At our January 2009 meeting, we started the year with a bang! We welcomed new members and welcomed back members from last year. A few of you we haven't seen yet this year--and we miss you. We hope you can make it to our next meeting.

We collected annual dues, which is only $10 for a whole year of art, fun and excitement. Everyone who paid their dues in January was put into a drawing for a carving book, and Richard Whiting won! Congrats! New officers were elected. Paul Price was re-elected as President, and Alice Huff was re-elected as Treasurer. Angela Callow-Mosher was elected to be Class Organizer/Part-time Secretary, and Amie Conant was elected as Part-time Secretary.

The project for January's meeting was led by Larry Tepper. He helped all class participants in assembling a Poor Man's Vice. This turned out great--mine looks like a really cool alien lazer gun! (This was the bang! part.) I decided it would work better with a handle nut, as Larry had on his vice. I couldn't find any the right size in the Loveland/Fort Collins area, so I bought a couple online. If you want to purchase one, please let me or Angela know. They are $6.00.

At the February meeting, Tom Christen led the carving project--carving an elephant, or a butler, or a Santa from a wooden egg. He will continue this project in April, or help people start if they were not at the February meeting. Remember to bring $3 for an egg.

At the March meeting, Paul Price will show everyone how to make a sharpening stick/strop and will speak about the importance of keeping your tools sharp and how to do that.

As far as I know at this posting, there is still a couple of spots in both Stu Martin's class on March 20-22, (contact Chuck Solomon at 970 669-0970) and in Phil and Vicki Bishop's class scheduled for May 22-24, (contact Angela at 970 669-8636 or Alice Huffman at 970 635-2407). Taking classes from talented instructors is one of the best ways to gain skills as a woodcarver--and did I mention--They are so much fun!!!