Rochester Woodcarvers

Rochester, MN
Rochester Woodcarvers
November 2007 - December 2007 Newsletter
Meetings: 9am - 11am on the 3rd Saturday of each month (Sept - May)
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 9th Street and 7th Avenue SE, Rochester, MN

Festival of Trees Auctions RWC Tree
Hiawatha Homes, sponsor of the annual Festival of Trees, chose to auction off our tree this year, a first. In past years, all trees in each size category were put into a lottery and offered to the bidders as a lot. This produces a foot race to get to the tree of choice. The RWC tree was always among the first trees to be claimed in the lottery race. This year, for the first time, the RWC tree was set aside and bid at public auction. Two bidders vied for it to the end, and when the gavel fell, our tree went for $6,000. Worth every penny, to my thinkin'. Thanks to some wonderful and dedicated carvers!
Next year's theme? Ideas?

Show - N - Tell Contributors
November:
  • John Amundson -- scroll saw bird and fox.
  • John Gordon -- draft horse for the base of our tree.
December:
  • Lou Vangalis -- 16 carved ducks mounted on plaques from his cabin.
  • Cheryl Jones -- 3 class projects. Owl, Lady working out and U of M Football Player.
  • Tom Severson -- Chip carved box for his mother-in-law.
  • Bob Nowicki -- Family Christmas Gifts: 2 Barefoot Santas, one with list, one with hockey stick and a "Good Book Santa".
  • Laurie Reed -- Bark Carving.
  • Gary Berg -- Caricature carving of hiker, "Birdie with the Yellow Bill…"
  • Janet Dean -- Carved cross.
  • Laverne Schettl -- Flat plane carved nativity.
  • Glenn Amundsen -- Figure of St Francis for church; geese and a bear.
  • Bev Stupca -- Class project spoon.
  • Chuck Stupca -- Class projects Tree and Bark carving.
  • John Rink -- Love Spoon for his wife.
  • Sharon Roble -- Whimsy houses.
  • Mike Snyder -- Santa Puzzle (purchased); Origami puzzle he sent for Christmas.
  • Don Carlson -- Northwest Indian Art - Eagle.
  • Kyle Poss -- Ball-and-chain, relief carving depicting a Ball-and-chain.
  • Ed Vitse -- Nativity.
  • Ron Bymers -- Father Christmas
Our President Says:
Greetings fellow woodcarvers, and happy New Year!
Now that the holidays are behind us, I hope you will turn your attention to preparing for our club's annual show this coming March 29-30. I am counting on many of you to carve something for the Raffle Table once again. Last year's raffle brought an outstanding response and I hope we can have a similar effort this year at our 32nd show. Keep in mind also that we will have a People's Choice Table again, so bring a special carving to place in the competition.
Be sure to reserve a table for yourself too, when we meet in January, as tables are already being assigned.
We have a great line-up of programs this year, including a return by our own Ev Ellenwood, who will do an actual carving during his presentation in March (Severson - Ev has been temporarily sidelined but he will be back…). I hope you will plan to come and join your fellow club members as we meet on Jan. 19th, 2008, when we hear Michael Keller show us how he creates his incredible, world-class guitars.
Randy Kinnick

Nancy writes:
"I would like to thank all of you once again for your most generous gift in my behalf. Needless to say, I was greatly moved by such a gift. Bev Stupca told me that this gift is to be used just for fun things, and I will do just that: I have set it apart for re-establishing my world of wood carving. In my former house, I was surrounded by the trappings of a woodcarver: wood, sticks, books, magazines, patterns, paints and brushes, saws and tools….and even some carvings. There was probably an average of three wood chips per cubic foot of space…I dragged them everywhere. It is that world that I will work to re-establish! Next summer will really hit home as I will no longer have my precious garden to attend to. That means that my woodcarving time will have to fill that giant hole, too. Your gift to me will be my bridge to my sanity, I'm sure of it.

"I plan to retire after 2 more years, in alignment with my former plan, and will move to Duluth then; but I will be back to participate with my woodcarver's club as often as I can! And I'll try to participate in the annual shows.
"I can't tell you how hard it will be to leave our woodcarving club!!! You are all such beautiful people!!! There isn't even a club in Duluth. I hope to still remain a member here, though, and I hope to be able to have a table at the woodcarving shows (if that's okay!).
"Thank you all so much!!!"
Nancy Borson

Treasurer's Report for December:
Checking Balance= $2569.40,
Savings Balance = $1129.12, Cash = $45.00.