As a part of a series on CAG Board members and the jobs they do, I recently had a long conversation with Tim Hanrahan, whose job on the Board is titled “Ways and Means.”
Tim has been involved with ceramics since about 1996. His introduction to ceramics was about as convoluted as any. In his business role as a management and IT (that’s information technology, I think) professional, Tim had a co-worker who promised to make him a coffee mug. The mug, when it arrived, was more of a teacup-sized thing, which Tim thought was really funny. When Tim jokingly complained about its size (he’s a serious coffee drinker), the lady produced another one for him…again, pretty small!  Tim decided as a joke to take a ceramics course and make a really BIG one for her in return…and the rest is history

He found out that he really enjoyed ceramics, but it didn’t turn out to be as simple as he thought (Can I relate to that!). It took him awhile to be able to make that first real mug, but ten years later, he’s got the knack. The first thing I noticed about Tim was his ability to sit and crank out a brace of mugs, a pitcher, a bowl in the time it took me to get a piece of clay half centered on the wheel

When he first came to the Walnut Creek studio, he was impressed. His first teacher was Leslie Jensen, from whom he says he learned a lot. He describes her, among other things, as the “Queen of fixing broken pots,” in the sense that she knew how to patch a broken bottom, repair a nicked rim, fix a wobbly base, and so on—all really helpful skills for the newbie potter.

Anyone who has spent time “at the wheel” around Tim knows that he friendly and helpful, always willing to answer a question, offer a suggestion, or lend a tool.  Tim credits his upbringing for this “give as well as take” attitude, and this helpful attitude made him interested in becoming involved with CAG.

Tim interprets his “Ways and Means” title as helping keep the CAG strong and financially ahead. His business background makes him useful on the Board, providing another viewpoint in getting things done. When CAG funds new kilns, wheels, or other large equipment for the pottery studio, Tim feels a sense of satisfaction. Perhaps you have used the new microwave oven in the studio; Tim donated and installed it a few weeks back

Looking towards the future, Tim hopes to see CAG remain strong, and continue to do its share to support the Walnut Creek Arts ceramics program. He would like to see CAG perhaps have more input into the process, however, with some say in classes offered, teachers enlisted, and so on. He has lots of ideas to encourage enrollment in classes and make the program more profitable. He thinks class surveys will help to identify what students like and dislike about the program, and it sounds like a survey process may be in the offing.

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