John Wacker presented latest details regarding rental of the Tebala Shrine Center for next year's woodcarving show. A motion was passed to have next year's show at Tebala Shrine Center. John Wacker received a round of applause for his efforts of coordinating this new show site.

The new slate of officers was presented by the nominating committee as follows:

> President, Bob Hallstrom
> Vice President, Don Stansfield
> Treasurer, John Wacker
> Secretary, Gary Lundquist

Don Stansfield handed out several revisions to the By-Laws with the expectations to discuss the changes at the nest business meeting. John Wacker is checking with Judy Emerson of the Rockford newspaper for a monthly notice of our meeting that would be placed in the "Go Section" of the newspaper.

A Cub Scout Den has requested soap carving teaching session, and Marshall and Tony DeVita will follow-up to conduct this activity.

Larry Christensen reported that the Sight and Hearing Group of Rockford has requested a carved quilt.  Larry and Jim Griparis will check with them for the final details and champion this project. One question to be resolved was the cost of the materials.

Our guest speaker was Robert Kerwin, a retired Industrial Arts teacher from Elgin schools. After moving to Rockford to be near his family, he began making unique boxes. The uniqueness was the method of construction that enables perfect fits with the drawers. His finishing methods were with several grits of sandpaper and rubbed in Danish oil and later with a coat of wax.

Tod & Dona Wisner—Caricatures carved from a class they attended in Bettendorf, IA.

Richard Andersen—A 10 year old carving of an angel.

Tony DeVita—Painted owl

John Wacker—Staining run-off fixture that sits in a tray

Larry Christensen—Small Santa and cowboy

John Bibby—Chip carved thread bobbin holder that would hang from a wall

Pinch me good ol' Grinch. Is it really close to year's end with the holidays of Christmas and New Years a few days away? I thought it was yesterday that we celebrated these events! Time does move quickly—-perhaps too quickly. But in retrospect the goodness that has happened is out standing. Membership is growing thanks to the Gordie Moscinski's classes, and Tod Wisner's follow up with those who found our club interesting during the annual carving show. The Wednesday morning carving sessions has seen fantastic growth—just ask those who have to arrange more tables.

Of course our annual carving show of August 4th was a hit with good attendance and an abundance of awards. All of you that pitched in to make this a success needs applause. Then comes the Pecatonica Group who all summer have been chain sawing a tree for the Winnebago County Fair Organization. It has been said that several chainsaws wore out, yet an image of an Indian has emerged through the stubbornness to stay ahead of the summer heat and dryness.

Now comes new faces (from the nominating committee) to lead the carving club for the next year (s). A big thanks and congratulations goes to those who have volunteered—Bob Hallstrom, Pres.; Don Stansfield, VP; John Wacker, Treasurer and Gary Lundquist, Secretary. This will be a "top-notch executive committee."

Keep your tools sharp,

Roger Benedict

December 18th—Swap night and Christmas Party

January 15th— Tom & Barbara Block will present a lighthouse photo presentation

February 19th —Orville Roan will present an interesting topic of "Intarsia"

March 18th—Roger Benedict will present a slide show of the old and forgotten farm silos of IL and WI.

We have seen some new faces the past several weeks. This is good news having the membership grow. Here are the latest new members and welcome them aboard:

Lonnie Hayes

Roalie Wesley

Nicholas Scheuer

Gary Lundquist

Some of our members in the past five weeks had heart issues and are doing just great in their recovery.  Bob Hallstrom is recovering from by-pass surgery recently as last November. He is up and around; with physical rehab beginning the first week of December. Tom Backer very recently is recovering from a pacemaker installation, Larry Christensen several weeks ago also had a pacemaker installed. Finally Roger Benedict had heart reconstruction August 17 , and will complete physical rehab December 7th. He is looking forward in returning to the Wednesday am carving.

Beginning January 1st the membership dues will be $20.00, and are due the end of January 2008. Treasurer John Wacker will be happy to collect your dues.  Make checks out to Blackhawk Woodcarvers.

By now it is official that the annual 2008 carving show will be at the Tebala Shrine Center on Newburg Road. For the out-of-towners it will be very easy to locate off of By-Pass 20.

The December meeting is the annual Christmas party with food and beverages to share. For the party time, for those who are so inclined, bring a dish to share with cookies, cakes, or candy. The carving club will provide beverages and pizzas.

At this same meeting is the swap night of your "odds and sods" having no use to you, but could be a high interest to someone else. Anything goes'—wood, hand tools, power tools, broken tools, unfinished carvings, ruff-outs, paint, brushes, magazines & books, bag of wood chips, etc.

Families and friends are encouraged to attend.