Doug’s Report-March 2013

Sick List - Continue to remember Graeme Muir.  Moyle Bunworth  further treatment  needed, and a couple of other members are waiting test results.

Farmers Market Sausage Sizzle - Only about $200 raised, due to a bit more competition from other food vendors.

Community Market - $320 raised. A good result.

IGA Supermarket and Haintz Pharmacy - These two businesses support BECS by a token scheme (IGA) and a rebate on prescriptions(Haintz).  Members and their families are encouraged to support these businesses.  $2090.37 raised in this period. Thank you everyone.

Toilet Block - We are  still waiting  for  the mural on the side wall. Keep your eyes open for it.

Coming Events - McCains taste testing – see notice elsewhere.  Usual farmers markets.

Workshop jobs - Alan Aiton and John Towers have been turning a flag pole top (see photo). Lucky we have the big lathe able to hold timber this size. Table and seat repairs at the Gong - See photo. We have been asked to repair a number of these units as well as some more bridge railings. Thanks to John E, John H, Tony S, Ron L, Ray D, Barry K, Trevor S.  Richard has been asked to make another 7 potting benches for the Friends of the Botanic Gardens . Not sure what the total is now but it is significant!!  He is also attending to the Pinarc woodworking project.

Nissan hut roof repair  and clean up - Still to be completed.  Bobcat has cleared behind the shed, so now work can proceed.

New Members  - We have had a number of new members join recently. Please make them welcome and get to know them. Many have interesting stories to tell.

New Treasurer - The Board has asked John Van Muyen to take on the treasurer’s job for the remainder of the financial year. If you want to buy any items or materials please see John so that an order can be raised.

AMSA National Conference on 27-29th  October – If BECS members are considering attending this conference (and we would encourage you to attend) you may want to start putting aside money for the fees. Early bird registration is $285, and after September 12th it is $360. AMSA is seeking funding  to partially reimburse Sheds. There are now over 940 Mens Sheds in Australia.

Art Classes - Are in action on Mondays 1-3.30pm. For more info see Len Cooper.

Music Group – Is on Thursdays 10-12. Turn up to the Rec. Room.

Christmas in April! – BECS was one of 6 Victorian Men’s Sheds to be recipients of the Tool Bank Raffle - second hand tools and equipment ex Dept. of Housing. We were able to get a number of nail guns, cordless drills, tile cutters, an aluminium ladder and some extension leads. Some sheds didn’t understand what “2 men and a trailer” meant, and some tools had already been distributed, but we are appreciative of the tools we got. Thanks to Ray and Barry for picking them up.

Leon’s Talk - At last month’s meeting Leon gave a very stimulating talk on his work with the Bird Conservation Group Australia wide.  He quoted facts effortlessly, and he and Bob are going to run another project in the near future. This month’s speaker is Dick Parry, speaking about the Trash and Trivia Market. This might have already happened by the time you read this.

Visitors - 12 men from the Bendigo Mens Shed are to visit us on the April 18th.

VMSA Regional meeting - VMSA is running a workshop at BECS on the 18th, where a number of men from regional sheds will attend to discuss the future role and sustainability of VMSA. Please make all our guests welcome.

PLEASE NOTE –THE SHED WILL BE CLOSED ON ANZAC DAY, THURSDAY 25TH APRIL. Instead, we will open on Wednesday 24th as a normal Shed Day. Lunch will be available as on a Thursday. We also expect some visitors on that day from HMAS Ballarat. On Anzac Day, BECS will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Sturt St at the Lyons St corner. If BECS men wish to attend please see me. We would need to be there by 10.30.

Chev Car Display - Thanks to Bernie R, Steve V, Neale M  and Alan B for manning the gate at this event.

New Heater - The old, non-functioning heater in the Rec Room has been removed and a replacement heater has been installed. This is now available for use, but please, remember to turn it off at the end of the session (and the fan as well).

Benny’s Mob Leukemia Research - Thanks to John and Eileen, Steve V,  Alan A, Paul T, David P and Doug S  for manning a sausage sizzle for this event at Wallace.

BBQ Helpers for the month – Alan A,  David P, John and Eileen E,  Ray and Marj D, Doug S, Paul T, Ron L, Steve V, Bernie R, Kevin K & Denis C, . Thanks everyone for your sterling efforts. Sausage sizzles continue to be one of our major fundraising efforts.

McCains Taste testing - April 18th to May 23rd. Note that for Anzac Day 25th April we have a night off. We have only been able to man 4 sessions but we need some reserves, so please if possible put your name down on the notice board.

Volunteer Grants - Federal Govt. Volunteer grants are now open. These are from $1000 - $5000. A bit of a long shot but you have to be in it to win it.Garden clean up - Thanks to Trevor, Alan B, Ray and Marj, John and Eileen, and Paul T for undertaking some weeding, spraying and cutting grass. Thank goodness someone is looking after the place!  Also thanks Ray and Marj for cleaning the bbq trailer from top to bottom.

Students visits  - We had 2 visits from journalism students from Deakin Uni who were doing a project on Men’s Sheds.

From the Board  - It is extremely disappointing to have to report the theft of a Makita cordless drill and 3 batteries in a carry case, plus an orange Clipsal power box. These tools were from the tool raffle in Melbourne and before we had even had a chance to engrave them these items had disappeared. We are investigating this serious matter and reserve the right to report it, and to temporarily or permanently withdraw a member’s membership rights. If these items are immediately returned no further action will be taken.