On September 20, we were saddened to hear of the passing of long-time CWT member Bill Floate.

His memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 23. An announcement has been sent by email to all CWT members with an email address on file, and phone calls are being made as well. If you have questions or would like information about the memorial service, please contact any of the CWT officers.

To allow our members to attend the memorial service, the picnic has been cancelled.

Please wish Carole well and give her your support.

September 23, starting at 10:00 AM. Come early - stay late (into the afternoon).

What:
Last year, seventy-plus members shared a day of turning, camaraderie, roast pork, homemade food, entertainment and stories. We enjoyed a chainsaw carving demonstration, hand built calliopes, a tour of Darrell’s newly remodeled studio (it’s graduated from a shop to a studio), a swap meet, and mostly, the company of our friends, family and fellow club members, and all of you are invited for this year’s picnic.

Marty Jesski has again agreed to be the head chef, promising us a delicious meal of smoked pork, and Jan Shotola will dig into her recipe box and concoct a special BBQ sauce just for this occasion. That means she won’t make her sauce for her husband, but she will for you. Bring a dish to pass, and we’ll have a complete feast. A refrigerator, freezer and outlets for Crock pots are available. Lunch will be served at 1:00 sharp. For an extra desert treat, Darrell promises to fire up the antique John Deere ice cream maker, so those with a sweet tooth may be indulged.

This years picnic will be on September 23, from 10:00 am till the late afternoon. Festivities will include a swap meet, a golfing competition (no long drives, but a short game skill challenge using the wedge), and an opportunity to show off your nonwoodturning interests. Play a musical instrument? Write stories? Build model airplanes? Enquiring minds want to know about your other hobbies and skills. Share your interests at this years picnic. Darrell’s antique cars will be on display, along with an antique pump organ, a band saw bigger than any of us need, and enough open space and “escape from the city” to satisfy every need.

A tool swap meet will be held, so load up all of those treasures that you can now live without, and swap and sell with your fellow tool pack rats. Excess goods can be donated to the Marc Adams School in Indiana for distribution to vocational schools in Nicaraugua and to Native American vocational programs here in the States. Paul Shotola will arrange for transport of your donations.

We will have some lathes set up to play on, possibly some mentor/ student interaction, and an opportunity to do a little show and tell on the lathe. Bring your basic tools, some throw-away wood, and we’ll make some chips. Perhaps an egg cup turning competition will be held. How fast can you turn an egg cup? The record (according to legend) is Richard Raffan’s eight (yes, 8) seconds. Can you beat that?

Where:
Darrell & Marlene Rader’s farm located 7 miles North of Woodstock, Illinois, one and one half miles East of Rt. 47 on Allendale Rd. (10703 Allendale). After you cross the second bridge, it is the first place on the right (south side of the road) with a brown house and white outbuildings. Look for the concrete posts with big cannon balls on top.

From the Woodcraft area, take Rt. 12 north to Rt. 120 at Volo, turn left and go through McHenry. About 5 miles west of McHenry you will come to a 4 way stop were 120 turns south to Woodstock. Do not turn left, continue west on Charles Road 1 mile to Rt. 47, turn right. Allendale Rd. is 3 miles north.

It takes 55 minutes to get from Woodcraft to their place.
Call 815 648 2197 if you have questions.

For Google maps (and directions), click here . Note that Google has it really close but not exact: the driveway is the first on the south side of the road east of the stream. Look for the cannonballs on top of the posts.

Pictures from Last Year's Picnic are available, click here.

More details to follow!