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This past Wednesday, the parking lot at the Williamsport Community Woodshop, part of the Factory Works nonprofit in the Pajama Factory was full of cars. Betsy Kimberling, financial manager and volunteer of five years and Jeffrey Aurand, manager and volunteer for the past two years of the Woodshop said they "loved it like this."
Aurand was deep into finishing off a Woodshop project when he started to talk of his passion for the Woodshop. There is "a working together" ebb and flow generated throughout the Woodshop, and he said, "we all help each other."
Aurand, a native of Williamsport, graduated college in 1988, and went immediately into the IT consulting field. Aurand emphasized, for most of his career he was on the "airplane a lot."
Aurand said he wanted to retire from his executive position in 2019, "dispense of personal belongings" and travel. Sadly, he had some very close deaths in his family and changed his plans.
Aurand sold his house in Rochester, New York in January 2020 and returned to Williamsport right at the beginning of Covid. He said, "Covid for me, was a reminder to stop work." So, instead of traveling to different places he traveled to the Center for Furniture Craftmanship in Maine run by Director Peter Korn, and Tim Rousseau, lead instructor, for 9 months of schooling.
Aurand had nothing but compliments for this school and how amazing it was for him to experience and said how "lucky" he was to take the school as Korn retired right after his class finished. Aurand said due to Covid, he was not able to get the social experience. However, it was his first time he was able to be "committed to one thing and loved this feeling."
Despite social distancing, Aurand was focused, made beautiful furniture and was able to meet with Rousseau recently.
"The school prepared me for the woodworking challenges at the factory," Aurand said.
People will come in and mention their plan to him and even if Aurand has not done this before, he can go back to what he calls his "tool set" and help people get to their master plan from start to finish. Aurand then commented "it doesn't exist, if you do not exist." Kimberling chimed in, "how profound" as they laughed.
"It's very true though," Aurand said. "For example, Betsy's jewelry box which she is making for her daughter will be around forever and she will always have that like DNA!"
Aurand said woodworkers are "ninety-five percent critical of their work, but then just are blown away by it when they see the finished product. It's good for your soul and if you introduce a little bit of beauty into this world, you have made it a better place. The word needs to be spread."
"We impart our wisdom no matter how little or big the project," Kimberling added.
She emphasizes how they teach beginners to experts. Aurand exuded energy when he said, "Without fail, I am always amazed when people reach the last phase of the process, when they put the oil on the wood and their faces light up. I try to take a picture of each person when this happens."
They offer two classes which teach two different skill sets-the cutting board class and the bowl turning class.
Usually, people do not come in wanting to build furniture right away and Kimberling advises "we teach everyone a safety class and safety is our number one priority."
Before Covid there was a "pretty robust class schedule" and they are now very committed to having at least one class per month. The Woodshop just did a cutting board class in January and have a bowl turning class coming in February. Aurand added they also received a grant recently from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts (PCA), with which they are going to "expand their tools so they can increase their capacity for their classes."
Aurand says the Woodshop is a non-profit organization run by volunteers, membership fees, class fees and any generous donations for ever-increasing prices on tools and fixing equipment. Aurand emphasizes it is a "constant balance" and they would like to get more Community interest. They just celebrated their 10th-year anniversary in which they had an Open House and mentioned they do "piggyback" off the Pajama Factory.
The Woodshop also has a Veterans Program that offers veterans safety training for free and fifteen percent discount on their membership. With the veteran population at about a third of their membership, Aurand is so grateful for the donation from PMF Industries. They are working on a new website which launches Feb. 5 at www. FactoryWorks.org, in which veterans gift certificates can be issued. Veterans can be in control of how to use these funds for membership, classes, lockers or materials.
The Woodshop has participated in "Raise the Region Initiative," which is in March this year for fundraising.
"We are a very welcoming shop, you can come in from any background, any level of wood working experience, any stage of life and we will help you," Aurand added.
Aurand says he is always looking for opportunities to keep tools up to date.
"We are unique in that we have a monitor on the floor every minute the shop is open and make sure people are comfortable using the equipment," Kimberling said. "If you don't know about the Woodshop, you don't know about the wealth this community has!"