2001 Texas Workshop

Texas Inland Fisheries Center Pavilion Workshop
March 5, 2001
Athens, Texas

It's been raining in East Texas for a couple of months now. The place is now one large system of interconnected lakes. Or at least it seems that way. But as in the three past workshops here in East Texas today's weather is absolutely perfect. An unbelievably gorgeous sunrise greeted the instructors and class participants as we gathered at the building site for our first formal meeting. A light breeze and temps in the 60's are fast drying the grounds here at the Center. Our first unofficial meeting last evening was a feast of seafood gumbo prepared by our host Alan Forshage. Like great weather, this gumbo feed is also fast becoming an East Texas workshop tradition.

The thirty students are a diverse lot. Geographically, they range from British Columbia to New Hampshire and Illinois to Louisiana. There's a surprisingly large contingent from New York and the expected substantial contingent from Texas. They range in age from mid-20's to mid-70's and occupation from rocket scientists (real, not imagined) to hair dresser to tradespeople. They are an eager, motivated and very positive bunch. They will likely be somewhat wind and sunburned by the end of the week should this weather persist.

The instructor corps is the typically fine group that the Guild regularly provides for such affairs. Donna Williams, David Dauerty, Mark Olson, Jim Holzknecht and Leon Buckwalter are being very effective in passing on their knowledge and assisting the students in making use of that knowledge. Only minor confusion has reigned due to vagaries in the drawings.

As of 3:30 CST today it looks as if all the main posts and connecting girts will be completed by the end of the day and the layout of the eight queen posts has begun. Discussion of the raising has already begun. One plan to reduce work up high calls for a hand raising of the four main trusses and all associated roof members on the ground. The two long walls in the lower portion of the frame would be raised first and the entire roof system would be lifted in one big pick by a crane and set atop the walls. Careful study of this option is underway. Questions remain as to whether or not the saturated ground here will support a crane large enough to make this rather heavy pick. Other methods are also under consideration in the event the primary pl an proves untenable. Stay tuned for more details.

It is my intention to provide periodic reports on progress on this project so check back from time to time to see how we're doing.