We in the Pacific Americas Branch of the IGKT are making an effort to create something in the nature of "Knotting 101". (And, as usual, Lindsey is doing 99.9% of the work.) Any event we attend/display we give out business cards and fliers about the guild and our branch. At the Newport Beach American Legion Yacht Club's Wooden Boat Festival, we made contact with a person affiliated with an after school organization named THINKtogether (
http://thinktogether.org/). He later contacted me via E-Mail and we (George, Lindsey, and I) set up a 10 week program to teach some knots to kids from grade 5, 6, & 7. I was unable to attend the 1st session, but did go to the 2nd. Then, at the beginning of another class for about 50 Boy Scouts, I had a mini stroke. After Lindsey got me home, my wife made me go to the hospital. I had a right carotid endarterectomy. So I have left Lindsey to teach the THINKtogether classes all by himself. However, The THINKtogether program has several volunteers that are assisting with the students. (We' kinda making a "Train The Trainer" situation out of it.) Wednesday will be the 7th class and I hope to go with Lindsey and hinder him aaahhhh eeerrr I mean help, yes help, that's the word.
We also have plans to present a class on the dragonfly knot and the Monkey's Fist knots at one of the Los Angeles county Public Libraries to teenagers.
Most of this "education" is being shouldered by Lindsey and I try to help when I can.
So - I think the question is - - - anyone else out there trying to (willing to) spread the IGKT's considerable offerings? Doesn't have to be classes like ours (we're willing to share our findings if anyone is interested.) Has anyone made contact with schools regarding "after school" programs? Libraries about youth programs? Boy Scouts and leaders/volunteers?
I do like the idea of more "on line" tutorials, but I think that type of information is for those already interested in & exposed to knotting (IMHO).
If I sound like I'm preaching, yelling, or bragging, I don't mean to - just offering some examples of the kinds of things that can be done. And, I'm sure there are many other ways to spread the word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jimmy