Dear Friends;

At our meeting on February 19, 2008, I proposed moving the monthly business meetings from the third Tuesday night to the third Wednesday morning. The motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously. It was not an easy decision on my [art to ask to move the meeting, because I know some of our members work full time and can only attend at night. For these people, I am very, very sorry, but I’m convinced that this will be better for the club. At a typical Tuesday night business meeting, we have been averaging ten (10) to fifteen (15) maybe (18) members. In contrast, the Wednesday morning after we took the vote, we had twenty-nine (29) members in attendance. And that did not include at least four (4) members who regularly attend, but were not there. Bottom line is, I believe it was the right decision.

Also at the Tuesday night business meeting, we voted to eliminate the open carving session on the first (1^st) Tuesday of the month. Marshall Field has been faithful in attending these sessions as an official Club officer; and he said he has quit coming, because no one shows up.

In last month’s Newsletter, I mentioned that the Board recommended that the Club carve ornaments or pins to be distributed to the children’s wards at area hospitals. I went to each of the hospitals this past week, and all of them were very excited about this project. Saint Anthony has nine (9) beds in their children’s ward, Swedish American has fifteen (15), and Rockford Memorial has twenty-seven (27). That’s a total of fifty-one (51), but we will need to carve twice that number. The lady at Rockford Memorial asked if we could carve angel pins in addition to the others, because they have a memorial service the first weekend in November for families who have had children who passed away during the past year.

It appears that plans for the show are moving along well. John Wacker is getting a floor plan of the Tebala Shrine Temple so we can determine where we will put personal displays; judging areas; and vendors. One thing all of us will need to do is remind anyone we invite to the show that the bridge on Newburg Road between Tebala and Bell School Road is OUT. And, from what I hear, it will NOT be finished until after our show.

Thank you.

Bob Hallstrom.

¬ Evening Sessions Discontinued - (This just echoes the President’s letter.) Because of extremely low attendance at Tuesday night sessions, these meetings are being discontinued. Effective immediately. This means that henceforth, the Business Meeting will be held during a Wednesday morning session at Kenrock Community Center. Special apologies are extended to John Bibby and Jeff Hartman, who usually came to the third-Tuesday Business Meetings. We understand your predicament of full-time working during the day. We’re really sorry, guys! Unfortunately, there are more members who cannot make the evening sessions, and are able to get to Club functions only during the day.

¬ John Bibby, Franklin Johnson, & Don Stansfield went down to Branson, MO, for 5 days of carving classes early in March. Our guys were among the 350 carvers in the school. The activities were all held in a very large building in Silver Dollar City. Empty at this time of the year, because the big entertainment acts have not yet started up.

This was the eleventh year that Don has attended this particular carving session, and John is not far behind. John had been pretty sick just before the trip, but he went anyway. Then, he had a relapse before the 5 days of classes were up, and had to leave. John, of course, was working on chip carving. Franklin was carving a relief wall plaque, and Don carved one-and-a half Santas.

¬ Roger Benedict’s relief carving class at Rock Valley College Center for Learning in Retirement has been quite successful. Rog built all those slanted work stations for everyone in the class. Here you see Rog lecturing on carving vis-a-vis the grain of a piece of wood. In the other picture, he is giving some up-close and personal commentary to the class on perspective and how to carve "with the grain."

¬ The "Carve A Pencil" contest launched by Don Stansfield last month will be judged at the next business meeting, Wednesday morning, April 16.. Remember, these Business Meetings will always be during a Wednesday morning carving session. This event is to honor the 150^th anniversary of the invention of the Eraser-Topped-Lead-Pencil. The challenge is to carve the pencil into some design or character. The only rule is that the pencil must have the eraser and the point still intact and all connected by the original wood. In other words, do with it whatever you want, but it must stay all connected.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The DAR ladies also knew about Elaine’s skills as a woodcarver, and asked if she could include that in her program as well. So she did. Was presented as a "Show & Tell." Elaine brought in samples of her chip carving work on plates as well as a cowboy statue done "in the round." She also explained a bit on the kinds of wood she uses for carving the different projects. The woodcarving presentation was so well received that they want Elaine to come back again, only with emphasis on actual carving tools and methods.

¬ The Zion Development Corporation will have a special fund-raising dinner on April 22. This is notable to Blackhawk Woodcarvers, because Zion will have in their silent auction two special relief carvings by Roger Benedict. One is a seashore scene featuring a lighthouse with a lesser building in the distance down the shoreline. The other carving is of a small church in a valley. Rather like a quaint, picturesque New England landscape.

Zion Development was originated by folks from the Zion Lutheran Church on Sixth Street and Fifth Avenue here in Rockford. Their thrust is to reduce crime and drugs in the area by improving the general conditions. For many years, they have been quietly buying and refurbishing many of the older buildings along Broadway and Seventh Street.

¬ Not many people know that Rich Andersen was the one who made the beautiful replica cradle for the Stephen Mack baby. This cradle is now on display in the original Mack house. (Shown in the background in the photo here.)

SICK BAY REPORT

¬ Emile LeBeau has health problems - retaining water seriously, excessive unexplainable fatigue, and severe shortness of breath. So far (as of press time), three doctors have not reached a conclusion.

¬ Tom Backer went back to University Hospital in Madison on March 14 for more work on his heart pacemaker. They swapped out his original pacemaker for a new one. Because of technical complications, he will be going back in again for some adjustments of the wiring. Tom says the surgery is not bad enough, on top of it all, now they won’t even let him drive a car. Wednesday, March 26, under the knife once more. In what is hopefully the last operation, they will go in to fix a problem wire on the newest pacemaker.

¬ Tony DeVita has been under doctor’s orders to refrain from any kind of work/lifting since his cataract surgery. Now, Tony has a new problem . . . coming up the cellar steps, he stumbled, lurched, and pulled a muscle on his left rotator cuff. The Doc says that with some appropriate physical therapy, the muscle should be able to heal itself. No surgery is good news!

¬ Elaine Terrell went in for oral surgery on Tuesday, April 2. This was for a severe intra-gum infection that had gotten completely out of hand. Yes, there are stitches.

NEW MEMBERS

Especially warm welcome to our new friends who have joined the Blackhawk Woodcarvers since the last recognition.

¬ Linda Mensching - Just joined the Blackhawk Woodcarvers the last week in February. Linda was in Gordy’s CLR Introduction to Woodcarving class last fall. She lives in Genoa, Illinois, and drives up for Wednesday morning carving. At present, Linda’s busy as a member of the Moscinski Flute-Carvers Class. She’s also enrolled in Roger’s relief carving class at CLR.

¬ Curt Wahlmark - is back after a short sabbatical. Curt just can’t seem to get enough of wood carving. The friendship of the Blackhawk carvers is just so infectious. Welcome back, Curt!

SHOW & TELL

¬ Tony Valdez shows two original carvings of praying priests. He took the theme from a small, ancient Italian 2-dimensional relief.    (....All the while he’s diligently working on a new project.)

BUSINESS MEETING

March 18, 2008

¬ Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Bob Hallstrom.

¬ No new members or visitors were introduced.

Secretary’s Report and Treasurer’s Report were read and approved as read.

¬ OLD BUSINESS ¬

¬ Bob Hallstrom reported on carving pins for hospitalized children. (See President’s Corner, above.) We will start carving at the April business meeting. Between the three hospitals, there can be are anywhere from 50 to 75 children at any one time. We will need about 100 pins. RMH also mentioned that they have a memorial service in September for families that have lost children in the past year . . . could we carve some angels?

¬ Larry Christensen reported on the quilt project for the Center For Sight & Hearing. Wood has been donated for the project. Current proposal is for six tiles 12" x 12". Blanks will be provided. Discussion followed Larry’s report. And it was suggested that maybe there could be 12 tiles 6" x 6". Further discussion was tabled until next business meeting.

¬ Gary Lundquist contacted the RRStar about getting listings for both our weekly Wednesday morning open carving sessions and for our August Wood Carving Show. He received an Email inquiring about contact phone numbers, but he still hasn’t seen anything in the paper.

¬ Discussion was opened on changing Club business meetings from the third Tuesday nite to the third Wednesday morning of the month. Guest speakers would make their presentation from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. Business meeting would start at 10:00. The motion to make the change was made, seconded, and carried unanimously. By-Laws will be changed to reflect the new schedules. Next business meeting will be Wednesday morning, 15 April 2008, at 9:00 AM.

¬ NEW BUSINESS ¬

¬ Wednesday morning carving classes were discussed. These would run concurrently with the open carving session. Need suggestions or projects for future classes. It was suggested that this would be a good program for new members.

¬ It was brought up that we need either a second cabinet or a new, larger cabinet for our Club library and supplies. Noting was decided. More discussion next business meeting.

¬ More Dues News - If there are any complaints about you or any other folks not getting the Newsletter . . . and they feel they really should, please contact Dona Wisner, our Membership Chairman (phone number listed on back page). She controls the rolls that determine who gets a Newsletter and who does not. She is really good, but does not claim to be perfect. If there is a slip-up, she will make sure it gets straightened out.

¬ PROGRAM NOTES ¬

¬ Roger Benedict presented a slide show of old farm silos. The photographs were handsome, artistic treatments of picturesque old silos he has seen in Illinois and Wisconsin. The pictures are from a collection Roger has accumulated over some years. Lots of folks wax rhapsodic over old barns, but this collection of silos is rather unique. Thanks for a good show, Rog.

CLUB CALENDAR

Meeting Schedule -

¬ April 15 - NEW time for Business Meeting

¬ May 20 -

¬ June 17 -

¬ July 15 - committees report on final preparations for Annual Carving Show

¬ August 16 - OUR CLUB SHOW

¬ August 19 - Show re-cap

¬ September 16 -

¬ October 21 -

¬ November 18 - Select Carver of the Year, Nomination of officers

¬ December 16 - Election of Officers, Christmas Party & Swap

Our Carving Show -

August 16, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Admission $3, children under 12 free

Tebala Shrine Temple
7910 Newburg Rd., Rockford, IL 61108

SETUP Friday afternoon
Chair & Committee - recruited in February
Rules & applications - published in May
Judges - Denny Neubauer (the carving tool maker) and Greg Wirtz ( a well-known carver)
Food Concessionaire, etc. - TBA

CARVING CLASSES

¬ April 12-13, Bettendorf, IA, Gen Grayling teaches a class in pyrography. Lessons will be graded to individual skill level. 9:00 to 5:00, $100. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, 52722, 800-397-2278.

¬ April 26-27, Bettendorf, IA, 9:00 to 5:00, The Southwest comes to Bettendorf! Sara and Larry Cornwell will teach students to cut, carve, and decorate gourds with Southwest themes using Dremel or Fordham type tools as well as wood burning. All supplies (and some tools) will be furnished. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722, 800-397-2278.

¬ April 12 & 13, Des Moines, IA, Mike Shipley, $120 plus blanks

¬ May 16, 17, 18, Bettendorf, IA, Kirk Davis teaches Realistic Animal Carving, power and hand tool carving, with pyrography- a black bear and cubs, "burn the fur ‘til it flames" $250 plus blanks. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, IA, 52722, 800-397-2278.

¬ June 21-29, Davenport, IA, International Woodcarvers Congress, AWC, Ltd. This is a confluence of carving classes as well as a juried competition. Considered by many to be the best all-around show/school going. Conducted at the Scott County Fairgrounds, Davenport, IA. PO Box 104 Bettendorf, IA 52722, 563-359-9684; www.awcltd.org.

¬ April 5-6, Portage, Indiana, Duneland Woodcarvers’ Show & Sale - 2100 Willowcreek Road, Woodland Park, Indiana. Sat. 10am - 5pm & Sun. 10am - 4pm. $4 admission, children under12 free. Contact David Kings, 219-988-5610.  www.dunelandwoodcarvers.com.

¬ April 12-13, Wheaton, IL "Artistry In Wood" at Cantigny Park 15151 Woodfield Rd. Sponsored by North Suburban Woodcarvers Club ($20 per year). Admission to park is $8.00 per vehicle. Jon Hackamore West Benton Ave, Naperville, IL, 60540, 630-355-6589.

¬ April 12-13, Waterloo, IA, Iowa State Woodcarvers Show & Competition. Northeast Iowa Woodcarving Club. Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial Street. Sat. 1pm - 5pm, Sunday. 11am - 4:30 pm. Free admission. Mary lou Snyder

¬ April 18-20, Decorah, IA, Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art, register by March 28 Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 523 W. Water St, PO Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101 563-382-9681, www.vesterheim.org

¬ April 27 - Appleton, WI, Mid-Wisconsin Chippers host annual show, competition, and sale, am to bpm at (new location) Monarch Gardens, 2311 Spencer. Jayne Neuenfeldt, W10831 Everts Lane, New London, WI, 54961, 920-982-5582

¬ May 17-18, Bloomington, IL, Corn Belt Carving Club’s "Sculptures In Wood" woodcarving show & sale. Challenger Learning Center, 2901 East Empire Street. Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. Noon - 5pm. Adm. $2, children under 12 free. Mike Hartzler, 309-662-4276, www.cornbeltcarving.org.

¬ June 21-29, Davenport, IA, International Woodcarvers Congress, AWC, Ltd. One of the very best carving shows around. Exhibition Halls at Scott County Fairgrounds, Davenport, IA. PO Box 104 Bettendorf, IA 52722, 563-359-9684; www.awcltd.org.

WANT ADS