The many activities of SDFWA super volunteer Jim Strawn could be best described such as this year’s Oscar-winning movie, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Jim’s a familiar sight at the many gathering spots of San Diego’s fine woodworkers. And he’s always busy.
Let’s check off the list of his impressive accomplishments, as well as his activities:
First, we should mention his important new role in the association.
This past spring and summer, Jim was one of the top managers in charge of organizing and running the popular Design in Wood exhibition at the San Diego County Fair.
Now he takes over the leadership role for DIW in 2024 and beyond. He just recently assumed the title of director of the annual DIW competition.
Jim’s very familiar with the DIW. He’s been one of the paid volunteers who helped keep the event running smoothly for many years. He brings a lot of ability to the table.
But one of his true loves is toy building and helping children.
He directs one of the association’s toy builds, “Toy Building with Jim,” that’s met for many years. And which now gathers from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Member Shop. The group builds toys for the Holiday Gift Sale as well as donations to nonprofits helping children.
In years past, he ran another toy build program three Saturdays a year at Palomar College, which involved the general woodworking community.
By the way, Jim’s known to give away a few special toys when neighborhood kids visit his shop. “I don’t like them to go away with something a little special,” he says.
But as much as he loves toy building, this is not all that he does.
For example, he periodically teaches a workshop making a small, portable workbench so that members without a shop can do woodworking at home.
And he manages the tool raffle at the club’s general meetings. He’s given away more fancy hand planes than he can remember.
Finally, let’s point out that he is a TV personality! In years past he’s stepped up to be one of the on-camera spokespeople for TV crews covering DWFWA’s Holiday Gift Sale. Jim’s a natural in front of the camera.
When Covid-19 struck in early 2020 –and many face-to-face activities were put on hold, Jim was one of the club's most active members in continuing outreach to the community.
For example, he led a small group that made desks for young students and another group that made a dozen free-standing kiosks or lending libraries for underserved elementary students living in East San Diego.
That effort won high praise from community leaders.
And speaking of community outreach, several years ago he led a group that taught a Scout troop in Point Loma how to build simple toolboxes.
However, building toys is one of his favorite activities when it comes to woodworking.
Over the years, Jim has simplified toy building–to the point where he hands out plastic bags holding the parts required to build a wood toy—along with step-by-step instructions on how to mill each piece so that it fits perfectly.
Members can take the bags home, build a toy and drop them off. The process was a godsend for the many members forced to stay at home during the Covid shutdown.
Over the years Jim’s streamlined toy construction into a science.
For example, he makes the wooden wheels for many of the toys, since commercial sources have dried up due to fears that children might ingest and choke on a part.
He notes that the wheels on each toy are well secured to prevent such injuries as choking.
He confesses always has a few toys around his workshop so that when he hosts a young visitor, he always has something to hand out.
And often, he has to hand out two toys, one to the parent as well as one to the kids.
“Many parents don’t want their kids playing with the toys, they think they are too fragile to be played with,” he says.
The build sessions at the shop are so organized that participants can turn out a lot of toys in a brief period.
“When members come to the build, the materials are on hand, so that they have everything they need.”
He likes to divide up and brief each participant on each task that is to be completed.
“I just want to share what little knowledge I have with others,” says Jim. “I don’t have many secrets, but those I do have I like to pass along to others.”
“You get out what you put in,” he says.
“Jim is truly one of the association’s super volunteers,” says SDFWA President Lou Adzima. “He’s a friendly, high-energy guy who deserves our appreciation for all that he does.”
Written by Columnist Tom York