OUR CLUB OFFICERS held a formal Executive Committee meeting Wednesday,  January 5.  Bob Capion, our new Vice President, has already spark-plugged some action by working up an "Officer’s Manual" to better organize some of the various responsibilities.  For example, not everyone is familiar with the Club By-Laws’ assignment of duties.
    While these manuals were quite  comprehensive, Officers had some modest additions and changes for Bob to make.
    A great variety of subjects was discussed during the meeting.  Among them was the possibility of  our Club taking a more aggressive posture in sponsoring carving classes.  These could be taught by Club members, or by hired experts.
    Officers also discussed other possible Club activities, such as trips to learn about other types of art.  With special interest in sculpture, of course.  (Woodcarving is one of the "reductive sculpting" arts.)
    Naturally, there was some ordinary "housekeeping" work taken care of at the meeting.
    Of note is Bob Capion’s enthusiastic acceptance of the Vice President’s job to co-ordinate speakers and activities for our Club Programs.  His first shot out of the starting gate is carving golf balls.

    PRESIDENT GARY LUNDQUIST announced that Tony Thorsen’s widow has donated Tony’s personal collection of caricature patterns to our Club.  This loose-leaf book will be kept in the Club Library for use only on-site during Club time.  It may NOT be signed out like ordinary Library materials.

    NEW CLUB DIRECTORIES have names, phone numbers, pictures, and personal notes for all who were members during 2010.  Copies are only    $2 each. 

    KAREN HAMMERBERG will present the program at our May 18 Club Meeting.  She is with the Erlander Swedish Museum, and will speak on the meaning and pageantry  of the Swedish Midsummer Festival.


    BOB CAPION, in his capacity as Vice President/Program Chairman, put on a special carving activity for the program after the January Business Meeting.
    Everybody was set to the task of carving a golf ball.  This is one special facet of carving that most of us never even think about trying.  Bob made it happen for us.
    Bob brought in enough golf balls and sheets of printed instruction for each of us there.  Besides furnishing all the Materials, Bob had gone to the trouble of cutting the cover and removing half of the cover on each ball before he brought them in.
    As we have come to expect from Bob, he also set up a monster TV set on which he played an instructional DVD on "How To Carve A Golf Ball."  Bob has become the de facto Club special effects,  audio-visual  expert.  We are very lucky, and most appreciative.

DUES  ARE  DUE
Anyone whose dues are not paid before the next Newsletter comes out (end of February) will be dropped from the list.  $25.00,  made out to
Blackhawk Woodcarvers, PO Box 15488, Loves Park IL 61132
No dues, no News.


DON STANSFIELD brought in announcement folders with Rules and Entry Blanks for the 2011 "Two-Inch Cube Carving Challenge", and passed them around to everyone.
    The competition and judging will be at our Club Show in August.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the First, Second, and Third Place winners - $50, $30, and $20 respectively.
    Participation charges are $5 for the first entry, and $2 for each additional entry.  Any entries sent in by mail or UPS, must pay a return handling and mail fee.   That is $8 PER ENTRY.
    If you need information or an entry form, call Don Stansfield at his home: 8150235-0075.  Or write to him at 1508 West Lincoln Blvd., Freeport, IL, 61032.

    WINTER WOOD WONDER FESTIVAL - benefit show February 26 & 27 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL  This  is a new one on the show circuit, and has no competition.  It’s an exhibition and sale, limited to wood art only,  No crafters.
    This is being promoted as "the First Annual" show in a series.  They are looking for woodcarvers and other wood art people to come and exhibit their work.  And sell.  Registration is being held open for a while longer to accommodate folks who may have just learned about the Show.      A $3 donation is requested for entrance.

    Donations of wood art are requested for  the attendance prizes and silent auction.  All proceeds, beyond actual expenses, will go to the Armed Forces Veterans at Hines VA Hospital, to Windy City Veterans, and to Wounded Warriors.


SICK  BAY  REPORT -
    TOM BACKER fell at home on Friday, January 14, and broke a hip.  He went to Swedish American Hospital.  Surgery on Monday was successful, and as of this writing, he’s working with a therapist to get rehabilitated.


COMMUNITY SERVICE -
    PRESIDENT LUNDQUIST has recruited a few good carvers to help coach a soap carving class for Cub Scouts in Cherry Valley, evening of February 5.


FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS - Get listed!  It’s fun.  Dona Wisner keeps these listed on the Membership Rolls.
    Gary Lundquist    February 6
    Gordy Moscinski    Febtuary 26

BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 18, 2011
    Steve Terrill, Secretary read the minutes from Jack Basford’s last Report.
    Bob Hallstrom made the Treasurer’s report for John Skaggs.
    Dona Wisner reported that she recently turned over to the Club Treasury extra cash she won’t need to fund the picnic and Christmas party.  There should be enough donations coming in to the coffee fund on a regular basis to cover these two activities.
    Dona also said that the "Petty Cash" (coffee money) report will be made  on a calendar-month basis instead of the up-to-the-minute, meeting-to-meeting system she has used in the past.  Membership Chairman, Dona Wisner, reported three new members: Lou Cowan, Bob Coleman, and Dave Arreguin
    President Lundquist reminded us that aprons, decals, Club patches, coffee mugs,, and name "tags" are available.  Patches are $5, mugs are $4 (to members) all other items are free.

SHOW & TELL -
    Larry Clark, our News photographer, wasn’t feeling well, had to miss the Business Meeting.  We have no Show & Tell photos this month.
 

Business Meetings & Special Events -

ð February 16 - Business Meeting
ð March 16 - Business Meeting
ð April 20 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project
ð May 18 - Business Meeting, Program: Karen Hammerberg
ð June 15- Business Meeting
     June ?? - Club Picnic
ð July 20 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project
ð August 17 - Business Meeting
ð August 20 - Blackhawk Carving Club, Show & Competition @ Tebala Temple
ð September 21 - Business Meeting, Wrap-up report on the Annual Show
ð October 19 - Business Meeting, Quarterly carving project, Select 2012 Nominating Committee
ð November 16 - Business Meeting, Announcements: Club Member of the Year, Slate of officers nominated for 2012
ð December 21 - Christmas Party, Brunch & Swap Meet, Election of Officers

CARVING  CLASSES -These are classes within a short drive time of Rockford.  Be sure to check ahead of time, because some of the classes fill up fast.  For  complete listings in all States, look in the different carving magazines.
    February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7 & 14. Rockford, Illinois, Bob Hallstrom & Don Stansfield will teach Class #15, "Beginning Woodcarving," at CLR, Rock Valley College, 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. $25 plus about $30 for materials.  RVC Bell Bldg, Rm 2, 3350 No Bell School Rd. 815-921-3931
    February 16 & 17, Bettendorf, Iowa, Classic European Carving a "Man In The Moon" relief carving with Helli Mayr, using ONLY chisels & gouges.  (No knives allowed>) $180, plus $30 to Helli for the blank in genuine Austrian Tyrolean Pine.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
    February 18-20- Bettendorf, Iowa.  Classic European carving of a "Face In The Sun" 1 ½’ deep by 11" wide relief carving with Helli Mayr using ONLY chisels and gouges.  (No knives allowed.) $360, plus $30 directly to Helli for the cutout of genuine Austrian Tyrolean Pine.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
    February 25(eve.) - 27 - Bettendorf, Iowa, "Carving Little Whittles," Scandinavia flat plane carving with Harley Refsal. $120 plus $9 to $15 for each cutout used.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
    March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5 - Rockford, Illinois, Rock Valley College CLR, Roger Benedict will be teaching a class "Carve Your Profile In Relief."  Classes are three hours, 9AM-12, once a week for six weeks. $25, plus $12 for a board.  RVC Bell Bldg, Rm #2, 3350 No. Bell School Rd. Call 815-921-3930 for more details.
    March 4 - 6, Bettendorf, Iowa, "Power Carving A Moose Antler" with Kirt Curtis.  A dust collector is a "must" for this class.  Also, a Foredom or similar tool will be needed for hogging out part of the antler.  $235 plus cost of an antler @ $25 per pound.  (Or bring your own.)  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
    April 29 - May 1, Bettendorf Iowa, Realistic "Native American" bust (about 7"x7"x13") carved with Marty Dolphens.  Cost $185 includes butternut roughout.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
    May 27-29, Bettendorf, Iowa, Medium/Middle Relief Carving with John Engler.  Pre-stenciled blanks will be available on a wide variety of subjects. $185, plus cost of blanks @$30 - $35 each.   The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722.
 

CARVING  SHOWS - Shows within 3 to 4 hours one-way drive time of Rockford will be listed as they become known.
    February 5-6, Cedar Rapids, IA, The Art of Woodcarving Show at Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4 .  Free  adm.  Cedar Valley Woodcarvers, 319-377-6520.
    February 27  St. Charles, IL. Winter Wood Wonders Festival, 4051 East Main St., Pheasant Run Resort, Sat 10-5 & Sun 27(10-4) - For more details, go to Internet site  www.WinterWoodWonders.com.  Or call Sandy Jennings at 630-206-9384.
    March 19-20, Plover, WI.  Annual show, competition, sale Wisconsin River Woodcarvers, Elizabeth Inn & Convention Center, Hwy 54 & I-39.  9:00 - 4:00, Adm $2, under 12 yrs, free.  Ron O’Cray 715-341-2214.
    March 26-27, Green Bay, WI, Northeastern Wisconsin Woodworker’s Guild 29th Show, Sale, & Raffle, 9:30-5:00 Sat & Sun.  Free Adm, Green Bay Southwest High School, 1331 Packerland Drive, 920-468-0132.
    April 9-10, Waterloo, IA.  38th Annual Iowa State Show, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St, Sat noon-5, Sun 11:00-4:30, free admission.  Roger Beane 319-283-2688.


WANT ADS - Carving stuff only.  Free listings for individuals, clubs, and vendors (members and non-members ).
    HANDSOME & STURDY aluminum case for carving tools & supplies, only $15.  Call Tony Valdez, 815-633-6587


CIRCULATION STATEMENT:  This issue of the Blackhawk Woodcarver is mailed to 88 members, 17 Friends of Blackhawk, 26 Associate Members.  Total = 131.  Our Newsletter goes USPO, First Class, for most benefit to all.