As you know there was great enthusiasm at the 3 day Chandler Congress last summer in August 2003. It will take much more than 3 days and enthusiasm to have a functional Guild that operates 365 days per year. At the Congress we agreed that 2004 would be an exploratory year to decide what form the Guild would take as a permanent organization. We found out that a volunteer Board of 12 people cannot devote the time and effort necessary without financial compensation. The Guild is a great idea that must now move from good idea to a functional reality.
We decided not to have a similar 3 day "show" this summer, but rather skip one year of Chandler Congress until we can build a working organization so that a Chandler Guild Congress event in Summer 2005 will have proper followup and a strong Guild organizartion behind it.
I personally am busy working more than full time just building a growing market for soy wax. The Guild organizational structure is thus being pursued by the folks at Sohodojo.
They are moving the Sohodojo office from Montana to Iowa to have a permanent Chandler Guild Office. They are also assembling the working capital to have a full time Guild staff.
Jim and Timlynn of Sohodojo are presently preoccupied with the physical move from Montana to Iowa. You will be provided with full Chandler Guild organizational details in the fall. You can keep posted on their progress at:
www.sohodojo.com
I hope this brief outline provides a clear understanding of the status of Chandler Guild and our plans for the next step in this process.
I hope your own individual candle making enterprises are all progressing well.
Best regards;
Michael Richards
www.soyawax.com