Hello Carvers
July was a busy month and I can’t remember too many days below 90 degrees including July 16 at the Matthews Farmers Market. Eight (8) members showed up to carve and talk with shoppers about woodcarving, our club, and our next Showcase. To that end, we collected 15 names and contact information to send out reminders next year when the Showcase gets closer. For the first time we were ready with a registration sheet for those that were interested. Thanks to Bob Warner we will have a registration sheet to use at all future events we attend.
Our next visit to the Matthews Farmers Market is this coming Saturday, August 6, 2023, from 8am to 12 noon. Please let Bill Robinson know if you want to attend. We need 6 carvers to attend.
It's Patriotic Month
Well, it’s July, and I’m writing my second message for the newsletter, and I’m late again. Maybe I’ll do better next month. Maybe not. We have already celebrated Independence Day and tried to blow up Charlotte. So I’m sure everyone with a pet is glad that’s over.Now down to business. Our books for the April Showcase are now closed. Our return from Covid was a success, and we stayed within the budget. A big thank you to Lisa and the show committee for doing a great job. We also have a new budget worked out for the next showcase and the 2022/23 club budget.
The carving world has lost a couple of major shows that did not come back after Covid. The main factor for closing the shows seems to be the lack of volunteers to do the work it takes to run the show. We have decided to keep our Showcase of Woodcarvings going for 2023, The committee is already meeting and in about 10 months we do it again. We do not want to become another show that closes its doors.
Hello Carvers
At this time last year I was getting used to being a full time resident of the Charlotte area, and enjoying dedicating Tuesday to nothing but carving. I wasn't sure if the next showcase was going to happen, and, if it did, I would take over for Bob Slaughter to handle the vendors and setup for the show. Then there was the summer celebration and Neil McGuire said we need help on the board and Vice President. After discussing this with Neil, I volunteered, and then I was V.P.A few months later Neil announced that he would not run for president for the next year and nominated me. So here I am writing the president's Message for the Newsletter, and I am late for my first message!
To take the easy way out I thought since many of you don't know much about me, I would do a short bio of myself so you'll know something about me. I hope more of you will show up on Tuesday's so we can meet in person and I can learn about you. Please wear your name tag, it will help us all.
May, A Time For Change
This has been a crazy season. We had an election in 2020 when we elected Marcy Chirdon as president, but before she got started the world came crashing down with Covid. Then her husband was offered early retirement (because of that crash), so they took it and moved to New York to be close to the new grandchildren. So I was elected president, and took over the responsibilities in September of 2020.It has not been easy navigating these past 20 months with mask mandates and showcase uncertainties, but we made it. This has been an incredible journey, and I have been honored to be your president during this time. I believe, after sitting in on the showcase wrap-up meeting last month, the club is in a strong position to move forward.
April Sanity
Well, the 39th Annual Showcase of Woodcarvings is over, and everyone I spoke to said it was a success.
We had 125 carvers submit 1073 carvings for the show, and they were beautiful! Vic Hood from the Lepers Creek Woodcarvers Club (middle Tennessee) won Best of Show this year. A big congratulations for his “Lady under the Moon” carving. It was beautiful. Robert Zenoble took the runner-up with his Indian bust. (I am glad I didn’t have to make the call between those two.)After the excitement of the show, we are back to our weekly carving routine at the Cathcart Center, Carmel Presbyterian Church.
ATTENTION NEW MEMBERS: the beginning carving classes will begin Tuesday, April 12 at 10am and 2pm. There will be 5 lessons on knife care and sharpening, carving an owl, carving a comfort bird, carving a Moravian star, and finally, carving a little dog.
The balance of the newsletter will be photos from the show. Follow this link for the April newsletter.
Sometimes it's the people no one imagines anything of who do things that no one can imagine.
Carrie Hope Fletcher
Capable Carving
Neil McGuire
Charlotte Woodcarvers Club
Neil McGuire
Charlotte Woodcarvers Club