The Monthly Newsletter of Yellowstone Woodturners
Billings, Montana

May 2010                             Vol. 11, No.05

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From the Editor

    With the change in the Meeting format, we are also changing when the News letter is being emailed and mailed out.  With this change all announcements to be placed in the News Letter will need to be in to Paul by the Friday following the Club meeting.  We are making this change so all member can read the minutes from the Business meeting and have a chance to make there opinions known to the club Presidency.  All members are welcome to attend the business meeting that will follow the Regular Club meeting and presentations.

    Those who did not attend the business meeting and wish to know the status of the Clubs funds can contact the club Treasurer, Jane Swaby (406)248-7507.

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Dear Club Members – We began our April Gathering at 7:00 Sharp with a good group of attendees and one guest – Craig Wahl of Billings. Welcome Craig we hope to see you again and that you decide to become a member.

Cookies were provided by Carol Reimann and Jane Swaby and Marjorie Ferrin made the coffee. Thank you Ladies!

I read the correspondence from AAW Board Member Binh Pho Entitled Artsy and Conventional and the goal of the POP (Professional Outreach Program) Committee. Binh Pho's Contention was that there is room for all forms of woodturning “(The AAW's a big tent with over 13,600 members)” and members, traditional and artsy should show due respect for all others work. AAW correspondence also presented a new “On-line Membership Option”. In which members would receive a password allowing them to view the American Woodturner Journal on-line rather than a mailing of a hard copy. As I understand it, all members could “download” articles of interest for their own use and would pay only $38.00 per year rather than the $48.00 for the conventional membership – a way of going “green” and eating your cake too. All regular AAW members can access the on-line content as well.

In interest of more member involvement and information input I have added another topic for the general assembly called Group Discussion. Just raise your hand and let all hear of an announcement, items of woodturning interest, or your opinion of things especially those items club officers will be voting on at the Business Meeting. We can also hold a vote (without a formal motion needed) so officers know which way to vote of items on its agenda, and we can all have some open discussion before voting. So speak up its your club!. Under last months Group Discussion Ed Auker and Mick Hogg presented a new idea idea for the Church Bread Bowl Project. They proposed the club hold an Open Workshop on Saturday, May 15^th to work on the bread bowls while inviting Church Members to look on. Bring your lathes, bowl blanks and tools and let's make a whole bunch of shavings. If you took blanks you have not had time to turn , bring them so we all have something to work on.

I also announced that the AAW Educational Opportunity Grant Committee approved a $600 Grant to our chapter for this year. Knowing this, the A&E Committee met and has set an $80 two day fee for our upcoming symposium if paid by August 4^th and $95 two day fee thereafter with a $60 one day fee and attendees under 18 years free. Club V.P. Stan Lambert has volunteered to be the Symposium Director, I volunteered for the Set-up and Clean-up Committee Head, the Reimann's will handle the Food Committee for another year, Joyce Fiechtner will host a dinner Friday night, Club Treas. Jane Swaby and Club Librarian Marjorie Ferrin will take photo's along with Dr. Van and maybe Eddie Leuenberger? Stan may be able to provide housing for Mike Mahoney for both Friday and Saturday nights but if anyone else could help with this one or both nights please let us know. This person should probably plan to attend the Saturday night dinner at their own personal expense. Mike's meal will be covered by the club. Yes we plan to host the traditional Saturday get acquainted with the presenter dinner at a local restaurant (locale yet to be determined). I believe this covers all Committee Heads except for Gallery/Gifts Committee position Should require little or no experience with woodturning. We are looking at a tentative budget of $3,000 for the event and minus our $600 grant would give us a $2400 break even point. We can achieve this with 30 attendees which is 10 more than last year but we feel that with a world class presenter as Mike Mahoney and more support from club members we should at least break even. This is based on 30 attendees paying $80 for a two day attendance.

Paul as the A&E Committee head for West High School, was planning for April 29^th as the final class for student woodturning student instructors but this may have to be canceled due to other West High activities so those of you involved should keep in touch with him.

Stan gave a report on the Bismarck, ND symposium he attended last weekend and informed us he had made contact with British turner and presenter Stuart Batty. Stuart seemed interested in committing to our 2011 symposium in Billings. Mr. Batty is a very sought after presenter. He is world class and would be a real jewel to have here.

Our annual show and tell Easter Egg Contest winners were Paul, Lloyd Reimann and Derrick Reimann. We had two left over prizes which will go for door prized at the symposium. Contrast's guys!

The Monthly Presentation was by Derrick Reimann on the skew chisel which included a DVD by Alan Lacer – always an enjoyable DVD presenter. Thank you Derrick! This reminds me that the club members voted $200 or there about for the purchase of two TV's or monitors at auction – preferable around 36” to 40” analog sets. Gary Slanina is our scout on this and will let me know if anything interesting shows promise.

BUSINESS MEETING:

Pres. Martin Robinson notified club officers that a letter of continuing need and acceptance was required to respond to the AAW EOG Committee before they would release the $600 educational grant to our chapter. V.P. Stan Lambert and Club Sec. Carol Reimann have taken this task to hand and the matter should be sealed. Thanks to Stan and Carol.

March minutes by Sec. Carol were approved with a slight correction and Treas. Jane Swaby reported a healthy club treasury with all bills paid except for the prizes purchased for the Easter Egg Contest.

Under Old Business we still need programs for the months of October, November and December. I feel the purchase of the fore mentioned club monitor's) would really help to get club member (presenters) off the fence. We also voted to add Brady's name and Carol's name to the membership list.

Under New Business the officers voted to approve a $25 increase for the club Website for 2010 and 2011. This will give our website over 4 times the space we are allotted now and we really need the space. (Mainly so your long winded president can write more articles.) Oh, and more room for our instant gallery. Officers also voted to move the August Club Meeting ahead one week to August 4^th, because of the Fair. The Club Officers approved the acceptance of the AAW EOC Grant so the letter of acceptance could be written and returned to the AAW. On or two box's (the smallest that can be purchased) of Club Checking Account blanks were approved for purchase by Club Treas. Jane Swaby. The officers also approved the $200 or so voted by club members for the monitor purchases and added another $50 for quality equipment only. Anything more would have to come from deep pockets of our purchasers as a donation. This should give us room to work with at an auction.

The Fair Board has announced the dates of August 13^th thru Aug. 21^st for this years Fair. This means we will probably need to set-up the weekend of 7^th or 8^th of Aug. and man the booth for 8 days starting Aug 14^th thru Aug 21^st and take down on the 22^nd. This means we will need to man the booth from 12:00 noon until 9:00 PM with at least two people per shift – 3 hours per shift – 3 shifts per day for 8 days. That's at least 6 people per day X 9 days = 54 man hours plus about 4 hour to set-up and about half that time to take down depending on how many people we secure for those jobs. Close to 85 man hours anyway so its our biggest event of the year labor wise. I have sign-up sheets for all positions I will present at next months meeting – so please be thinking about it - its you club!

Submitted by Club Pres. Martin Robinson

We now have the 2009 AAW Albuquerque NM. Symposium Video 3 DVD disk set.   Don't for get to checkout some of our other great videos from previous AAW Symposiums and videos like Trent Bosch's, Sculpting Wood - Beyond the Lathe, that we have in our Library.  There is a great store of knowledge in the other Books and Videos just waiting for you to find there.  

May 12th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop; Program By: Gary Slanina:  3 Point Tool

June 9th Meeting At Ron Musgrave's Shop; Program By: Beckman Spindle Gouge