March 1999 Newsletter


John's Junket

Our February meeting in our new location went very well. A big thanks to everyone on the Site Selection and the Facilities committees for the hard work they put in to make this transition possible. As you saw we were experimenting with a different set up for the February program and will continue to tweak the room layout over the next several meetings.

Beginning with the March meeting we will be starting the announcements at 6:45 PM instead of the usual 7 PM. This should allow us to start the evening’s program promptly at 7 PM and help ensure that we conclude by 9:30 PM. We must be cleaned up, put away, and out of the building by 10 PM, so we need to stick to a hard 9:30 PM ending time. If you are able stay an extra few minutes to assist with the after meeting chores it would be greatly appreciated.

A large number of members filled out the volunteer form that was distributed at the February meeting indicating your willingness to participate in the various Guild committees. On behalf of every member of the Guild, I thank you. The programs, workshops, and other Guild activities and benefits could not and would not happen without your help.
Be assured that during the upcoming weeks a member of the committee(s) you volunteered to assist will be contacting you to take advantage of what ever assistance you are able to lend. If you were not at the February meeting and are interested in volunteering your assistance please contact myself or the appropriate committee director.

Work has begun in the Program and Workshop committees for 2000. Surprised? It will take from January through October of this year to brainstorm, organize, and schedule all of next year’s planned activities so that they can be published and shared with the membership in the November meeting. And, all this must happen while supporting the programs and workshops that are occurring this year! If you have any suggestions or ideas about what kind of programs or workshops you
would like to see your Guild sponsor next year please contact Bruce Bogust, the Program Director, or Bob Vincent, the Workshop Director.

As always, if you have thoughts or comments about any aspect of the Guild please don’t hesitate to share them by contacting me at a meeting or at home.

Intarsia Workshop

Si Farmer

Joe Szabo took the student body of eight through the process of converting blocks of wood of various species into a beautiful mallard duck through the the art form of intarsia. He downplays the woodworking aspect of intarsia, although we used scroll saws and various sanders. The beauty of the object is the play among the various shapes, colors, hues and grain patterns.

He did not capsulize the presentation that he had made on the subject during the membership meeting. Rather, he demonstrated and coached the students and critiqued their results. He instilled in us the need to cut one piece at a time and to compensate for slight errors the cuts by adjusting the subsequent contiguous pieces.

No one finished their entire intarsia duck, However, everyone made progress — some more than others — and everyone left with a greater appreciation of a new art form.

Help Needed !!!

Bruce Bogust

We are running low on our supply of plaster cast tongues for our “Golden Tongue” award, that we present to guest speakers. These plaques are well received and we would like to continue this tradition. We are looking for someone who can make some more castings or who knows where we can get some make. If you can help, please contact me at bbogust@worldnet.att.net.

Board Briefs


Volunteer Survey: We received 170 responses in 19 categories. There is now critical mass in all areas requested.
Publicity: The Guild needs to clarify their mission statement and goals and give more a more specific charge to the committee.
Publications: Guidelines for free newsletter distribution were finalized.
Program: Pleased with room layout at new location; some fine tuning is required. Expect to get a new 35 mm projector soon. Hope to be able to project images from the camcorder to the screen though the video projector.
Treasurer: Last month’s income was $1134.10 - expenses were $811.84 for a net income of $322.26. No balance was available inasmuch as treasurer has not received a statement from the bank since the treasurer transition.
Program: More Plaster of Paris tongues are needed for the Golden Tongue Award.
Benefits: The Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Store (a.k.a. The Woodworkers Store) will now extend a 15%
courtesy discount to current Guild members on their regularly priced stock (power tools excluded). They will participate with the Guild in next year’s Toy Program. In addition, they will donate a raffle prize three times per year.
Log Fest / Guild Family Picnic / Holiday Season Party: An ad hoc committee was formed to study the feasibility of any or all of the above.
Budget Committee: A Budget Committee was formed. Liz Rohde, John Petrovic, Bob Vincent and Bruce Bogust comprise this committee.

Benefits Update


Increased Discount for Guild Members: Bud Close, manager of the Rockler Woodworking and Hardware Store (a.k.a. Woodworker’s Store) told the Guild last week that he is increasing the courtesy discount given to Guild members to 15 per cent. Formerly the courtesy discount was 10%. This applies to purchases of regularly priced merchandise and excludes power tools. Members must remember that they are required to show their current Guild membership card to obtain this courtesy discount. The store is located at 845 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, WI. Their number is 414/771-1882.

Thanks, Bud, et al.

Calendar

March 6, Saturday, 9 am - Noon Seminar
Basic Finishing with Tom Monahan
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

March 6, Saturday, 3 - 6 pm Seminar
Basic Lathe with Pete Sapienza
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

March 12, Friday, WWG Meeting 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Guild Program: Wood Turning
Presenter: Judy Ditmer, Pique, OH
Washington Park Senior Center

March 13 - 14, Saturday / Sunday
Guild Workshop: Bowl Turning with Judy Ditmer
Woodcuts, 7012 State Road 31, Racine (31& Co. G)

March 13, Saturday, 9 am 3 pm, Workshop
Traditional Intarsia: with Joe Szabo
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

March 13, Saturday, 4 - 7 pm Seminar
Basic Bowl Turning with Roland Pederson
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

March 20, Saturday, 9 am - 3 pm Workshop
Wood Carving with Homer Haund
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

March 20, Saturday, 3 - 6 pm Workshop
Hand Woven Caning with John Grigg
Rockler Woodworking & Hardware
(continued on March 27, 3 - 6 pm)

March 27, Saturday, 9 am Noon
Guild Seminar: Table Saw Basics by Guild Members
Presenter: Matt Bohlmann (Guild Member)
Location: Matt’s Shop, 1448 N. 53rd St. Milwaukee

March 27, Saturday, 9 am 3 pm Workshop
Advanced Intarsia with Joe Szabo
Rockler's Woodworking & Hardware
(continued on April 3, 9 am - 3 pm)

April 3, Saturday, 4 - 6 pm Seminar
Router Techniques with Pete Sapienza
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

April 7, Wednesday, WWG Meeting 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Guild Program: Wooden Bow and Arrow Construction
Presenter: Jerry Roberts, Sauk Trail Archery, Worth, IL
Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet St.

April 11, 17, 24 Saturdays Workshop
Beginning Cabinetmaking with Pete Sapiensa and Bill Beasley
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

April 17, Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm, Hands-on Workshop
Guild Sponsored: Adirondack Chair
Presenter: John Strachota
Location to be determined.

April 26, 27, 28 or 29th, (M,Tu,W or Th) 2 - 3:30 pm
(date to be determined by attendees)
Guild Sponsored Field Trip to U. S. Forest Products Lab
in Madison, WI.
Presenter: Forest Products Lab Personnel
Announcement at next Guild Meeting

April 23, 24-25 (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Guild Sponsored Workshop: Shaker Boxes
Presenter: John Wilson, Charlotte, MI
Location: Scott Stanwyck’s Shop, Nashotah

Washington Park Senior Center Map Update


The map that was included in the last newsletter omitted one significant label — that of how to get onto Hy. 41 North, which would take them to Lisbon Ave.

The map clearly shows 46th Street. One would leave the Senior Center, go west one block to 46th St., then turn left (south) as the sign indicates and follow that street for entrance onto the Hy. 41 North freeway, which terminates at Lisbon Ave.

The editor apologizes for this serious omission.

March Program: Wood Turning

Judy Ditmer is a wood turner from Piqua, Ohio and has been turning wood since 1987. She has written two books, was a featured artist on Scott Phillips’ “The American Wood shop” television program and Signatures in Wood, a documentary video, and has been featured in Woodwork and seven other magazines or books. She has exhibited in numerous galleries and shops. Numerous wood turning and woodworking organizations have benefited from her lectures and demonstrations.

Judy enjoys making everything from small finger tops to large, one-of-a-kind sculptured bowls, including items such as ornaments, boxes, writing instruments, plates & bowls, and jewelry. This evening Judy will be discussing the logistics of turning small items, bowl turning, sanding problems, sharpening tips, and design ideas for the wood turner.

Meeting times - Redefined

Si Farmer

The Guild rents the Washington Park Senior Center from 6 to 10 pm. This means that we cannot get into the building before 6 and must be out by 10. Members start arriving shortly after 6 pm; some to make final adjustments to the room layout for the meeting; some to get out the library books and videos; some setting up exhibits; some officers setting up their stations, and some members just visiting other members.

To maximize the time for the formal presentation of the evening, the Board decided that announcements would commence promptly at 6:45 and the program would begin at 7:00 pm sharply. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly and arrive according to your needs and pleasures.

We must exit the building by 10:00. To do that, we need willing and able volunteers to help put the stuff away and pack up. At the last meeting, at 9:55 the only ones left ‘packing up’ were two members from Gurnee, IL and the Workshop Director from Ft. Atkinson. All of the local people had gone home. We really do need your help!

Workshop News

Bob Vincent

Lake Superior Mallards: The Intarsia Workshop presented Saturday the 6th of February by Joe Szabo was attended by eight Guild Members. All attending had a meaningful experience and several members completed, or nearly completed their ducks. Hope the will bring them to the next meeting for all to see. Special thanks to Joe Schwarz and Jeff Zimmer who donated the use of their scroll saws for the workshop.

Shaker Boxes with John Wilson: The 23rd, 24th and 25th of April is fast approaching as the date for the Shaker Oval Box Workshop. At present, there are six Guild Members registered. Hope more of you will sign up. Just to review, each participant will make five oval boxes (see them at the March meeting). All participants will meed Friday evening the 23rd of April and will try and split up the participants for Saturday and Sunday. About 10 participants for each day would be great. We should have at least 20 participants for this workshop. The retail value of the five boxes is more than the $120 workshop fee.

March Workshops / Tours:

  1. There is still some space available for the Judy Ditmer Workshops on Saturday, March 13 (3 spots) and Sunday, March 14 (6 spots). Get your registration in now. It’s going to be pretty close to sign up at the meeting on Friday the 12th of March. Mail your reservations and fee ($90) to Dick and Kathy Yezek as soon as possible.
  2. Matt Bohlmann will be presenting the Saturday Morning Basics Workshop on Saturday, March 27th at his shop from 9 am to Noon. Matt’s shop is at his home at 1448 North 53rd St., not far from our Senior Center meeting place.
  3. Adirondack Chairs: This is always a hard workshop to get off the ground. Need Help!!! Would someone with a large shop be willing to host this workshop on Saturday, April 17, 1999. Please call me at 929-563-8568 if you can help with this one.
  4. Forest Products Field Trip: There will be a special announcement about this trip at the March meeting.




Last Update: 05/12/1999
Web Author: Jerry F. Davis
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