July 2023

Hello Carvers

First thing this month, We WILL NOT be carving at the church, Tuesday, July 4th.
The Matthews Alive festival is on September 2-4, our largest fundraiser of the year. Last year we earned over $800 for participating, which covers the cost of our 2 socials at Christmas and Summer.
I am happy to announce that Rocky Paiano has volunteered to lead our efforts for Matthews Alive this year. Thank you Rocky and thank you Neil McGuire who led the event in the past.
Please mark your calendars and be ready to help at Matthews this year with as much time as possible over that weekend. The Club provides drinks and snacks for the event.
Last year was my first participation, and all 3 days were awesome. Those who visited were fun, and many come back year after year to see our carvings. Please volunteer, you will have fun and won’t regret it.

New member training continues after the July 4th break with Steve Stillitano teaching a “ball in a box”. A Chip Carving class, taught by Bill Johnson, is on July 26-28. Two spots remain for the class. See Neil McGuire to sign up.
Our “IDEA BOX” just recently put out at our meetings is already paying dividends. The 1st contribution is from Ted Appel who moved to Mooresville, NC in January 2023 from Florida, where he was President of the Charlotte County Woodcarvers. Ted wrote a letter suggesting the Club institute a “Show’nTell” program monthly or bi-monthly at our meetings. He included nine (9) reasons why and nine (9) steps on how to run the program. I will post a copy of the letter on the “whiteboard” for all to see and plan to start the program with Ted’s help in July. (Neil McGuire is excited to have a new way to add photos to our newsletter.)
The Summer Social is this month on July 25th from 5 pm-8 pm in Ligon Hall. Plans have been made and as usual, we will need some help with the affair. The Club supplies the chicken and drinks, and the members bring the side dishes and desserts, enough to feed themselves and extra for the table.
A volunteer is needed to track attendance and what side dishes are coming and we will need help that day to do tables and chairs. A raffle for door prizes will be held to close the evening. Bill Robinson asks that you bring donations of food or cash for Loaves and Fishes.
To open the evening from 5 pm-6 pm we will have a social hour featuring our new Show’nTell program. We ask carvers to display old, new, and in-progress carvings. We also ask that carvers stand by their carvings to answer questions and give tips.
Food will be served at 6 pm until we run out. See you there. Please SIGN UP and SHOW UP.
It is my belief that if we want other clubs to support our Showcase, we need to support their shows. This September 16-17, Mountain Traditions Woodcarvers in Big Stone Gap, VA., and October 14-15, Smokey Mountain Woodcarvers in Sevierville, TN. have shows scheduled. Smokey Mountain also has 7 training classes on October 11,12 &13. Attending will take advanced planning. If you have any interest in going or entering a show, please let me know.
Last, but not least, we have received news from Bob Benston that there is an opportunity in Monroe for carving space in a building being developed by the county or town. The space would be offered to CWC at no cost. This would not be intended to replace our current location. It would be a second location to carve, like Woodcraft was before Covid, and may attract new people in that area or current and past members who find Charlotte too far or inconvenient. Please let us know if you have questions.