The Monthly Newsletter of Yellowstone Woodturners
Billings, Montana

March 2009                          Vol. 10, No.3

__________________________________________________

Think About Turning Today!

    While we intend to have a tentative list of members for monthly programs by the next meeting, I'm still depending on volunteers to step forward as Ed Auker did in February.  Do we have a great bunch of guys, or what?  Dave Torrence has agreed to do a program on wood texture and grain. He will have his brother, Ralph, to help him; and possibly one other to assist.  As members get this chore behind them we won't be adding their names to our program roster. Dave is asking members to bring any interesting samples of wood; so he can discuss uses and care for the wide variety of all the types of wood available to us.
   We have been struggling to get our West High class in; what with my flu and the school's days off. How-some-ever the committee is ready for when it happens! We are planning to get them into bowl making using the equipment they have at the school shop.
   Head way is being made on our Oct. 3-4 symposium with Sam Angelo's willingness to help "in anyway he can". What I have in mind is for Sam to do one session (likely Sunday afternoon) for giving him a free pass to attend Trent Bosch & maybe some travel dollars. Of course, this means filling in our other three sessions with our own member's talents. If you can see your way for a 2 1/2 - 3 hour coverage of one of your specialties let our A & E committee know as soon as possible.
   After two months of selling the walnut bowl blanks that Ron Musgrave and Dan Schindler stored away, I gathered up the remaining 1/2 pickup load; and delivered it to be cosigned for sale at A & H Turf.
   Remember our March 14th (Sat.) Open Shop. Come to our Wednesday meeting with subjects you want covered; and we will arrange a session of practice and help. We will also set the hours that members deem appropriate.
   We voted to purchase wood for a 3 X 4' laser-cut sign for the shop building ( Call me if you care to help with this - 348-3499 ).
   See you at the meeting,
 

_________________________________________________

Minutes

The Feb 11, 2009 meeting of the Yellowstone Woodturners was called to order at 7:00 by President Stan Lambert.

Introduction of Guests:
Jim Brinkelson

Show and Tell:
The show and tell had many great items presented; from a "Woody" car and Backhoe with moving parts, to several bowls, a natural edge bowl,
wooden milk bottle, hollow form, platters, lidded boxes. Randy Hoch talked about a book by D Ellsworth on turning and about the vacuum
chuck system he just finished making.

Minutes:
Approved with a spelling correction.

Treasurer's Report:
Jane Swaby reported the financial audit has been completed. The club has 19 paid memberships to date.
Treasurer's report was approved as read.

Health reports:
None

Correspondence:
None, aside from the usual junk mail.

Committee Reports:
A&E:
1. Symposium
---No grant funds will be available this year.
---Discussed having Sam Angelo back as one instructor and then have several club members
do 2 hour demonstrations/lectures. This will keep cost to members down.
---Next year have two high powered presenters and apply for AAW grant.
---Jane Swaby motioned we try to hire Trent Bosh for this year and ask for club member
volunteers to supplement this year's symposium. Motion second by Ed Auker; passed by unanimous vote.
--- Suggestion was discussed that club members be paid if they do a presentation at the symposium;
this was discussed but no decision made.

2. Programs & Ideas:
We decided that each month teams of three would either present or find a presentation. A request went out for possible topics.
RP: Stan Lambert to coordinate the signup sheets.

3. Hobby Hall
Need to start plans and sign up sheet for Hobby Hall.

Old Business
Fine Arts Entries
We need to provide the Fair Board with ideas for the fair book by the week of Feb 16th, RP: Stan Lambert

Chart Activities for 2009:
No discussion on this item.

Outdoor Club Demo:
We'll be trying to arrange this for sometime in May at the Heights Ace Hardware store. RP: Stan Lambert

Ron's Wood & Equipment:
Most of the remaining wood was sold after the meeting as well as the Jamieson tool.

West High Crew:
No discussion on this item.

New Secretary:
Promises of free coffee and cookies isn't working very well. Latest victim: Lu Auker.

NEW BUSINESS
Large Sign:
$200 dollars for a large laser cut sign, made by the folks at West High, incorporating the club logo, to be mounted outside at Ron's shop.
Moved by Dan Schindler, seconded by Ed Auker, passed unanimously.
RP: Stan Lambert

Workshop: Saturday, March 14
Sign up sheet and topic suggestions was circulated. Open Shop at Ron's. RP: Dan Schindler

RAFFLE
Box Elder burl bits and pieces given to those who purchased any of Ron's wood.

ADJOURNMENT 8:10

PROGRAM
Ed Auker's topic was working with difficult wood. He had a power point presentation of photos showing his difficulties with a gnarly piece of Silver Maple
held together with faith, lacquer, super glue, epoxy, bits of bark, profanity, and luck. Ed explained that it came to him as firewood, has a fleeting chance
at immortality, but may return to being firewood. Ed tried to present mounting approaches, safety, bowl gouge techniques, shape and project evolution
driven by the material, and a discussion of how finishing begins even before the first bit of sandpaper touches the wood. The wood and wife sometimes
drives tool purchases. Lu had one look at the outside shape and grain patterns and determined that this thing needs to be a hollow form. Ed's Dennis Stewart
tool partnered with his hollowing skills would certainly result in the project's sudden and dramatic return to its original fate. Luckily, Ron's Jamieson tool was for
sale and despite the best efforts of several members to raise the price, Ed took the tool home to finish working on his "free" wood.

__________________________________________________

Calendar of Events

March

March 11th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop  Wood grain and texture.  Dave Torrence

April

April 8th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop

___________________________________________________________

Wanted, For sale, Free