Musings

Groopshop 2017

Almost two decades ago a crusty but brilliant fellow named Alan Marriage, a self employed furniture restorer in the hinterlands of Idaho, began an internet forum named The Professional Refinisher’s Group, mostly so that he would have someone to talk to about the trade.  “Groop,” as it is affectionately known, is open to anyone interested in becoming a member (I think membership is about $60/year, with moderated email exchange five times a week every week year-round).

At the time Groop began my portfolio of responsibilities at the Smithsonian included public education, and our  fifteen year run of the Furniture Conservation Training Program was winding down so I was looking for some new avenues for introducing the principles of furniture preservation.  (FCTP may be unique in the annals of Federal projects in that it had an explicit set of goals, and when those goals were accomplished the program was terminated.  As someone once said, “There is nothing so permanent as a ‘temporary’ government program.”  This explains the special WWII-era tax on rubber products that remains in place and you pay every time you buy a set of tires today!)  “Groop” seemed like a perfect venue and I signed up immediately.

I’ve been an active participant in this web-based community ever since, and soon it evolved into a periodic two- or three-day gathering of members for fellowship and learning.  Most recently we were hosted by the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking.  What was once a trade meeting of strip-and-dip shop owners has matured into a remarkably sophisticated exchange of technical (mostly finishing and restoration projects) and business information (virtually all of the members are self employed) that is first rate.

So once again we gathered for a couple days of presentations, fellowship, learning, and teaching.

Up next – The Program.