![\"Fright](\"http:\/\/fcwhack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/GEDC0785.jpg\")
<\/a>Our biggest project for\u00a0 2012 was Fright Night, a three night event for Halloween. Ross coordinated the event with he and Rick building many of the props. The building owner allowed us to use a large area behind our space to make a series of fright venues which included a Mad Scientist lab, a Haunted Graveyard, the Dark Forest (complete with werewolf), an Electric Chair, a Guillotine, and an Asylum. Considering that we were pressed for time and had little PR, it went surprisingly well and everyone is looking forward to the next one.<\/p>\nIn 2013, the landlord was renting storage in the area for the previous fright night so he offered us another area in the building.\u00a0 It was a great area, but would require construction of numerous partitions, requiring a great deal of time and resources so Fright Night 2013 was cancelled.\u00a0 However, FCW is being allowed to use the basement of one of the other buildings this year so we are planning Fright Night 2014.\u00a0 In addition to the previous venues,\u00a0 Ross is working on a “live autopsy”, a spider’s lair,\u00a0 and a haunted living room.\u00a0 We hope to make this a yearly event.\u00a0 This event is free for the public to attend.<\/p>\n
Open House<\/h4>\n
FCW has an Open House twice per year.\u00a0 At the open houses, food is available and special effort is made to have all areas active or on display.\u00a0\u00a0 The first one in December\u00a0 2011 was mentioned earlier and went well enough that others were scheduled.\u00a0 Normally, the open houses were scheduled for Saturdays from 10 AM until 6PM.\u00a0 In 2013, Friday evenings from 5PM till 9PM were added.<\/p>\n
Typically, the common area is set up with the electronics area showing the programmers, PLCs and robot.\u00a0 After they were completed, the 3D printer and MAME machine were added.\u00a0 Children, in particular like the MAME machine.\u00a0\u00a0 K4FCW is also active with the digital modes being shown on the large TV.<\/p>\n
The classroom is the center for food.\u00a0 We have had hamburgers and hotdogs, ham, chicken, and buffets at different open houses.\u00a0 This is usually the area in which we get to talk as length with the visitors.<\/p>\n
In the model shop, the trains are running and Gene has a “Thomas the Train” that is a hit with the children.\u00a0 There is also an “observation game” that visitors can do in which they look for various item in the railroad set.\u00a0 Examples include: a hobo and goat in a boxcar; a plane crash; a boat in danger; building construction sites; and couples making out.\u00a0 Examples of scenery making are also on display.\u00a0 When the humidity is correct, Gene has an electrostatic display as well.\u00a0 Though is has no relationship to the railroad, Gene worked in industry controlling static electricity and has interesting demos.<\/p>\n
In the machining areas, the lathe, mill and most of the woodworking machinery are off for safety reasons, but since they became operational, demonstrations are usually done with the CNC routers. Often with items that can be given away.<\/p>\n
Since we obtained the laser cutter, it is also demonstrated at the open houses, usually making items that can be given away.\u00a0 Finally, there are displays set up in the lobby, including blue screen photography and projects such as the electric chair.<\/p>\n
The Open Houses have had mixed success, partially dependent on the weather.\u00a0 At several, we have had several new members join within a month of the open house.<\/p>\n
Getting the “Blues”<\/h4>\n
Next:\u00a0 In the Community<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0Events Fright Night Our biggest project for\u00a0 2012 was Fright Night, a three night event for Halloween. Ross coordinated the event with he and Rick building many of the props. The building owner allowed us to use a large area behind our space to make a series of fright venues which included a Mad Scientist … Continue reading History: Events<\/span> <\/a>At the 2012 and 2013 Christmas open houses. Warren was Santa and we set up a blue screen with a large sleigh so that kids could have their picture taken with Santa in the sleigh in one of several settings: the North Pole, the Alps, a country road, in orbit, the desert, or on the moon. We had a few families that kicked Santa out and had a family picture in the sleigh.
\nThat went over so well, that the used the Cinderella carriage at the August 2013 open house to allow kids to have a picture with Cinderella (guest Paula) in the Carriage.<\/p>\n