As The Wood Turns January 2004

As The Wood Turns Internet Version

January 2004

CWTC Meeting 7 PM Second Tuesday of each month

Location: Woodcraft Supply Store, 1280 E. Dundee Rd, Palatine IL
847-774-1186

In this Issue
> Curls from the President
> Demonstrators Schedule
for meeting nights & weekend Master Demos
> January Meeting Note’s
> January Gallery — See Gallery section of web site

Curls From the President’s Platter
By Paul Shotola

The January meeting was a great one, with a huge turnout (over a hundred, I’m told), with many new members and guests in attendance. Your Secretary’s report will give you the details, but it was gratifying to have so many folks sharing their ideas and opinions on the Collaborative Challenge. We also had a number of people volunteer for special projects, and they certainly deserve our thanks. It’s “your personal participation” that keeps the club moving along, and we're off to a great start this year. Keep yourself involved. It doesn’t matter whether you're a gallery turner or a newbie. It doesn’t matter if you are a founding member of the CWT or just joined today. “Your personal participation” matters. All of you have skills and abilities that can benefit the club, so don't be shy about raising that hand to volunteer, voice an opinion or ask a question.

This past weekend was interesting for me, as I demonstrated basic bowl turning at the Rockler store in Schaumburg on Saturday and Sunday. The turnout was great, with many people there who have never turned but are interested in the art. I spent a lot of time explaining what our club is and does, and where and when we do it. Look for some new folks at the February meeting. Being a demonstrator makes you respect the demonstrators who have come before you. As near as I can tell, my predecessors were more organized, were better prepared, could talk as they turn, and had that rare ability to find a #2 pencil in a pile of woodchips without looking like a blind dog in a meat-house. Oh yeah, they’re better turners, too, but I think I was able to show the steps in basic bowl making. Everyone seemed satisfied with my little show, and I heartily recommend that you try it. Very gratifying!

Now that the holidays are past, interest in our mentoring sessions has increased. Maybe we all have just a bit more free time than we did in December. Dan Anderson (with his faithful sidekick Jim) made himself available last Saturday, and Darrell Rader and I will be at the February meeting about 5:30 PM to help any of you who have questions or need a little hands-on to get you past a sticky spot. Mentoring is a great way to learn and advance your skills in a no-pressure, low-stress situation. “Your personal participation”, both as mentors and students, is what makes the mentoring program useful and educational, but you have to be there to benefit.

Until February,share your skills, keep track of that pencil, turn lots, and turn safely.

Paul Shotola
Email address:

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Weekend Master Turner Demo Schedule

Steve Sinner, Iowa — February 21

Jim Christiansen, — April 17

Greame Priddle — June 19

John Jordan — September 11-12

David Ellsworth — October 30-31

For More on Master Turners Demonstrations, see Demonstrations Page

Meeting Demonstrators 2004

February— Gary Hubbard
Thin Winged Vessels

March — Brad Smith
Turned Bird Houses

April — Lloyd Beckman
Turned Hats

See Fran Islin to sign up to be a demonstrator.

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Minutes of the January, 2004 CWT Meeting
by Paul Cavanagh

First, I would like to thank the outgoing club secretary, Marie Hunter, for the fine job she did over the past few years. I noticed that she could stop smiling as I walked around scribbling in my notebook trying to keep up with all of the enterprises at this meeting. I always enjoyed reading her minutes and searching for the gems of wisdom and wry humor carefully hidden in the myriad details of club activity.

Second, I’m enthused with this new role in helping the Club and I’ll try to do this job as well as Marie did before me. My writing style is different but I hope you’ll read the minutes looking for something to grin internally about or think:
“Wow! All that good stuff happened.”At the least you should think to yourself: “That's the way I remember it.”

Anyway, here’s what I got about what went on:
Newly reelected President Paul Shotola opened the meeting with the usual club safety and hospitality rules. (In the future, I’ll not mention this unless he forgets and then he'll hear about it for months.)

There will be a mentoring session next Saturday, Jan 17, in the Woodcraft Basement starting at about 10:00 am. Expert turner and teacher extraordinaire Dan Anderson will be the mentor. All skill levels are welcome and will learn somethin'.

Paul Shotola will be doing doing demonstrations at Rockler in Schaumburg this Saturday and Sunday; why not stop in to visit (or make some shavings) and show some Club support. Paul will conduct a mentoring session before the February meeting (the 10th) for anyone who will be there early.

The Treasurer’s report stated that we took in more money last year than we spent; that’s a good trend. Paul Shotola said that the AAW issues grants to chapters to upgrade their club tools and equipment, so we will request grants purchase a club video camera system and increase the power (i.e., horse) for the Woodfast lathe since it tends to stall when demonstrators lean into a work piece.

Andy Kuby reported that we had about a dozen new members (I lost count as he read off the names, sorry).

Binh Pho reported that five world-class turners have confirmed their dates for weekend demonstrations: Feb 21- Dick Sing; April 17-18, Jim Christianson from Idaho; July- Greame Priddle from New Zealand; Sept 11-12 - John Jordan; and Oct 30-31 David Ellsworth. Ray Key will be available next year. Check our website www.chicagowoodturners.com for more details.

Next up was a discussion of the AAW rules for the 2004 Collaborative Challenge, to wit, the restriction that a chapter’s acceptable entry must be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12".

Since our planned entry Project X exceeded those dimensions, a lively, creative, and imaginative discussion entailed with many examples of thinking "outside of the box" but “within the cube”. Club rules about industrial espionage prohibit me from discussing this any farther; however, I can say that the Project Y volunteer team is headed by Sarah Joy, Binh Pho, and Oliver Buettner. Watch you backs lady and gentlemen for suspicious woodturners following you around.

Bill Floate reminded everyone that the Provo (Utah) Symposium is June 10-12 and is limited to 400 people and fills up fast.

Mike Molloy was absent so the raffle was not held. Paul Shotola asked that all members save their money and double up for next month's raffle.

Dan Anderson provided an insightful and colorful critique for the many artful and clever pieces submitted for the gallery.

Dick Sing did the demonstration portion of the meeting and showed several useful techniques and his usual mastery of tools to make the turning of a bird house ornament look easy as well as spectacular. Thanks from all who watched.

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Chicago Woodturners 2003
A Chapter of the American Association of Woodturners
Last Updated February 27, 2004