SCAWC Newsletter

President Mitchell met with Marcia Seymour, Assistant-Director of Public Relations at the O’Fallon Cultural Arts Center to discuss participation in their spring festival in May. Club members interested in participating will be asked to share in carving demonstrations during the event. A tent, separate from the show area will be set up for woodcarving, burning, etc …. We will also do soap carving for kids of all ages. We will need lots of members to support the event so please sign up with Pres. Mitchell. Members that want to participate in the event should bring a carving to the Jan 3^rd meeting so Dave Lincoln can get photos for downloading into the O’Fallon newsletter.

Barb Smith agreed to be our “sunshine” chairman to send cards/flowers to members and/or immediate family who are sick or died. Please speak to Barb if you know of someone she should contact.

2004 Officers
President: Charlie Mitchell
Vice President: Wyatt Sample
Treasurer: Bob Craven
Secretary:
Librarian: Martha Byron
Board of Directors: Jim Leifeld*, Bill Maguire*, Charlene McMenamy, Wilbert Brewton
Newsletter Editor: Charles Sapp
New Member Chairman: Charles Sapp
Show Case Chairman: Bill Maguire
Project Chairman: Arnold Fritz
* = re-elect

A volunteer is needed to fill the secretarial position. Please step forward and serve the club. It is an excellent way to get to know club activities and club members. Thanks to all those that have and those that are serving. If you have held office before, try a new position. The club can benefit from your experience.

We have the St. Peter’s Community and Art Center reserved for the fall show in Sept 2004. A volunteer is needed to be show chairperson. We have had great sub-committees in the last two years that make the chairperson’s job a lot easier. Talk to me if you would like more information on what is required.

We had seven new members join the club in 2003 and we lost some long time members /friends.

It was a gala event. Thanks to Charlene for handling the arrangements. We had a couple of special guests. Laura Helling, the new Art Center director, and her assistant, Cindy Engle, stopped by and talked with club members during the party.

For sanding tight corners or spaces on small objects, borrow your wife's emery boards - they make great sanding boards. However, to keep peace in the family, you might want to purchase your own. You can also glue sandpaper of different grits to a Popsicle stick. Trim the stick as needed to get into those tight spots. Use dowel rods for curved surfaces.

How many times have you read a carving book and said “I’ve know that tip for a long time?” Well here is your chance to share what you have learned with new (and old) club members. Send me your tip of the month to share. I will even give you credit for the tip.

Charlie Sapp led the club into the transformation of wooden eggs into a Santa face ornament. Several of the club members participated and made great progress during the evening. Even with something as simple as an egg it gave carvers a chance to work on facial features like the eyes, nose, mustache.... and placement of the features on the head.

Bill Maguire & Jane Smith	Charlene McMenamy	Ray Plodzien, Wyatt Sample, & Bill Kuhn

Do you have a problem or need assistance with some aspect of your carving / burning / etc. Send me a note and we will solicit feedback from others that may have been there, done that.

Its time to pay your dues for 2004; $10. Contact the Membership Chairman, Charles Sapp, or Treasurer Bob Craven.

Be sure to fill out the sheet that Charlie passed out a couple of months ago with suggestions for club projects, activities, or suggestions for the club officers and directors.

Charles Sapp displayed his art work during the month of December.
Interest: Carving in the Round and Wood Spirits
Training: St. Charles High School Woodcarving class, Gerald Sears Seminar, lots of video tapes, books and trial and error.
Affiliations: St. Charles Area Woodcarvers; National Wood Carvers Association; Mid America Woodcarvers
Awards: Wonders of Wood Advanced-Class ribbons.
Background: Engineer at Boeing. Wood worker for over thirty years. Started carving about seven years ago after taking the adult education class offered by St. Charles schools and the St. Charles Area Woodcarvers.

John Bouchillon: Family sign. John used lacquer thinner applied to a Xerox/laser copy to transfer the pattern.

Ray Plodzien completed his Madonna from the demonstration that Dee hosted earlier in the year.

Sorry about not getting pictures of all the show and tell. It will take me some time to get into this role. When you have an item for show and tell, please get my attention before you leave (presuming that I remember to bring the camera). If you have a digital picture of your work, send it to me for publishing.