Happy New Year!

December Meeting & Christmas Party - A howling success! The Party Committee of Bernie Budzynski, John Skaggs, and  John Wacker planned a terrific party for us.   There were only reservations for 53..  However, when Bernie (ably assisted by Gary Lundquist) went in to Kenrock on Tuesday evening to set up the room for Wednesday’s party, they set tables for 72.   And that was none too many seats, either.  As you looked around the room during the meal, there were only a few scattered chairs empty.  Lisa & Jeff Hanus came a bit late, and they had to sit apart!  (Lisa brought a sweet potato cake - - it was delicious!)

      The food was GRE-E-E-A-A-T-T-T!!!  .  The committee brought in 6 Breakfast Skillets (egg/sausage/potato), delicious sliced ham, coffee, tea, juice, and  complete place settings.  An absolutely fabulous buffet, all arranged on holiday-red table cloths And then, there was all the potluck food that spread out over another whole table . . . with all kinds of cookies & cakes, coffee cakes, holiday breads, candy, fresh mixed-fruit bowl, doughnut holes, and that’s all I can remember.

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        People could eat until they fairly burst.  And still there was food to spare.

      Charity ran rampant -A 50/50 Raffle (new idea this year) collected $187, and paid out $93.  Ozzie Webb won the prize, and promptly donated $20 of his winnings right back to the Club.  Thank you, Ozzie!  While the proceeds of the 50/50 were intended to pay for the party expenses, it turns out the Club made out like a bandit (or made out like a Porch Climber per Gary Lundquist).  All because John Skaggs turned his expenses money ($60 plus) back into the Club.  Thank you, John!

     John Winter donated a “Marble-powered-thing-a-ma-bob” toy that he had made.  Beautiful craftsmanship. (that’s just normal for John) This was auctioned off with the Club to keep the proceeds.  Bidding was quite spirited, heated, and lively.  Dona Wisner won the toy with her $20 bid.  Thank you, John and Dona.

     Rich Andersen brought in a bunch of twist drill bits that were surplus in his workshop.  That was nice, and very thoughtful, but would you believe it ???? HE HAD SHARPENED THEM ALL.  Now, that’s what I call real charity!  Thank you, Rich.

A Sell & Swap Meet is a Club tradition at the December Party. We could bring anything relating to woodcarving that we wanted to sell, swap, or just plain give away. (A few years ago, Jim Griparis brought in a pair of bent skew palm chisels. One was a left-handed skew, the other was right-handed. Some of us had never even seen such tools, let alone use one.)

This year Tony DeVita brought in some carving tools from the late Sandy Schmidt, as well as a sharpening system. There was also a large stock of carving wood donated by Bill Belt of Winnebago. Bill has done quite a bit of woodcarving in the past, and he didn’t want all this stock to go to waste. All but a few pieces were taken by members. Thanks, Bill. Tony Valdez got a thirty-dollar bent gouge chisel for ten bucks, and Marj Simonds got a chip-collector grid for free!

Live Instrumental Serenade - There was a musical surprise visit from Bob DeVita, a professional musician and nephew of our own Tony DeVita. Bob brought in his musical saws to play for us.. While he was playing, everyone in the Party stopped talking and turned to watch him. Rousing applause followed every song he played. It was such a nice way to add atmosphere to the Party. There is something about real, live music that always makes a party more special. NOTE ti Tony: Be sure you express our great appreciation to Bob for his kind contribution to the Club Christmas Party.

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Lost & Found - There were two plastic food containers left on the food table after all the revelers had left. Someone said they originally held candy - one had gum drops, the other had chocolates.

Another forgotten item is a short kitchen utility knife. Henckels brand (German) with 5" serrated blade (very dull) and a sturdy thru-bolster 3-rivet handle. Obviously a classy piece of cutlery. If the owner doesn’t claim it, your Editor threatens to take it.

These items will be brought to Wednesday morning carving session, and left in the Library Case.

BUSINESS MEETING

Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Gary Lundquist, Secretary

Original plans were to have a very short business meting BEFORE the meal. Unfortunately, our good President, Bob Hallstrom, suffered from the snow storm and super-slick roads - - and spun out into a ditch on his way to the party. Wrecker service was two hours getting to Bob, so he was two hours late getting to the party. Hence, we ate first and had the very short Meeting second.

Motion was made, seconded. and carried to accept/approve the November meeting minutes ass reported in the December Newsletter.

Treasurer’s Report was read, and approved as read.

Membership Report - No new members this month..

Newsletter Report - No news.

Our new Club Officers - were elected as nominated in November and reported in the December Newsletter. Bob Hallstrom as President, Don Stansfield Vice President, Gary Lundquist as Secretary, John Wacker as Treasurer ... all the same as last year, except for the addition of John Skaggs as a second Vice President.

President Hallstrom extended recognition and Thank You’s to John Winter for the new door sign; to Marshall Field, Jr, for his many, many years of service as Club Librarian; and last but not least to the Party Committee of Bernie Budzynski, John Skaggs, and John Wacker for organizing and setting up the Christmas Parry.

New Door Sign was provided by John Winter. This is a magnetic sign to hang on the outside of the entrance door whenever we are in session. Now people can more readily find us instead of wandering around clueless as in the past.

New Librarian, Bernie Budzynski, explained the new system for checking out books & videos. Items are still numbered as before. In addition, Bernie has cataloged the extensive inventory of educational material on woodcarving and woodworking by subject matter. There is now a library-style check-out system complete with cards for signing out an item.. There is a new list of all the stuff in the library, listing items by type and subject matter. Check it out. You will be amazed at the wealth of books, magazines, videos, and model sticks we have just sitting and waiting to be used. No charge!!

photos by Larry Clark

The "Show ‘n Tell" display of members’ carvings at the Party was truly impressive. It started out as only one table. Then they had to add a second table, and finally it filled three whole tables. Overflowing with beautiful carved art. It’s humbling for your Editor to see such wonderful artwork that has been created by the other Club Members. The snapshots here don’t even begin to do justice to the Artists.

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The program for the December Business meeting is the Party and Swap Meet

Special recognition and gratitude go out to Marshall Field, Jr., for the many, many years of constant and faithful service as our Club Librarian. Not only has Marshall played shepherd to all the books, magazines, and videos in the library, he also served as official attendance taker for Club functions. When you stop to think about it, that’s a lot of responsibility to be there for each and every function ... not only for Wednesday morning carving sessions, but also through all the years for every other Tuesday evening as well. And then there is the sharpening machines that he took care of. And the coffee maker. And . . . There were an endless number of minor chores that Marshall did for the Blackhawk Woodcarving Club. THANK YOU, MARSHALL.

More Library News - Bob Capion changed the plastic casters on the Library Cabinet to a larger size in tougher materials so the Cabinet would roll easier. It has to be rolled out/around every week, so ease of moving is important. ( If you ever had to roll it before this, you know how tough it was.) It turned into a really sticky job, but it rolls mighty fine now. Thank you, Bob.

More Than A Library - The new case also houses power equipment for sharpening and buffing carving knives & chisels.

Social success of the Christmas Party was partly because it was a fun mixer for Members and spouses. One spouse even expressed opinion that it would be nice to have such a gathering more often. Actually, our Club Picnic in September elicits similar comments. If we were to change the Club Picnic from September to June it would give us two Social Mixers more evenly spaced during the year. Is there some special reason for having the Picnic in September? It seems awfully close to the Show. Maybe it would be appropriate to consider a change date. (Editor’s comments)

Thanks to Don Clark for the news about the carving class in Freeport. See details under "CARVING CLASSES" below.

Be sure to check the CARVING CLASSES section . We are privileged to have gotten our hands on a pre-release copy of the classes at The Woodcraft Shop in Bettendorf. Of special note are the Scandinavian flat plane carving classes by Harley Refsal. If you’re interested, call soon with a credit card, because his classes fill up FAST! I don’t think they accept any reservation without payment. His classes always start on the evening before the first full day. I have no idea why - he seems to always do it this way.

You can call The Woodcraft Shop at 563-359-9684, and they will mail you their flyer with more-detailed descriptions of their classes, including a two-day class in March on decorative gourds that includes cutting, burning, painting, & gold leaf work.

NOTE: We also got some pre-release information on Harley Refsal’s first class of the year at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. You can call the Museum for more details. Their phone number is listed under "Carving Classes" latter in this Newsletter.

Jack Lichtenheld sent an interesting letter to the Club. He included a sketch of a construction guy holding a "stop sign." Jack was vacationing up in Bailey’s Harbor, Door County, last October when he saw this fellow directing traffic on a highway construction project over in Sister Bay. Jack was taken by the carving possibilities ... His son made a sketch, and Jack carved the traffic man. Jack’s carving is about 8" tall. Maybe Jack will bring the carving to show when he visits some Wednesday carving session. In the meantime, Jack sent along a sketch of the traffic guy, and said anyone is quite welcome to use it. (See end of this Newsletter. )           Click on picture to make it larger

This is the last issue of the Newsletter being mailed out over the 2008 lists. The NEW FOR 2009 list comes from Membership Chairman Dona Wisner, and if you’re not on the list, that means your dues are not paid. No members (and that means NONE) will be getting any more Newsletters unless their dues are paid. Dues are quite reasonable. The twenty bucks is a bargain. And most of us get far more from the Club than we give back to it.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

"Pins For Kids" program is humming right along. There was a whole table full of Christmas pins, and a couple of Channukah pins, too. Bob Hallstrom reported at the Business Meeting that the Christmas pins would be distributed to kids in hospitals the next day. (Thursday, December 11) We have already received a very nice letter of thanks from Ms. Paula Culvey, Nurse Manager, Pediatrics, at Swedish American Hospital.

We are still working on Valentines Day "Pins For Kids" pins. See Don Stansfield for blanks. Do some, they’re fast and fun.

SICK BAY REPORT

John Wacker’s gall stone problem was on "hold" until after John and Elena made their Holiday trip to Seattle to visit their son and his family. The Seattle Blizzard cancelled the trip. Good New Year’s surprise for John when the biggest stone came out all on its own. "Not an easy delivery," John said, "but, it’s a big relief to get rid of it."

I asked Mom if I was a gifted child ... she said they certainly wouldn’t have paid for me.

 CLUB SCHEDULE
 

     January 2, 3, 4, & 5, Bettendorf, IA.  Realistic Bird Carving with Bob Guge, $270 includes tupelo cutout, eyes, & study cast.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, 800-397-2278

     January 16, 17, 18, & 19, Bettendorf, IA. Power Carving Realistic Fish with Josh Guge, $205 includes tupelo cutout, eyes, & study cast.  Airbrush demonstration on how to paint fish.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, Bettendorf, 800-397-2278

     February 10 thru March 10 (Tuesdays) - Rockford, IL, “Woodburning For Beginners” taught by Club Member Gordon Moscinski, Rock Valley College Bell Building, corner of Bell School Road and Spring Brook Road, Tuesday mornings, 9:00 - 12:00, $20.  See Gordy or call 815-921-3931 for details.

     February 17, 18, & 19, (Tues - Thurs) Bettendorf, IA.  Classical European Carving using only chisels and gouges, with Helli Mayr.  31" x 7 ½", Classical Green Man Door Topper,   $265 + $30 for blank in Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     February 20, 21, & 22 (Fri - Sun) Bettendorf, IA.  Classical European Carving using only chisels and gouges, with Helli Mayr.   31" x 7 ½", Classical Green Man Door Topper,   $265 + $30 for blank in Tyrolean Pine. The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     February 25, 26, & 27 (Wed nite - Fri) Bettendorf, IA.  Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavia-style flat plane carving of a  Woodsman with Backpack, Snowshoes, & Axe.  He will also have an assortment of other cutouts from patterns in his books. $100 + $9 - $15 for cutouts, depending on subject.   The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     February 27 & 28, & Mar 1 (Fri nite - Sun) Bettendorf, IA.  Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavia-style flat plane carving of a  Woodsman with Backpack, Snowshoes, & Axe.  He will also have an assortment of other cutouts from patterns in his books. $100 + $9 - $15 for cutouts, depending on subject.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     March 12 thru April 9 (Thursdays), Rockford, IL = “Seashore Relief Carving” taught by Club Member Roger Benedict, for intermediate and advance woodcarvers, Rock Valley College Bell Building, corner of Bell School Road and Spring Brook Road, Thursday mornings, 9:00 to 12:00, $20, plus $10 per board used.  815-921-3931 for more information.

     March 13, 14, & 15 in Decorah, Iowa - Harley Refsal will teach Scandinavian Flat Plane Carving class at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, 502 West Water St.  Class starts 6:30 PM on Friday, runs thru Sat & Sun.  Diane Weston, 563-382-9681.  (Don’t have any other specifics yet.)

     March 14 - 15, Sat & Sun, Bettendorf IA - Dream Catcher Gourd with a Background Silhouette, and/or Penguin Gourd with Gold Leaf.  Wood burning, carving, painting, & gold leaf - by Sara & Larry Cornwell, $135 plus $25 materials fee.  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     April 3 - 5, Fri - Sun, Bettendorf, IA  - Realistic Polar Bear Scavenging In A Dump with Kirk Curtis , power tools & hand tools, special fur texturing technique, $260 + $30 blank,  The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     April 25 - 26, Sat & Sun, Bettendorf, IA, The Art of Pyrography, with Gen Grayling with different instruction projects graded for beginners  and advanced wood burners. $110.    The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

     April 7 - April 28, Freeport, IL, Brad Gusloff teaches a class on carving Wood Spirits in found wood  Tuesdays @ 6 - 8 PM.  Oakdale Mogle Center.  Sponsored by Freeport Park District, class #730-1, must register by March 24, 2009. Call 815-235-6114 for details.

     May 29 - 31, Fri - Sun, Bettendorf, IA, Low Relief Carving Embellished With Woodburning, Elaine & Fred Stenman, 2-stage work to determine skill levels, elementary work for beginners, more detailed work for advanced students.  Carving, sanding, wood burning, painting, $145.    The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State Street, 800-397-2278.

Perhaps the biggest problem in retirement is that there’s not enough time to get everything done.

CARVING SHOWS

These are shows within 3 to 4 hours one-way drive time of Rockford.

     January 2009 - no shows known in our immediate area.

     February 7-8, 2009, Cedar Rapids, IA, Woodcarving Show & Competition, Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center, 90 Twixtown Rd NE, Sat 9 - 5, Sun 10 - 4, free admission, contact Maurie Vandewalle 319-377-6520. Cedar Valley Woodcarvers.

     March 2 - 3, Bloomington, IL - “Sculptures in Wood” sponsored by Corn Belt Carving Club, Challenger Learning Center, cornbeltcarving.org.

     April 18 - 19, Waterloo, IA - Northeast Iowa Woodcarving Show, Waterloo Center For The Arts, neiwcarver.org.