January 2023 Newsletter

Happy New Year!!

January Meeting – We had a great meeting in January 2023 with a number of announcements and the theme of an “Extended Show and Tell.” We’ll cover some of the important announcements later in this newsletter.

I was very pleased at the number of people who participated in the Show-N-Tell – it was not just the “usual suspects.” We had two tables full of items and about half of those who attended participated. There were a number of impressive pieces – I think Tom Hipsak got pictures of most of them – if he gets those over to me we will post them in the Gallery. We had people participate who have been turning for 50 years all the way up to a new member who joined since our December meeting. Each had something valuable to add. There were many impressive pieces. We also have a recording of the meeting so you can hear peoples comments about the challenges they faced and overcame in making each piece. That video is downloading to YouTube as I type this – it will be posted by the time you receive this newsletter.

There were 33 people in attendance in the meeting and we had 6 members on Zoom.

February Meeting – Ron Zdroik will demonstrate turning and decorating flowers – just in time for Valentines Day!!

Dues – If you have not yet paid your dues for 2023, please do so soon. If you do not plan to renew your membership for 2023, a email to George W would be highly appreciated.

Woodworking Show – the club is planning to have a booth at the Woodworking Show that will be held at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex (6000 W Ryan Rd, Franklin, WI 53132) on February 17-19. Ron Zdroik is heading up the set up and booth operations of the show and members will have received an email about signing up to help with the show. Please contact Ron if you want to help man the booth.

Discount tickets are available for the show through their website.

Woodworking Show (part 2) – Greg Richter is organizing people to man the “Tunnels to Towers” booth for the Woodworking Show. We have mistakenly referred to this as “Wounded Warriors.” This booth provides some lathes and turning tools for people who want to turn their own pen. Proceeds go to help wounded first responders and veterans. Your job would be to help people turn a pen, sand it and finish it with a friction polish. You do not need to be an MAWT member to help with this booth. Please contact Greg if you can help.

Tuition Grant – The Milwaukee Area Woodturners has awarded the 2023 Tuition Grant to Dennis Motl. Dennis is signed up for a week with David Elsworth at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. If you are interested in furthering your woodworking skills by taking lessons from a professional woodturner consider applying for the 2024 Tuition Grant. If you have questions about the grant contact me (Tony Rozendaal).

Empty Bowls – I still have many (approximately 40) bowl blanks available in black walnut and red elm. I am roughing out and sealing these as I find the time to do so. Let me know if you are interested in any of these. Most of the bowl blanks are sized to make a 7×3 bowl, but there are several black walnut blanks up to 10 inches in diameter. I did recently come by some fresh boxelder and mulberry if you are interested in those.

2023 AAW Symposium – The 2023 Symposium will be in Louisville, KY on June 1-4, 2023. That is less than 7 hours away by automobile. If you plan to attend it is time to get your hotel reservations made. IF (note the IF) there are 10 or more members who want to register together that qualifies for a $40 discount per ticket ($315 in place of $355). The registrations need to be placed together and paid with a single check so it requires some coordination to get this done. Let me know if you are interested. There is a page on the AAW Website with more information.

Midwest Penturners Gathering – The 2023 gathering is to be held on April 21-22 within driving distance of Milwaukee, at the Mariott Northwest in Hoffman Estates, IL. “And This Year We Are Adding Other Small Turnings.” Cost is $49 if paid beforehand $59 at the door.