Diablo Woodworkers Launch Plans for Growth
Since the Diablo Woodworkers was founded in 1997, the club's roster has grown to more than 100. It's established a school that's trained hundreds of amateur woodworkers, provided community services, engaged nationally recognized speakers, awarded scholarships and more. We're still growing and the board of directors sees this as the time to prepare for the future.
First on the list, the Diablo Woodworkers has become a California nonprofit corporation, recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. This means we have a mission that benefits the general public. In our case, that's preserving, teaching and fostering appreciation for the skills of woodworking.
After a year of studying the pros and cons of more formally organizing the club, the board determined that becoming a 501(c)(3) held considerable benefits. Among them:
• Obtain better liability protection for the club members and visitors.
• Offer tax deductible receipts for donations.
• Appeal to large vendors who can only donate to tax-deductible organizations.
Second is an ambitious plan to grow Diablo Woodworkers and the resources it provides to the community.
While some are still tentative, future plans on the table for members include:
• A more feature-rich website, that can offer forums, videos, blogs and enhanced member-only sections.
• Expand our community projects with city libraries, scouting programs and school programs.
• Hands-on seminars with recognized professionals and subjects not offered at our school.
• Celebrity speaker programs.