June - San Diego Woodturners

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San Diego Woodturners Page 18 June 2013 Turn Around For Vets (TAV) Update By Tom Lightner As most of you know, SDWT has been sponsoring the Turn Around for Vets (TAV) program for some time. In fact, we are going into our fourth year since Nan Bushley, Ken Roth, Allen Driver and others conceived and then began a small program at the Naval Medical Center (NMC) San Diego. At that time the mission was defined: to provide woodturning as a means of mental and physical therapy for our Wounded Warriors. Further, the program would be of no cost to our Nations’ heroes nor to the government. In it’s infancy, the program at NMC, championed by Ken Roth, consisted of 5 Delta midi lathes with stands, including one specially modified for wheelchairs. The equipment was stored in the Armed Services YMCA offices at the NMC and had to be transported each week to the courtyard near where the troops were receiving their physical and occupational therapy. SDWT members provided the manpower (our instructors!) to move the equipment via elevators and hallways-a very labor intensive task to say the least! Weather was always a concern and the courtyard was also used for other types of therapy causing scheduling difficulties. Nonetheless, the program was underway with sessions once a month. Shortly after the program began, it became apparent that many of our heroes had difficulty mastering the use of conventional woodturning chisels given the nature of their injuries as well as the time made available for woodturning activity. It became clear they must be able to complete a simple project such as a pen or bottle stopper in an hour or less. At this point, we introduced the use of Easy Wood Tools (carbide tipped tools) and found that the vets could master their use quickly with minimal instruction and supervision, complete a product in the time available, resulting in an almost instantaneous feeling of accomplishment. The therapeutic affect of woodturning became apparent as big smiles returned to their faces, and at least temporarily, relieved some of the pain and stress of healing from their injuries. And all of us were filled with great joy from making such a significant contribution to their recovery. But the challenge of conducting woodturning in the courtyard continued. Space is at a premium at NMCa very large, multifunctional hospital but hemmed in by Balboa Park and a series of freeways. However, after making an urgent plea with the Commanding Officer of NMC, space was finally found where we could not only store our lathes and equipment but also use it as a “Woodturning Center”. After moving into the facility, we added more Delta Midi lathes, up to five at one point, had storage space for wood and tools, and perhaps most important, in an area easily accessible by our warriors. Three more lathes were modified for wheelchairs. We were able to expand our operation to two days a week to best accommodate patients schedules and free time. We currently operate the center every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM but remain flexible to the needs of various treatment programs. Recently, the number of wounded admitted to the hospital has declined significantly with the war winding down in Afghanistan, however a large number of vets continue to come to NMC for treatment. We also started offering woodturning to the spouses of the wounded, rather then have them sit in waiting rooms watching TV while their wounded mate received treatment. This turned out to be very popular! We currently have 8 - 10 patients each week visit our Woodturning Center and some have advanced to making small bowls and weed pots. Five to eight volunteers each week are needed to support this program with Ken Roth as Chairman. As woodturning became more popular and “the word” spread through the Wounded Warrior community, Nan Bushley and a wounded Marine, Sgt Jesse (Continued on page 19)
San Diego Woodturners Page 19 June 2013 (TAV - continued from page 18) James, whom Nan had given woodturning instruction, took the initiative to start a program at the Wounded Warrior Battalion, Camp Pendleton. This unit had recently moved to a new facility built especially for the treatment of the wounded. In June 2012, a demo was held at the facility. Almost immediately, the Marines were “hooked” and requested a weekly woodturning session and provided suitable space for storage of our equipment as well as a woodturning area on the patio of the main barracks building. Demand continued to grow and more lathes and volunteers were added. Currently, we have nine lathes at Pendleton and just recently started operating twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3:00 PM. We are averaging about 15 warriors each session making pens, bottle stoppers, basting brushes, etc. Again, some have acquired skills to start making bowls, small platters, etc. but pens continue to be most popular. A recent visit by the USMC Inspector General hailed the program as an outstanding contribution to aiding in the recovery of our wounded Marines! From the start, it was determined that TAV should be supported through donations of money and equipment. Donations have come from churches, civic organizations, individuals and vendors of equipment and supplies. Several vendors provide significant discounts for purchases. Rockler has been one of our great supporters! However, as the program grew, so did the need for additional funding. A donation of $1,000 was used to purchase a lathe with the name of the donor placed on a small brass plaque on the lathe. So most of the lathes were purchased through sole donors. Pens have been made and sold at Gallery 21, the San Diego Fair and other places. But additional funds were needed to help pay for pen kits, ice cream scoops, finishing supplies, etc. In May of 2012, I made contact, together with my son, Jeff, with the owner of the Torrey Pines Lodge Gift Shop, Mrs. Susan Evans. Together, we thought the Gift Shop could sell items made by our club members using Torrey pine wood gleaned from fallen trees and limbs around the Torrey Pines Golf complex. Mrs Evans was excited about the program and designated a shelf in her shop for the sale of our items with a small sign indicating the proceeds from the sale of such items would be used to support our TAV program. I was given a source for the wood and solicited volunteers to make pens, bowls, bottle stoppers from the Torrey pine wood I gave them and place them for sale in her shop. Initially, Mrs. Evans was to keep a small amount of the sales proceeds but she decided it was for such a great cause, she gives the club ALL the proceeds from the sale of our items. A number of Club members have stepped up to the plate to make items from Torrey pine wood and the demand is increasing!!! As of this writing, the Club has received over $3,000 to support TAV in just one year from Gift Shop sales! TAV is in great financial shape! Like all our programs, much depends on volunteers from our membership and TAV is no different. You do not need to be a “veteran” or have any military experience-just know how to turn wood and be willing to teach these most worthy, and deserving men and women!! We also have a continuing need for items made from Torrey pine wood to make bowls,weed pots, small boxes, etc. for sale in the Gift Shop!! Just ask Tom Lightner for some wood and he’ll get it to you!! In summary, TAV is a program for which the members of SDWT can be justly proud--and I am so proud to be a part of it!! Some of the Crew!
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