November Tour
Gordon Tool
1301 OH-49, Payne, OH 45880
Thursday, November 15th at 6:00 PM
November Tour – Hobby, Job, and/or Career Opportunities In Machining.
(Editorial note: Please think about bringing young people and spouses. This has endured as a flexible, well-paid, and healthy long-term income opportunity even during the 2008 recession, sometimes offering paid on the job training. Age or gender have not been much of a factor, including spouses with empty nests.)
Anyone interested in Machining, Design, Engineering, or any other mechanically oriented line of work will find this worthwhile. It is intended to be an educational tour for anyone regarding the fields of Tool & Die, Design, or Engineering.
Gordon Tool is a small privately held Machine Shop. The tour will encompass the advantages of and challenges of manufacturing both prototype and small run parts used in all areas of the American economy. Parts produced at Gordon Tool can be found in ambulances, Olympic ski-sled, mold or progressive dies used to manufacture any variety of consumer product. Skilled tradesmen at Gordon Tool take pride in their abilities to produce high-quality parts from engineering drawings provided by customers. This evening will include the machine shop with a number of CNC machines including Mills, Lathes, Wire EDM, and Water Jet.
December Social
An Open House (come and go as you please) informal social is being planned for Saturday, December 8, from probably 4:00-8:00 pm at the Rod Vargo and Joan Woerner home at1123 Ludwig Park Drive, just south of Smith Field’s newer terminal.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS EXCEPT for bottled water (tap water also “award-winning”). Folks have too many strong preferences to anticipate needs. Two dedicated refrigerators will be available, and multiple microwaves for the hot end of needs.
The house has a lifetime of curiosities and such, including for kids (but not child-proofed). Three of Joan’s & Rod’s young adult sons will be here, likely full of good chat including paths to becoming self-sufficient. One has a decade of experience importing honey and other items from around the world, particularly parts of west and east Africa “where no one has seen a white person before.” He grew up in California and is based in downtown Boston. Another son, visiting from Minneapolis, has spent a decade focused on managing urban environments. A third is an EE from Rose-Hulman (2017) who is becoming responsible for electrical aspects of a steel mill near Lake Michigan. A young friend may attend who trained at FWCS-Anthis and Ivy Tech in airline engines and maintenance. A popular woodstove in an enclosed back porch will also be available.
Expect pizza and a variety of food. Requests and suggestions prior to the gathering are very welcome (416-0986).
Some parking will be on the grass. Look for blue lines. Do NOT park on the asphalt part of the driveway because that blocks parking spaces.
Future Tours
January tour: Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC)
Thursday, January 24, 7:00 pm, Citizens Square, Room 030 (the nice “Courtroom”, NOT the Omniroom, in the basement)
The Director of NIRCC will provide an overview and then be open for serious give and take regarding virtually all transportation planning and priorities from now through 30 years into the future. NIRCC has a history of following through on properly researched suggestions. They tend to effectively navigate political factors, various trends and fads, and funding sources.
Contact Rod Vargo (416-0986) if needed.
March tour (nothing available yet for February):
TekVenture’s new location and expanded areas of interest.
March 21, 2019, at 1550 Griffin Street, near the Hosey Dam.
Starting time will probably be 6:30 or 7:00 pm.
TekVenture has steadily upsized and updated since its start in a trailer downtown. Current plans for March 21 call for TekVenture’s specialists to demonstrate the work areas and guidance which are available to young people and adults. A few simple projects may be available to make during our tour.
Most of TekVenture is intended for all ages. Expansions include theater, woodworking, and an active Fort Wayne Inventors Club. The FW Inventors Club is also potentially helpful if interested in patent law.