September 2024 Newsletter

We had a great meeting last Monday evening. After the break I counted over 50 in attendance. I don’t know how many we had on Zoom. Jim Andresen gave us a great demo packed full of tips for segmenting. From designing the piece to cutting, gluing and final turning. It certainly inspired me – I’ve made a couple acorns with segmented bodies and am working on fine tuning the procedures. Jim’s demo was recorded in full and is posted at the top of the Demo Videos page.

Show and Tell was recorded on the video as well.

During the announcements Kevin Seigworth passed around a clipboard with a sign-up sheet for people to sign up for a 2025 demo. You can see a copy of that sheet below.  If you would like to add your name to the presenters list (or have any questions about something on the list) call or shoot an email to myself or to Kevin and one of us will get back to you.

I’m excited about the 2025 schedule – Kevin is doing a great job of putting together a mix of professional woodturners and demos by club members and we will be sharing more details and a schedule within the next couple months.

The last couple wood raffles have done exceptionally well. This is due to a couple things. First, the club has been purchasing a $25 Woodcraft gift card to add to the Raffle. Secondly, through their club support programs we have had a number of $10 gift cards from Craft Supplies USA and one $30 gift card from Paul Carter and Son to add to the raffle. We plan to continue with those moving forward as those vendors continue to supply gift cards.

The club has received a sizable donation of Woodturning related items from Cami Brzycki. I took possession of the items before the meeting last Monday evening and have inventoried them, valued them and have let the board members know where/how they are stored. These could become a part of future raffles or door prizes at club events, or be sold to benefit the club monetarily. The board will be discussing this in future board meetings.

Quick reminders:

• October meeting is the last chance to bring in Empty Bowls donations. Ron Zdroik will be collecting the bowls and taking them to Cream City Clay before the event on Sunday, October 13th 2024.
• Mark Trenier will be demonstrating making ornaments at the October meeting.
• Jim Andresen says he will have a number of projects for completion to be passed out at the October meeting.
• We are assuming there will be a Turn for Troops event in November. I have not yet heard a date. In the meanwhile you can continue to drop pens for Turn for Troops in the box at the bottom of the stairs near the entrance of the meeting room.
• We plan to have a Workshop day on September 21 – watch for the email.
• Club members will receive an email about a Christmas Ornament Challenge. This is not sponsored by MAWT, but is an opportunity to participate in something through the internet.
• We can’t do what we do in MAWT without volunteers. A big thank you to those who serve on the Board of Directors, the AV team, and anyone who picks up a broom and helps sweep up after a demo. Thank you to Leigh White for selling Raffle tickets the other night. Thank you to Jon Behnke for picking up the Brzycki donation. Thank you to those who show up to mentor at our workshop days. I’m sure I’ve missed someone. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hoping to see you at the October meeting on 10/7/2024. 

Tony Rozendaal