Minutes of January 2008 Meeting
Submitted by Tim Elliott, Secretary


Minutes of CNEW meeting 01/03/2008

We had two guests/new members:
Cheryl Bibeau
David Hansen

Norma gave a treasurer's report. At the end of November, our balance was $3012.45. December is not balanced yet due to unusually high activity connected with dues and the November fair. If you have not paid your dues yet, Norma is collecting them now.... $20 for e-mailed newsletter, $25 if you want a paper copy.

Mary Maguire was persuaded to serve a another year as external VP. This fills out our club offices for 2008.

The Woodworks show will be Jan 11-13 in Springfield. CNEW will again bring lathes for demonstrating and individual members are invited to submit work for judging (prizes!). Project Goodwill will have a table.

In February, we will have our annual member shop visits instead of meeting at the Craft Center in Worcester. The following people volunteered to host small groups.... more options may be available with time - check the CNEW website.
Will Hunt and Steve Reznek will give a tour of the Lexington Arts & Crafts shop
Rick Angus (not on our regular meeting night)
Mike Peters (not on our regular meeting night)
Joe Harbey (contingent on interest)

As usual, contact the hosting member in advance for details and directions.

The open turning sessions at the Craft Center one hour before our regular meeting have not been well attended. Dave Eaton asked whether having a designated mentor to run the shop would improve attendance. No one volunteered and no action was taken.

The website's names-and-faces page is in need of a refresh. If you're not on it, please either provide a digital photo or ask our club photographer Mike Stone to snap a head shot at a meeting. Personally, I find this resource very helpful when trying to put names to faces for the newsletter - I'm sure I'm not the only one who uses it.

Dave Eaton suggested that we should review our book/video libraries and club store to ensure that they are meeting our needs and not draining the treasury. (More below)

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund has asked us to make a 2008 donation. In the past, CNEW has given them $100 per year to support their mission of helping full-time craftspeople to recover from major professional disasters. Former CNEW treasurer Wendy Wilson benefited from their program several years ago when her shop burned down. We voted to allow interested CNEW members some time to look into CERF's current programs before voting again on whether to make a donation at our March meeting.

We have heard second-hand that CNEW member Andy Motter may be recovering from surgery, but have no current news on how he is doing. Dave Eaton will send a card on behalf of the club.

Charlie Croteau is investigating some possible CNEW field trips for the coming year. Possibilities include:
Hardwick kilns
Sean Roberts woodworking (Gilbertsville)
Harvard forest
Oval woodturning mill in Arlington
A sawmill

Will Hunt announced that the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton will host a show entitled "The Wood Sculpture of William Hunter" starting Jan 19.

Newsletter editor Rick Angus is still seeking articles for upcoming newsletters. Please think about contributing - contact him directly.

Also for the newsletter: if you attend an open shop in February, please take some photos and write a summary for the newsletter.

Ray Boutotte reported that the CNEW store is going well. CA glue is always in demand and he often runs out of stock. Sandpaper sales have recently picked up. The original store inventory has now paid for itself, and Ray replenishes as needed.

As for the book library, Mary Maguire and Mike Peters volunteered to review the collection and sort out items to be winnowed.

Charlie had another chunk of mystery wood this month.
Answer: American chestnut

Demo: Dave Eaton presented a "smorgasbord" demo on various small projects with strategies for chucking and finishing them.





Show & Tell:


Steve Reznek
pair of complementary bowls with rolled-over rims

Al Gilburg
two peppermills (designs inspired by ancient Egyptian columns) in linden/basswood
cherry burl bowl

Mike Peters
two maple bowls from a single blank

Reid Gilmore
briar burl vase
walnut crotch platter ("sanded into submission")
wine stopper with various inlays
box with turquoise and elk antler inlaid in lid

Martin Ring
spalted maple bowl

Dave Eaton
small boxes with clay inlaid into top
other items, mostly for his demo

Joe Beaton
goblet
candle-holder

Frank White
lidded box
oak burl vase with lid and ebony finial
3 pieces from magnolia (almost free wood)

Joe Harbey
maple burl bowl

Bill LeClerc
ash and mahogany bowl

Gordon Clarke
kaleidoscope (and prototype) 3 months work!

David Hansen
cherry bowl
pair of carving mallets

Ray Boutotte
maple burl bowl