Port Moody Men’s Shed Society gets ready to open its doors
Food Bank Chute
Report on a Coquitlam Shed project
Location: Gordon Church, Burnaby
Charity: “Don’t Go Hungry” Food Bank
Visionary: Rhonda Gale
The Team: Cal, Robbie, Dave3 & Doug2
What is to be accomplished?
Move the groceries from the parking lot to the Church basement.
The plan:
Build a chute from the parking lot to the basement (Static conveyor), easy eh?
The hitch:
1. A condemned handicap chair lift is installed on the stairs.
2.The chute must fold up against the wall so the stairs and handrail are accessible.
The action:
1. Remove and recycle the handicap chair lift.
2. Plan, build, paint & install the chute
The results :
Check out the photos and …
You be the judge.
The acceptance :👍👍 & many more thumbs up.
Groceries moved in record time with minimal effort!
Sorry you must click on each picture to download, then view each individually.
Men Helping the Community
Doug 2
More on the First MSABC Conference
A few days ago I got a copy of the video that was made at the October 2021 conference in Squamish.
It is a short but poignant video. Look out for the burgundy boys, that’s the mob from Coquitlam. Enjoy.
Wow what a conference!!!!!!!!!
I just got home from the first Men’s Shed Association of BC conference and I am bursting to share my thoughts.
The Squamish Shed had worked hard to make this a top-notch conference so it was no surprise that the program was varied, interesting and fun.
Karen Elliott, the Mayor of Squamish welcomed us and participated in the first session which was about the importance of partnerships. All the sessions were interesting and informative.
Colin Knecht of WoodWorkWeb.com wowed us with his top ten woodworking tips and jigs.
Dr. David Gayton advised us about the hopeless quest to survive old age and we did wellness exercises designed to fill us with energy. I don’t know if it was the quality of the program or the exercises but I never came close to nodding off.
At lunch there was a video message from John Latchford, the chair of the UK Men’s Shed Association and there was a report about the Canadian National Association from Doug Mackie. Doug was also presented with a spectacular commemorative plaque in recognition of all he has done for Men’s Sheds in Canada. Jim Gracie, who established the Men’s Shed Association of BC was also honoured.
At dinner Barry Golding, Men’s Shed researcher and author, addressed us from his home in Australia.
All around the room there were many examples of the fine work done in the Sheds.
But what made this conference stand out beyond any conference I have ever been to before were the people who attended. Men and women dedicated to making Men’s Sheds work. There were many moving stories about how being involved in a Shed had affected the lives of men. Then there were many stories of how the Sheds had benefitted their communities (often in collaboration with others).
I felt like I was with old friends who I had never met before but I was mostly moved to meet brand new Prince George delegation over a hamburger. In talking to Devon, I realized that he had probably learned in 1 day what it took me years to learn. I almost envy Devon for the fun ride ahead of him as he helps establish his new Shed.
Thanks Squamish, thanks BC Shedders, yon made this a truly great conference, I can’t wait for the next one. Also, thanks to the United Way for supporting the conference.
Mike Jennings. Coquitlam.
Mens Shed Conference Mentioned
Canajun EH!
Today I decided to go down to the Shed and put the new flag up.
Doesn’t get much more Canuck than that. The flag in the window is a permanent replacement for the paper flag we had there to honour all the essential workers who have seen us through the pandemic. Thanks to 2.
Happily the Shed is beginning to free up. It is open to all on Tuesday afternoons and Fridays and there is more working area thanks to the new container and Doug 2 being relegated to the old storage area.
Happy Canada Day to one and all.
Mike.
Mother’s Day
Thanks to the Men’s shed I was able to finish off a hand railing for a great mom. In time for her Mother’s Day.
Mending Wooden Chairs
Inactivity Report – Mid December 2019
David Q and Karl were seen to be working this month. That darned “work ethic” seems to be creeping into the Shed again. Not to worry I am sure Doug 2 and I will be able to quash it before the New Year.
For some reason someone decided that this perfectly good set of kitchen cabinets needed work. Something about the draws falling apart, nothing Red Green couldn’t have fixed with some duct tape.
Forgetting all about the values they had learned from the Shed leadership, things like you are retired it is time to take it easy and have a cup of tea, these two got stuck in.
New material was consumed to make new draws using real wood.
And in the end, you wind up with something that closely resembles the original cabinet. Dah!!!
Definitely going to have to do some re-education with these two.
Inactivity Report – November 2019
What happened to the rest of the summer and the fall?
There was so much activity that there was little inactivity to report about but today was so special, here I am.
I am the healthiest, best looking 75-year-old you have ever known so I was stunned last Saturday to learn that I am in need of triple bypass surgery.
I shared this information with fellow shedder Doug Gale (the guy that gets into all our photos).
Tuesday is our breakfast meeting and this morning (3 days later) Doug had arranged for Rolf Gullmes, a volunteer with the Pacific Open Heart Association, to talk about his experience. My apprehension is still there but I also feel somewhat reassured and beginning to look forward to feeling strong again by next spring.
As well as Rolf there were two other shedders who have taken this path and others shared similar experiences.
Rolf emphasized the importance of asking your Doctor for a stress test if you even have a suspicion of a problem. I am lucky, I have a problem that can be solved by surgery, I don’t have a damaged heart. A delay and I may have had a heart attack which will damage the heart.
Thanks Doug, Rolf and the rest of the boys for your timely support. You are everything a shed should be.
Mike.