomplished, and there’s more to be done, and it’s OK to celebrate a move in the correct direction.
Fusion Back issues The last of the missing back issues have been found and loaded to Dropbox. Don is working on getting them posted into the Fusion library area. When those 12? are uploaded we will, for the first time, have a complete set of Fusions for all members to make use of as a benefit of membership in the ASGS. They are already available for free as a download. As Don converts the old files into ones Lulu can use they will be available for purchase as printed bound copies mailed to your door. This file conversion will likely take months to complete. In the meantime read them online, download them digitally, or print them out at home on your printer.
E. L. WHeeler’s book titled “Scientific Glassblowing” is still the gold standard for technical reference books about methods and techniques for our trade. It’s been in and out of print for years. (There happens to be a pristine copy in the Art Auction this year donated by Bob Ponton.) Because of some digging by Don Gossard we’ve discovered that Salem Community College was gifted the rights to publish this book by Mr. Wheeler around 2012. Since then it’s been reprinted once and is again out of print. I’ve started conversation with SCC requesting that the ASGS be able to publish this book and keep it available for all those interested in the art and science of scientific glassblowing. This could be a win/win. I hope to have good news to report. Stay tuned.
New President-Elect Shortly after taking office Klaus Paris had to step away from the President-elect position for health reasons. It’s been vacant since last fall. Recently I’ve gotten agreement from Nathan Hart (Southern CA Director) that he’s willing to finish the partial term vacated by Klaus and assume the Presidency in June of 2027. Unfortunately the Bylaws say nothing about how to replace a President-elect during their term. After conversation with the board and the Executive Secretary Jerry Cloninger, it was decided that we present Nathan at the Annual meeting and ask the membership to vote to approve the board’s recommendation that Nathan be our next President-elect. I enjoy working with Nathan and know him to be thoughtful and thorough. He’d make a great President Elect and an awesome President. I hope the membership agrees.
