I just got back from the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild conference in Palm Springs, CA.  It was an awesome 3-day experience!  Being the current President of the Soap Guild, I had responsibilities while there and was involved in the preparations (although Leigh O’Donnell, the Conference Chairman, was truly the mastermind behind it all).  I loved having the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones.  We soapmakers certainly are an interesting and passionate lot!

OSWA - Oregon Small Woodland Association, Coos-Curry County Chapter, has a new President.  As of the Annual Meeting (sometime in March) I will be taking the reins for the local chapter.  I’ve been on the Board (and not really doing much) for a year now.  Last week I decided that if I’m going to do it, I might as well DO it.  It’s not as if I don’t know how to be the President of a small non-profit group!

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Today has been such a diverse day.  Normally people tend to stick to one or two somewhat related things during the course of business.  Today I’ve been all over the map.

First thing this morning I worked on preparing a time line and pack of documentation to deliver to an attorney in time for him to read it before a 9:00 am meeting tomorrow.

In the middle of that I had to stop and check on the fence repairs around the barn.

While doing that, I found out there was a herd of about 30 elk down the hill, so everything stopped while we jumped in the truck with binoculars and camera to go check it out.

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That’s what the license plate holder on my truck says now.  I kust put the new Handcrafted Soap Guild license plate holder on my truck.  Required a little cleaning up of things to get the mud off, but I think it looks pretty nice!

It’ll be cool to drive around and have it be known that I’m a member of the HSMG and a soapmaker. Maybe it will get people thinking when we’re towing a horse trailer or carrying a load of hay.

As I write this I am finishing up all the loose ends to get ready to leave. Very excited (now that most of the stress or the preparations is done)!

The HSMG Annual Conference is a really big deal within the soapmaking community and for me as the President of the HSMG. Leigh O’Donnell, the Conference Chairman, has everything well under control and I expect that this is going to be a real extravaganza. My jobs are mainly talking with the members and finding out what the Board and I can do to improve the overall experience of being a member and the overall effectiveness of the organization as a whole.

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