End of Year Message from Our Executive Director
Read on to learn why this doggo is such a special reminder of the power of community, creativity, and collaboration! Photo credit: Mark Boysen via Google Reviews
Its the time of year when I sift through every contact in my rolodex and reach out to say hello ("Hello!"), thank you for supporting HatchSpace (“Thank you!”), and ask you to hear my case for giving to HatchSpace once more. Please take a moment to join me in recapping the year and looking ahead.
Before we dive in, I’d like to share how truly extraordinary HatchSpace is as a community workshop nestled along the Connecticut River in Brattleboro. I’ve worked in many arts environments and have never encountered one that blends the qualities of founder vision (that’s you, Tom!), operational expertise (shout out to my team!), and community buy-in (all of you!) that I have found here. And I want to say that, for an organization of our size and age – we’re coming out of our second year of operation – we’ve had an incredible year. Thank you for being a part of our success.
Here are a few data-driven highlights:
Delivered on a $477,344 YTD operating budget, an increase of 4 percent over FY22
Increased our staff from 2FTE's to 3.5FTE’s, a 43 percent increase in capacity
Expanded our instructor pool from 21 to 33 instructors, a 27 percent talent increase
Grown our member community from 104 to 133, a 22 percent increase
Awarded 19 scholarships totalling $4,396, an increase of 300 percent over FY22
Hosted 96 classes that engaged 326 adult students
Hosted 9 youth workshops and camps that engaged 119 young people
Engaged 11 volunteers who contributed over 1,700 hours to the care of HatchSpace
Made 720 board feet of premium hardwoods available to members and students (hard maple being the most popular at 311 board feet!)
As you know, data only tells one dimension of a story. The other side of our story is that of human connection, of the community that is forming around woodworking and the impact we have in one another's lives. One example is Mark Boysen’s story.
Mark was involved in one of our skateboard workshops which we ran for adults for the first time this year. In his own words, the class was taught by, “Such a gifted instructor/leader [who] was great at highlighting everyone’s project’s unique points so naturally everyone was into not just their own project, but we were a community of sorts by the end. As much as I love my customized skateboard, the experience itself of community and new friends, was a hella great bonus for myself, and I’d bet others.” What Mark doesn’t say in his generous Google Review is that the skateboard he designed and built was made for his doggo!
Last year when I wrote to you, I promised that we’d make real progress in the following areas:
We’d work with The Retreat Farm to lead community builds of 20-25 large multipurpose event tables. We’ve signed our MOU to build 40 tables and will have our first training in December and seven more build sessions in 2024.
We’d renovate the Boys and Girls Club’s aging skateboard ramps. Thanks to volunteers Phil F., Keith S., and Stephen M. we completed this work in June 2023.
The Root Social Justice Center would host an affinity space for BIPOC woodworkers. Thanks to support from The Root and member Andrew C. we’ve been able to host these open workshops free-of charge since May of 2023.
HatchSpace welcomed educator and television personality Char Miller-King back as guest camp counselor for a session of Rosie’s Girls at HatchSpace. Char’s visit provided insight, inspiration, and motivation to the entire team.
HatchSpace ran our first week-long boat building workshop at Scott Farm Orchard led by master builder Bill Thomas. The class ran with five participants and was a big hit. We’re excited to give this another go in 2024.
I also pledged that HatchSpace would host artist and furniture maker Aspen Golann for two workshops in hand sweeps and broom making. Due to scheduling conflicts we were not able to bring this incredibly talented woodworker to Brattleboro in 2023; never fear, they’re on the calendar for 2024!
None of this progress would be possible without the sustained giving of 229 individual donors like you who make contributions from $5/month to $50,000 per year - whatever fits your budget. I would be personally honored to add you to our Giving Ellipse this year (think "donor circle" but our way)!
Looking toward 2024 I'm excited to share our plans and invite your support. Among the most significant undertakings to be completed in Q1 of 2024 is the acquisition of a mission-aligned for-profit company. Our bid here is that the purchase of the company will extend our value proposition and provide a reliable income stream to finance our operations. We should be ready for a formal public announcement in the first week of the new year. In the meantime, if you would like more information about this initiative don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Over the next year HatchSpace will grow a range of programs and activities that include:
Develop our "Recovery Boards" program with Recovery Partners of Vermont and others, with the intent to support people living with substance abuse disorders.
Train and coordinate volunteers from local organizations to build 40 farm tables for Retreat Farm, made possible through the support of numerous individual donors.
Work with youth participants at the Boys and Girls Club to build up to six game tables for their community center.
Host Vermont Woodworking School's first 9-week introduction to furniture-making intensive in Southern Vermont.
Run up to five Rosie's Girls carpentry camps that build middle school girls' skills, creativity and confidence this summer.
Bring Vermont Works for Women's Trailblazers carpentry training program to Southern Vermont for the first time
Along the way we'll continue to serve a growing membership community of up to 150 woodworkers, offer up to 120 classes for woodworkers of all skill and experience levels, expand our instructor pool to 50 gifted woodworking instructors, and continue to host BIPOC Mondays open studio. Among many other good things that happen every day!
In all ways we will continue to expand on and deliver inclusive and accessible programs that make the joy of woodworking available to all. In all, I’d say its pretty breathtaking and I am so thrilled at what our community has been able to accomplish. Thank you for being a part of our mission and helping us to deliver tangible community impact! Will you join our Giving Ellipse by making a gift again this year? Please make a fully tax-deductible donation here:
https://www.hatchspace.org/give
Let me know if you have any questions. And sincere and warm holiday regards,
lars
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Lars Hasselblad Torres, Executive Director
HatchSpace, a 501(c)(3) community workshop
EIN 46-2309129
www.hatchspace.org
(802) 552-8202