SPLINTERS
Tennessee Valley Woodworkers
HAPPY NEW YEAR January - 1988
We trust that you all made it through the holidays and those
“last minute elf projects” with all your- finqers. I managed to keep my finqers
and add a little weight——front and back...aren’t we blessed. Susie and I
certainly enjoyed having the Await Ramblers ( Paul Pyle, Tina Painter and
company) and all of you fine TVWW craftspeople come visit us last month.
Speaking of a “New Year”; this is a fine time to pet the New
Year started on a New Foot. Now for the punch line...COME JOIN US ‘ We’re the
Tennessee Valley Woodworkers. We are 30 members strong ( not strong members
)...people that all enjoy some form or fashion of woodworking to some degree or
another. WE are young and old,, men and women, tinkerers and butchers, carvers
and cabinetmakers,, and on and on. We are all wealthy with the joy of our hobby
and sharing it with others. Come
visit our next meeting——TUESDAY, JANUARY 19
7:00 PM AT DUCK RIVER ELECTRIC BUILDING ACROSS FROM WENDY’S
Our proqram will include:
# Tools and Toys
that I got for Christmas——members are encouraged to bring woodworking gifts—if
you can carry them.
* Show and
Tell——members are encouraged to bring in recent projects or jigs.
* Wooden Thread
Cutting——Ray Cole will show US how he threads dowels. Susan says she uses
scissors to cut cotton threads???
Bring your- spouse and family or a friend. We may inspire
you to start that long postponed “Winter Project”. We always have plenty of
Free Advice and you can find out about sources for plans and materials. Dues
are $10 per year for individuals and $13 for families. It covers the cost of
mailing our newsletter, annual picnic and other club activities.
Now a few words from Susan.
CONFESSIONS
OF A SMALL TIME OPERATOR - -
A little over three years ago, I started a mail order
woodworking business. This is the first year that I have actually made money.
(Big Bucks) Well, that’s not really true. I’ve taken in money every year but
this is the year I’ve made money for my Uncle Sam. And that is what Uncle Sam
cares about. The government states that you have to make a profit occasionally”
to be considered a business not a hobby. A hobby is not considered a tax
deduction. For example——Tommy’s Toys.
And the subject of taxes brings up these requirements—county
and state tax. Franklin County requires that YOU get a business/tax license. It
cost $16.50 a year. The form looks complicated until they explain that you pay
no county taxes unless you earn over $12,000 annually. I wish! The state of
Tennessee requires you to have a tax number. This does not cost you anything
but you do get to pay taxes——7 3/4% on all sales to Tennessee residents. No
payment is required on sales made to residents of other states. At first, the
state will send you a form that summarizes sales totals every month.
Eventually, they put me on a quarterly report because my sales totals are
small.
All sales and tax reports are actually easy to do if you
have a good bookkeeping system. Most folks will scream, “But I’m a woodworker
not an accountant!” The first year I started my business I considered having an
accountant keep my books. That would have been a major mistake. His charges
would have been more than I made the first year. Buckle down, get yourself a
simple bookkeeping manual ( one with sample entries ) and most important—keep
your books up to date. A pile of scraps and receipts is really scary, worse
than non—drying varnish. If you can afford it, a -calculator with print paper
helps make finding mathematical errors a lot easier. Protect yourself with an
accurate up—to—date ledger—remember
Well as through this world I’ve
rambled
I’ve seen lots of funny men.
And some with a fountain pen.
—Woody Guthrie
An essential in mail order business is advertising. That’s
an epistle I may cover in another article. If not, remember——a picture is worth
a thousand words.
THANK YOUS
Thank you to—Henry Davis for his superb Club scrapbook. We
will have it for all to enjoy at the next meeting. If you have photos or other
material to contribute——Henry’s the man.
Thank you again to Bill Shirley for all o those “nylon”
wheels———they made for many miles and many smiles.
FUTURE PROGRAMS
Bill Knight and Tom Cowan are conspiring to bring us a
turning program, maybe in February.
It’s your Club, how about your ideas for programs, field
trips, seminars, community projects. Tom Cowan is anxiously awaiting with an
open mind, and of course, an open wallet. I’m sure he’ll pay big bucks for your
ideas.
What about buying bulk—-Some of our members are in touch
with sources of quantity discounts. If us club members can pool our resources,
we can order in quantities such things as:
Drywall Screws
Glue dowels
Toy wheels
Sandpaper
Jack Townsend’s- clocks
NOTICES
Walt Zimmerman is looking for someone to build him a case
for a mounted pheasant, no , not a-cage for-a peasant.- Contact him or see me
for details
We still have plenty of club members business cards. $3.00
per 100. They really come in handy for
writing down girls phone numbers.
This space will be here monthly. Please let us know if you
have any announcements .. . items for sale... looking for materials or plans..
.work looking for a woodworker. -
SEE YOU
TUESDAY JANUARY 19 7:00
BRING YOUR SPOUSE, YOUR FAMILY
A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR