Fraternal Organization Signs ONLY !
View allAll Photos Tagged organization
The organization is not quite in place yet, so our new First Cat has not been appointed. Rags is the most experienced, but less ambitious than Caithlin, who might be an upcoming queen. For now however, they seem to share the responsibility in harmony... :)
Dushara Tatters and Rags & Dushara Cathal Caithlin (Somalis), 28.06.2015
Olympus OMD EM5 Digital Camera
Clock in the City of London, with North American spelling. No idea who 'organised' the installation.
The Organization of Cape Verdean Women (OMCV) in partnership with the Cape Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity (ICIEG) and other partners announced on Sunday, March 7th in the City of Assomada, the main commemorative event of International Women's Day under the motto Djuntu na Paz, nu kombati violênsia na Cabo Verde (Together in Peace, in the fight against violence in Cape Verde).
The opening ceremony was co-chaired by His Excellency the Prime Minister, Jose Maria Neves and the UN System Resident Coordinator, Mrs. Petra Lantz and was also attended by the US Ambassador, Government representatives, and representatives of local municipalities, among others.
Celebrating International Women's Day we know that we join thousands of people around the world, to celebrate a date that marked the world 100 years ago. It is celebrated worldwide this year under the motto Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.
At the same time, the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is celebrated. In 1995 during the IV World Conference on Women, world leaders committed themselves to promote equality, development and peace to women around the world.
The Beijing Declaration remains as current as it was 15 years ago: as long as women are not liberated from poverty and injustice all the objectives for which we work – peace, security and sustainable development - will be threatened. There are several examples of progress, although gender stereotyping and discrimination based on gender persist in all cultures and communities.
The International Women's Day is an opportunity to make a critical review of the successes achieved over the past 15 years, which are not few, and to take stock on how to achieve what is missing.
In Cape Verde a lot has been done since the independence in favor of women, allowing to create a favorable environment for increased participation of women, and to contribute to the development of the country. Great results have been achieved with emphasis on education, health, and political participation of women over the last years. Highlighting at the government level, among the ministers, eight are women.
However, it cannot be said that women have achieved the same equality as men, to emphasize the important achievements in favor of women in Cape Verde and thereby stimulate and continue this struggle. Because social ills still persist, such as unemployment, extreme poverty which affects mostly female heads of households, and the violence against women, that are in flagrant contradiction with the promise contained in the Charter of the United Nations "to promote the social progress and better standards of life in a broader concept of freedom".
The consequences of the violence for women and girls as well as to their families, communities and societies are incalculable. Too often the crimes are unpunished and the criminals go free. In this context the States have the responsibility to protect women and punish their aggressors, ensuring a continuing improvement of judicial processes.
With increasing frequency, men manifest themselves against this blot in our society. It is not easy to change mentalities and habits that endure for generations. It is a task for all – individuals, organizations and governments. We should work together to declare, loud and clear at the highest level, that violence against women will not be tolerated, whatever form it takes, the context in which it occurs and the circumstances that surround it.
Recognizing this fact, the African Union at the Conference of 15-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that was celebrated in March 2010 in New York, launched the African Women's Decade 2010-2020, reaffirming the commitment assumed since the Dakar and Beijing conferences and the resolutions on gender equality and women empowerment taken by the Assembly of the African Union, to accelerate the achievement of results set out in the Millennium Development Goals.
*Ministry of Youth and President of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Work, Family and Social Unity, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Environment, Rural Development and Marine Resources, Secretary of State Adjunct of Prime Minister.
It's funny how, no matter how well you know a person, if you no longer live with them you don't know some of their little habits. Like the way my brother has his shirts color-coordinated to the hangers they are on.
SUNRISE - Red Dawn - at Sea - on Valentine's Day - 7AM
*[left-double-click for a closer-look - calm Atlantic Ocean]
*[literally; opened the cabin black-out curtains...to this!]
Rock Legends Cruise X - February 13th-17th, 2023
Liberty of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_of_the_Seas
Fort Lauderdale - Coco Cay - Fort Lauderdale (5 days)
21 Bands! - Five Day Party - three stages! - 64 Shows!
Concerts all day-and-night from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM
2023 Bands: Roger Daltrey - Deep Purple - George Thorogood
& The Destroyers - Randy Bachman - The Marshall Tucker Band
Lou Gramm - Night Ranger - The Outlaws - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - The Devon Allman Project - Ten Years After
Walter Trout - Gary Hoey - Zebra - Carolyn Wonderland
Vanessa Collier - Skinny Molly - The Georgia Thunderbolts
The Steepwater Band - Sly Fox & The Hustlers - Two Wolf
*Rock Legends VII - (Feb 2019) - Cruise Video Montage
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pIMWuGq2WI&feature=youtu.be&...
*ALL proceeds from ALL the Rock Legends Cruises go to NAHA :
Native American Heritage Association, a non-profit organization
dedicated to fighting hunger and providing basic life necessities
to families living on Reservations in South Dakota, U.S.A.
"Break On Through (To The Other Side)" - The Doors (LIVE 1970)
The WannaGoFast organization was founded in order to fill a niche in the Motorsports marketplace. Our goal was to create a safe and controlled environment for fellow car enthusiasts to pursue their “Need For Speed” without the restrictions of the standard 1/8 or 1/4 mile drag strip. See what it’s like to hit speeds you’ve only dreamed of without the risk of law enforcement or causing injury to others, while being surrounded by on-site safety personnel.
WannaGoFast social media links...
Website: wannagofast.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wannagofastllc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_wannagofast_
The Vogue Theater in downtown Manistee opened in 1938 and operated until 2005. In 2011 it was acquired by a non-profit organization and a $2.6 million restoration began in 2012.
Cheerleaders put on show for 2ID Soldiers
Story by: Sgt. Scott Kim 1HBCT PAO
Soldiers were given a little something extra for the Holidays as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed their Annual Christmas Concert sponsored by the United Service Organization Dec. 29 at Carey Gym on Camp Casey.
The concert was a Vegas-style dance show with lots of costume changes and music ranging from country to hip hop, all to entertain Soldiers and uplift spirits during the holiday season.
Although the cheerleaders themselves missed the holidays in order to come to Korea, many feel that performing for the troops was well worth the sacrifice.
“This is my very first USO tour and it’s been everything I’ve imagined and more,” said Meagan Sharp, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. “It’s been great meeting everybody and see them smile knowing that we brought the a little bit of home to them over Christmas and New Years.”
The cheerleaders gave an energizing and spectacular performance which was extremely well received by Soldiers especially during the audience participation parts.
“They pulled me onstage, told me to stand at parade rest and said I couldn’t move no matter what they did, which was to dance around me,” said Pfc. Anthony Thompkins, a food service specialist for Gulf Co. 302nd BSB. “It was the best experience of my life!”
Along with dancing and trivia from the Cowboys Cheerleaders, Family Morale Welfare and Recreation along with Maj. Gen. John W. Morgan III, commanding general of the 2ID and Lt. Col. Donald Meisler, garrison commander for Camp Casey recognized three Soldiers, Capt. Lauren Shaw, operations officer for 2ID Provost Marshal’s office, Staff Sgt. Kathleen Hedges, a health care specialist for HHC 1st BSTB and Spc. Devin Monroe, a fire support specialist for HHC 2-9 Inf.
Shaw and Hedges were recognized for being on the All-Army Softball team as well as the All-Forces Softball team while Monroe was awarded Athlete of the Year for his participation on Camp Casey’s Flag Football Team.
For some of the cheerleaders it was a particularly touching tour as their own loved ones have served at some time or another.
“I had an uncle in the Marines and I always looked up to him but I never really understood did until I came here,” said Nicole Hamilton, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. “Now I have an even greater respect for the military and I can see his (her uncle’s) aspect on things.”
The Soldiers and cheerleaders alike are grateful for the support and sacrifice each makes to the other in order to help them along with whatever it is they do, whether it’s on the field of battle or at a football game.
“I feel good personally knowing that I did my part to make somebody happy, keep them motivated and keep them going,” Hamilton said. “We love the troops and this is our way of giving back to them for all their sacrifice.”
Photo By: Sgt. Scott Kim, 1st HBCT PAO
Click here to learn more about the U.S. Army in Korea
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders put on their Annual Christmas Variety Show sponsored by United Service Organizations for the Soldiers of 2ID Dec. 29 at Carey Gym on Camp Casey.
To learn more about the US Army in Korea visit us online at imcom.korea.army.mil
The WannaGoFast organization was founded in order to fill a niche in the Motorsports marketplace. Our goal was to create a safe and controlled environment for fellow car enthusiasts to pursue their “Need For Speed” without the restrictions of the standard 1/8 or 1/4 mile drag strip. See what it’s like to hit speeds you’ve only dreamed of without the risk of law enforcement or causing injury to others, while being surrounded by on-site safety personnel.
WannaGoFast social media links...
Website: wannagofast.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wannagofastllc
Instagram: www.instagram.com/_wannagofast_
The organization of light and shadow effects produce a new enrichment of vision.
~ Laszlo Moholy-Nagy - writing about one of his photograms. , 1000 Photo Icons by Anthony Bannon (Foreword), George Eastman House , ISBN: 3822820970 , Page: 521
A mysterious organization known only as “The Collective” seeks to take over the world, and its your job to stop them in MadPea's First Interactive Adventure Hunt!
Welcome to the MBI, Agent. Find the clues, solve the mysteries and earn prizes as you progress through the FREE TO PLAY Interactive Hunt from June 22nd until August 17th!
The Intelligence is now available for sale! If you own land; a store, a club or a sim and you are willing to open it up to the public, all you have to do is head on down to the MadPea Main Store to buy the intelligence, hide it from the Collective; the hunting Agents will rush to your space for the secrets that you keep!
Amazing themed prizes, achievements and lots and lots of fun! Join our free group MadPeas to find out more! maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MadPea/66/128/33
Keep an eye on the MadPea Social Media pages and Website for more information! (This message will drive you Mad in ten seconds... 10... 9....)
Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, a luxury men's club for members of the Shrine organization, the club fell victim to the stock-market crash and was forced to close its doors in 1934. InterContinental Hotels bought the property in 1988, and immediately began renovations. A quarter of a billion dollars and 12 years later, this truly magnificent hotel was re-introduced to Chicago.
Restoration work was guided by the original athletic club's 1930
sliding into another Sunday . . .
with face-like toggles and imported Spanish Espadrille ties
all wound up . . . ready for another mask making project!
I've discovered a wonderful source for the ribbons on my masks . . . whoever would have thought this project could take so many turns and travel all over the country!
The "lid" is from a clear plastic repurposed *Talenti* gelato container into which I color coordinate my supplies for easy organization and efficient creativity.
The organization of light and shadow effects produce a new enrichment of vision.
光影效果的安排產生一種新的視覺提昇。
- Laszlo Moholy-Nagy - writing about one of his photograms. , 1000 Photo Icons by Anthony Bannon (Foreword), George Eastman House , ISBN: 3822820970 , Page: 521
The City Of The Umbrella Man - World Refugee Day
20 June by Daniel Arrhakis (2019)
Many of the "Umbrella Men" individually or through non-state organizations trying to help refugees are now subject to legal proceedings in several European countries and accused of aiding illegal immigration as in the past they are being the scapegoat of incompetence and the lack of political will of many governments to solve the problem.
With the worsening of regional conflicts, the increasing consequences of climate change and the rise of political extremism throughout the world, the number of refugees increases ...
The World needs more than ever "Men With A Umbrella" ready to help others in these days of the storm we live in!
An unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.9 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.
There are also millions of stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
In a world where nearly 1 person is forcibly displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution ...
United Nations
______________________________________________
Work made with images of mine and stock images from Pexels. Art Collage, Textured layered techniques, color saturation techniques and creative digital painting processes.
The Refugee on the right of the image based in a photo of a Somali man with two children in Dadaab refugee camp by Roberto Schmidt L’Agence France-Presse (AFP).
media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/pb-110...
________________________________________________
A Portuguese Miguel Duarte was 24 years old when he decided to join a maritime rescue crew in the central Mediterranean aboard a rescue vessel, the Iuventa.
With about 14,000 lives saved by himself and the other nine crew members of the IUVENTA rescue and rescue ship, Miguel Duarte faces a 20-year prison sentence and thousands of euros in fines for helping save thousands of drowning migrants in the Mediterranean.
Lisbon, June 18, 2019 (Ecclesia) - The European confederation of Caritas, which includes the Catholic organization in Portugal, defended those who welcomed migrants and refugees on the continent, urging that these populations be treated with "dignity and solidarity."
"Acts of solidarity that ensure respect for the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees should be applauded and encouraged rather than criminalized," said a statement released by the Catholic Solidarity and Humanitarian Action organization.
Explore Frontpage
Laos, one of the world's few remaining Communist regimes, is also one of Asia's poorest nations. The current government came to power in 1975 and immediately imposed a rigid socialist economic program. Change began in 1986 with the loosening of restrictions on private enterprise. Since then, Laos has enjoyed high economic growth, despite poor national infrastructure and a dominant, inefficient agriculture sector. It is also heavily reliant on international assistance programs. In 1998, Laos began formal negotiations with the World Trade Organization. In 2008 a 5.60 US$/day per capita.
I think the best way to explore Laos is by bicycle. Meeting friendly Lao people in the small villages along the way and enjoying its countryside. A beautiful scenery of rice fields next to the limestone hills and we visit numerous caves and caverns. I capture this hard working farmer with his hand tractor nearby Vang Vieng. Such tractor is used in plain, mountain area and hills widely. With relevant farm machinery, it can do many work in the paddy field, such as ploughing, whirl tilling, harvesting, seeding, threshing grain and pump water. It also can haul a trailer for short-distance transport. Many Lao people support themselves, such hard life where men life expectancy is only 54 years (est. 2008) .
Laos, is nog één van de weinige overgebleven communistisch regimes en is ook één van de armste naties van Azië. De huidige regering kwam aan de macht in 1975 en legde onmiddellijk een onbuigzaam socialistisch economisch programma op. Verandering begon in 1986 met de losmaken van beperkingen op privé-onderneming. Sinds dien heeft Laos een hoge economische groei, ondanks arme nationale infrastructuur en een overwegende, ondoelmatige landbouwsector. Het is ook zwaar afhankelijk van internationale hulpprogramma's. In 1998 begon Laos formele onderhandelingen met de Wereld Handelsorganisatie. De gemiddelde verdienste per dag is 5,60 US$ per hoofd.
I received my Christmas present from my boss this week, who told me I could open it, and this gem of a coaster was among the contents. We label ourselves #bestteamever for a lot of reasons. There's such a spirit of friendship and passion for the work we do. We all get along so well, and collectively we make such a huge impact to the organization. When there's a problem, we're the forefighters who run in and do the work to problem solve and fix things.
I have been offered other positons with increases in salary and grade in the organization, but it would take much more than money and status to get to leave this team- money and status aren't everything in this world, and I truly love what I do, and who I work for. What more is there??
Theme: Working Conditions
Year Thirteen Of My 365 Project
Its been a while since I've posted any pictures of my (our) Lego building studio.
Last year, the room was completely renovated. Originally, the room was built as part of a house extension in 1985 to enclose a hot tub and shower. Since owning the house, we used the hot tub only a few years until we shut it down and converted the room into a playroom. The playroom then evolved into a family Lego studio. During this time, we built storage and work spaces around the hot tub. This of course resulted in inefficient use of space and inconvenient accessibility.
Finally, in 2018 we embarked on a much needed renovation. This involved removal of the hot tub and infrastructure, followed by new floor joists and framing. The shower was converted into a storage closet and the entire room received new tiled floor with under floor heating system.
Of the best attributes of this studio is abundant natural light emanating from large floor to ceiling windows and three overhead skylights. For nighttime use, the room is illuminated from ceiling mounted track lighting and a series of adjustable gooseneck LED worklights fitted along the entire length of the work spaces.
Lastly, a custom centre island was constructed from 2x Ikea Kalax storage units. The units were bolted together, a table top surface was installed (with bullnose edges) and heavy duty castor wheels were fitted to the bottom. This centre island not only incorporates integrated storage but serves as an immensely useful worksurface for staging models, sorting parts, or collaboration.
Storage and parts organization is a topic for another day. Suffice to say, we use Ikea Trofast drawers for bulk parts storage of major colours. We use wall mounted Kalax units (not shown) for less used colours, the island Kalax units store monochrome colour detail parts (e.g. slopes, round bricks, etc.), and finally the workspaces are completely surrounded by many 100's of small parts bins organized by part type and also colour if applicable. All storage is labelled using custom python software scripts which generate part thumbnails, part descriptions etc. and automatically lays out label graphics for a variety of Avery brand label sheets of different sizes.
It is a wonderful space to spend time being creative and having fun! Now I just need time to enjoy it!
In 1931, industrialist and philanthropist Charles Stewart Mott purchased assets near Clewiston, Florida from a 1920s bankrupt sugarcane company, Southern Sugar Company, to form the United States Sugar Corporation. In the 1940s, U.S. Sugar was charged with slavery violation.
Mott later transferred shares to his Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. In 1969 with a law passed limiting private family foundations could hold of a corporation, the foundation gave a large number of shares to the Mott Children's Health Center, a Flint charitable medical organization founded in 1939, to be below the 35% limit.
In 1962, the company opened the Bryant Sugar House, which at the time was the largest and most advanced sugarcane processing mill in the world. The mill had a capacity of 5,000 tons of sugarcane per day.
After C.S. Mott died in 1973, C.S. Harding Mott, his son, took over as chairman of the corporation. With sugar at 60 cents a pound in the 1970s and purchasers switching to corn syrup, the company expanded into other areas of farming including cattle, citrus and vegetables. In 1980, U.S. acquired South Bay Growers. South Bay Growers produced 13% of the US's leafy vegetables growing lettuce, celery and others. In late 1985, U.S. Sugar began planting orange trees. In 1983, the company formed an Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in an attempt to go private. U.S. Sugar borrowed millions in long-term debt to create the ESOP. Some shareholders did not sell out believing the price per share to be too low triggering a class action law suit.
The ESOP and Mott group of owners in October 1987 offered $80 per share for the other 110,000 voting shares held by 500 public shareholders. This took the company private and reduced its reporting costs.
Most of South Bay Growers was closed down on September 4, 1994 after four out of five prior years of losses including 10 million in 1994. South Bay's salad processing plant with customers like McDonald's and Burger King and 146 employees would continue to operate while seeking new ownership.
Big sugar moved in the early 1990s to mechanical cane harvesters. The displaced cane field workers filed a class action lawsuit in which the company paid $5 million plus in 1998. In 2004, U.S. Sugar closed a mill and laid off workers. Its Bryant mill was closed in 2007.
In February 2008, the corporation, CEO Robert Buker, Chairman William S. White and his family and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation were sued by employees claiming that they were not getting full value for the ESOP stock given two bids for the company stock for amounts more than ESOP redemption were offered by outside parties. Employees alleged that the Gaylor Lawrence family agro-conglomerate offered $293 per share for the company twice, once in August 2005 and in January 2007. Supposedly US Sugar president was terminated and paid hush money to hide the offer. At the time, share redemption was from $193 to $200.
On 24 June 2008, Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist, announced the state was in negotiations to buy 187,000 acres (760 km2) of land and all of its manufacturing and production facilities for an estimated $1.7 billion from the company as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Under the proposals, the company would continue to farm the land for the next six years and convert the land back to its original natural marshland state. In November 2008, the agreement was revised to offer $1.34 billion, allowing sugar mills in Clewiston to remain in production. Critics of the revised plan say that it ensures sugarcane will be grown in the Everglades for at least another decade.
In October 2010 the company sold 26,800 acres of land to the South Florida Water Management District for the "River of Grass" Restoration Project.
U.S. Sugar powers its facilities with renewable resources – the residual sugarcane fiber after juice is extracted, known as bagasse. Bagasse is a clean, fibrous biofuel that results from the sugarcane extraction process. Every ton of bagasse powers the equivalent of 50 gallons of fuel oil.
A boiler produces steam during the milling process by burning bagasse. Steam is co-generated into electricity on-site. In essence, each year's cane crop provides power for both the sugar factory and U.S. Sugar's refinery operations.
U.S. Sugar's farmers have been integral to the success of sending cleaner water to the Everglades since 1994. The company, along with other Glades-area farmers, worked with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to develop soil and water cleansing techniques called best management practices (BMPs). These techniques include holding farm runoff on company property, laser leveling fields, and the growth of foliage along drainage canals bordering farms to help absorb nutrients. The BMP program has helped to yield tremendous success. According to the South Florida Management District, in 2017, Everglades Agricultural Area farmers achieved a 70 percent annual reduction in phosphorus – nearly three times higher than the 25 percent required by the 1994 Everglades Forever Act. Additionally, more than 95 percent of the Everglades is meeting the stringent 10 parts per billion clean water standard for phosphorus.
Despite claims made by environmental activists over air quality, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Glades communities such as Clewiston enjoy some of the cleanest air quality in the state of Florida. In its rankings, the foundation lists Hendry County in the lower third of counties experiencing the worst incidences of particulate matter in the air.
According to the Florida Sugarcane League, sugarcane farming has a $3.2 billion impact and supports more than 12,500 jobs. With more than 2,500 employees, U.S. Sugar is one of the "largest agribusiness employers in the Everglades region."
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
Arnold Research Organization (ARO) designed and operated Arnold Center until 1980. My dad began working there in 1953 until he retired in early 90s. He is 98 1/2 and as sharp as ever. Here's a bit of history on AEDC / ARO:
Arnold AFB (Air Force Base) began as Camp Forrest, an Army training camp during WWII. Camp Forrest's training facilities included William Northern Field, used for training Army Air Force pilots. Camp Forrest was secured after the war by the new Air Force as the site for the Air Engineering Development Center in 1949, and named the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) in honor of General Henry "Hap" Arnold, one of the founding fathers of the US Air Force and a five-star general.
AEDC was created to be the primary jet and rocket development for the Air Force, and developed the premier flight, jet, rocket, and simulation testing in the world. The Jet Age of the 1950s and 1960s, and Space Race kept pushing the AEDC to expand their capabilities. [In the early 50s, my mom, dad, and father-in-law began working at the Center - the dads were engineers and my mom was a secretary for the Air Force Generals.] The AEDC was instrumental to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs, including testing space capsules, the Saturn V rocket upper stage engines. The main function of the AEDC was to test military aircraft and missiles. In the 1970s, systems for the Space Shuttle, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt, MX missile, Air-Launched Cruise Missile, and Global Positioning Satellite system were tested by the AEDC. Arnold's testing in more recent years has included systems of the Patriot Air Defense Missile, F-117A Nighthawk, and other vital defense systems. Source: www.arnoldafbhousing.com/history
This is a building right next to this one in Barcelona. The building itself is rather plain and ugly, however I found the shutters kind of interesting.
See it Right (flickr's sharpening kinda kills those lines...)
Catavento Cultural and Educational is the Social Organization of Culture responsible for the management of the Museum Catavento, through the Management Agreement, signed.avenidas, verde, cinza, alto, pessoas
Bamberg, Germany-14 June 2012, 391st celebrates the Army's 237th Birthday. The Army's Birthday is a tradition that is recognized worldwide at all Army post. Photo by SFC Craig Knapp 317th Maintenance Company.
This building completed in the early 1930s is a historic landmark and despite all the vandalism on its walls and windows, is still being used by the same organization that built it.
União Fraterna (Portuguese for Fraternal Union) is a charitable organization founded a century ago to provide basic services such as medical care, education, skill development, entertainment among other things to the community.
Currently it's most known for its ballroom dance events and is one of the only buildings from its time that's still being used in the region.
When the old way isn't the slightest bit efficient...
....and a taste of some WIPs and things to come...
Organization: Tim Engle
Photography and Editing: Dirk Dreyer.
Hi-Res pictures and prints available at galleries.dreyerpictures.com
Its been a while since I've posted any pictures of my (our) Lego building studio.
Last year, the room was completely renovated. Originally, the room was built as part of a house extension in 1985 to enclose a hot tub and shower. Since owning the house, we used the hot tub only a few years until we shut it down and converted the room into a playroom. The playroom then evolved into a family Lego studio. During this time, we built storage and work spaces around the hot tub. This of course resulted in inefficient use of space and inconvenient accessibility.
Finally, in 2018 we embarked on a much needed renovation. This involved removal of the hot tub and infrastructure, followed by new floor joists and framing. The shower was converted into a storage closet and the entire room received new tiled floor with under floor heating system.
Of the best attributes of this studio is abundant natural light emanating from large floor to ceiling windows and three overhead skylights. For nighttime use, the room is illuminated from ceiling mounted track lighting and a series of adjustable gooseneck LED worklights fitted along the entire length of the work spaces.
Lastly, a custom centre island was constructed from 2x Ikea Kalax storage units. The units were bolted together, a table top surface was installed (with bullnose edges) and heavy duty castor wheels were fitted to the bottom. This centre island not only incorporates integrated storage but serves as an immensely useful worksurface for staging models, sorting parts, or collaboration.
Storage and parts organization is a topic for another day. Suffice to say, we use Ikea Trofast drawers for bulk parts storage of major colours. We use wall mounted Kalax units (not shown) for less used colours, the island Kalax units store monochrome colour detail parts (e.g. slopes, round bricks, etc.), and finally the workspaces are completely surrounded by many 100's of small parts bins organized by part type and also colour if applicable. All storage is labelled using custom python software scripts which generate part thumbnails, part descriptions etc. and automatically lays out label graphics for a variety of Avery brand label sheets of different sizes.
It is a wonderful space to spend time being creative and having fun! Now I just need time to enjoy it!