President's Message
MESSAGE TO MEMBERS February 2012
Another month and lots of things to be involved with and lots of things in the planning and doing stages. Rudi Lopez was a real treat on Saturday and had a variety of demonstrations planned, but he is such a detailed demonstrator, very good at explaining each detail of each process; he actually ran out of time to do all the things planned. Of course, our announcements and recognitions did not help with the time. Four in the afternoon came entirely too quick because he was holding everyone’s interest. I learned another step in the finite process of turning, that is attention to the very small details along with a very steady hand!!
Next month, the March meeting, we are going to take a different venue and learn how to put paint to a vessel while making a life like scene come alive. Sissy Brooks, a very good artist, who does landscapes and seascapes will take a large vessel, one made of maple donated by Joe Broderick, and transform it into the beginning of a surf scene. She will show how she plans to accomplish the surfing scene, and discuss the numerous steps to make that happen. There will not be sufficient time to complete the painting, but hopefully we will get to learn how to get it started, then she will come back and show us how she has done it. By the way, Sissy is Sid Brooks’s daughter, who is a school teacher and works with kids at Wrightsville Beach Elementary and Castle Hayne Elementary, that is while she is not surfing!!
In addition, Bob Buric will show how he will do wood burning by transforming an image from paper to wood, or free hand a drawing that he will then burn and make a life like image on wood. He has already brought several of his items to previous show and tell presentations.
We are hoping to have three parts to this session by having an art professor from Cape Fear College make a presentation on “Visualizing art in an object” such as a vessel, bowl, goblet, etc. This should be a very interesting session since we all have little “visualization” expertise!
Other things happening that are new—canes for wounded warriors at Ft. Bragg are about to be made by WAWA members. We have been given a large quantity of African Mahogany in huge planks to be cut into blanks for making canes for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been wounded. David Borchert has volunteered to organize and manage the details, so you will be hearing lots more about this project. This is a big one, since these guys are really needing help and we can take the lime light by helping. I have asked Jack O’Connor to assist with sizes, designs, and ideas since he has made several very beautiful canes recently.
Our newest fund raiser program has started and we are using the Power Point Presentation developed by Butch Haislip and Jean LeGwin to approach individuals who own their companies and are in a position to contribute to WAWA. The Presentation can be emailed to any member who desires to make a presentation. We will offer to do ongoing advertising at all events to someone, or a company who wants to contribute. The principal of Corporate Sponsors is very much like what NASCAR drivers do for companies who sponsor them in races and appearances. They get their name shown to people as they race, just as we will show who is sponsoring our activities. Funds will go toward helping acquire a Training Center Facility.
Please make sure that you take special note of our Picnic date for May 19, 2012 to be held at the home of Mike and Annette Laska. Our normal meeting date would be the second Saturday of May, which is May 12, but the picnic will be one week later, on May 19th. We will have a huge lunch with lots of iced tea, and even dessert. Jeff King is coordinating and putting together all the details. The feature event will be the second annual WOOD and TOOL sale. We have lots of walnut blanks, some cherry, china berry, and mulberry. In addition, there will be a lot of exotic woods, much donated by Terry Waldron who has a collection beyond our imagination!! So, mark the date now, and make plans around May 19, it will be a huge event!!
Cape Fear Community College wood turning class is now a reality. Class is to start on February 23 and continue for six Thursday evening sessions. Each session will be four hours and teach beginning turning techniques. We have fifteen volunteer instructors who will rotate throughout the six sessions. To gather more information and exchange ideas, Alan Leland from Durham, NC came for a “Train the Trainer” session on Wednesday. Apparently there has been a large interest in learning to turn—the college initially wanted us to teach 20 individuals in the first session, but we will hold it to a maximum of eight. If you are interested in getting involved, please call Bob Buric or Bob Dougherty.
You will probably be hearing or seeing more about the CFCC training class on either radio or TV. WHQR has asked for an opportunity to air an interview with WAWA representatives and also visit one of the classes to film for TV. So, watch the public news media for when it will be aired, and we will also try to get the word out when we know more details.
As you have often heard, getting involved is the way to really benefit from our organization. We have grown rapidly in the past few months, and several new individuals have come forward to volunteer. Our long term objective is to have qualified people ready to replace anyone who goes out of office, becomes ill, or can no longer perform the duties. In that respect, we have created back up positions for each of the officer positions. Ideally, when it comes time to elect new officers, we have individuals who already know how to perform in that position. This past week, Jack Huntley has volunteered to back up Butch Haislip as Secretary, and Jack Doherty had agreed to back up Ward Holdridge as Treasurer. This kind of depth helps our organization make transitions in a smooth manner. Thanks to both of these individuals for their involvement.
Again, we invite any one who wants to become involved to let us know. As I always say in each of these messages, to more you put into something, the more you get out of it!!!
See you at the clinics, workshops, and meetings.
Byron Rosbrugh, President
February 15, 2012