Constitution
Mandate
· To develop the creative and economic potential of value-created (design-led) furniture manufacturing in British Columbia.
· To establish a world-wide reputation for the the quality of British Columbia furniture design and manufacturing.
· To enable individual and smaller-scale furniture producers to benefit from shared
resources, materials, training and marketing.
Governance
· Non-profit society operating under a constitution that sets quality standards for membership
and clearly defines individual and collective responsibilities.
· Five-person board representing all constituents (including workshop strata council) to
determine overall policy and direction.
· Three-person board (elected by members) to supervise duties of Division managers.
Organization (Four Integrated Divisions)
Resource Conversion Division
Objectives
· Conversion and processing of timber and veneer to the Centre's specifications.
· Promotion of certified wood and woodlot management.
· Utilization of "marginal" species, thinnings and "urban" forest.
· Co-operation with established small-scale sawmills.
Type of Facility
· Air/solar-dry storage and sort yard.
· Two or three small-scale dry kilns supplying the Centre's
wood and performing research and development.
· Veneer saw and edge gluing equipment.
· Research lab for wood surface enhancement projects, e.g. densification, resin coatings, pigments, textures, patterns, etc.
Staff
· One manager/researcher assisted by instructors and students
of the training program.
· Co-operation with high school work-study programs.
Cost Recovery
· Corporate sponsorships and donations of new/recycled equipment.
· Sale of wood through Centre store.
· Sale of research reports, kiln plans, etc
· Custom projects, orders and recycling off-cuts to K-12 schools.
· Federal Government R & D grants to fund manager's salary.
Workshop Division
Objectives
· To develop a strata-titled multi-workshop member owned building.
· Establish procedures for the democratic operation of the shared
facilities.
· Establish member design/quality standards criteria.
· Assist with mortgages and inventory financing.
Type of Facility
· Modular structure providing 10-15 member-owned workshops
of 2,000-4,000 sq. ft.
· Shared overflow workshop and veneering facility.
· Shared conversion and abrasive planing workshop.
· Shared metal working facility.
· Shared environmentally friendly finishing workshop.
· Shared R & D facility with CNC work centre and other small-scale
computer-based machines (supervised by the staff and students
of the training program).
· Shared computers and peripherals.
· Shared "cost-plus" store for wood, panels, veneer,
hardware, etc. (items to be unique and non-competitive with established
private sector outlets).
Staff
· One full-time manager.
Cost Recovery
· Corporate sponsorships and donations of new/recycled equipment.
· Profits from store sales and charges for use of shared workshops.
· Membership fees based on workshop size and gross sales.
· Federal Government R & D grants.
· A proportional member levy to fund manager's salary.
Training Division
Objectives
· Train designer/makers capable of owning/operating smaller-scale
businesses.
· Develop a "Made in BC" style of furniture and other
design-based wood products.
· Co-operation with other educational programs.
Enrolment
· Two-year course, six-month program instruction and six-month
apprenticeship with a Centre member/program.
· Entrance requirements: completion of two/three years of college design/fine woodworking programs approved by the Centre.
· All Centre members to play an equal role in the apprenticeship
scheme.
· Fifteen students per year.
Type of Facility
· 3,000 sq. ft. general-purpose workshop.
· Multi-purpose lecture facility and meeting room to be shared
with the Centre.
Staff
· One full-time instructor (part-time courses taught by
members).
Cost Recovery
· Tuition fees (students to be paid during apprenticeship).
· Fees for programs open to the general public (i.e., evening
courses/lectures).
· Sale of projects and corporate sponsorships.
· "Education" funding to cover instructor's salary.
Marketing Division
Objectives
· Promote all Centre divisions.
· Provide public and wholesale buyer access.
· Act as sales agent for all Centre divisions.
· Develop/promote "certified" and allergy-free products.
· Encourage development of wholesale product lines and set retail sales policies.
Promotion
· Collective exhibits at international trade shows.
· Catalogue, on-line database and Internet Web site.
Type of Facility
· 1,000 - 2,000 sq. ft. exhibition/ showroom.
Staff
· One full-time sales manager.
Cost Recovery
· Membership fees.
· Percentage fee on gross showroom sales.
· Percentage fee on custom sales generated for members.
· Fees from a networked accounting system.
· Start-up funds for a marketing study/sales manager.
Copyright Stephen Harrison, 1995-2004
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