February 2020 Newsletter

Dedicated to the art of woodworking since 1984.

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Next Meeting:
7:00 PM Thursday, February 20, 2020

Meeting Location:

Oasis Room
Moolah Shrine Facility
12545 Fee Fee Road
 St. Louis, MO  63146

Click here for Map to the Meeting Location

President’s Letter — February 2020

The Woodworking Show has come and gone and we always wonder if it is worth it.  We do get some donations for the toy program and we do get some new members.  One of the highlights reported was a father that related the following:

“Last year I had to drag my son to the show.  When we got to your booth he assembled some cars.  He is now showing an interest in woodworking, comes into the shop to work, and asked if he could come to the show this year to assemble some more cars.”

Encouraging youngsters to participate in woodworking is one of the goals of the Guild and it is always good to get positive feedback occasionally. 
 
When we recognized volunteers last month, I left a couple out that were not going to be at the meeting that should be recognized.  It takes a lot to keep our shop running and we should thank Wayne Watson and Dan Coleman for all they do.  Wayne schedules shop monitors, safety classes, purchases equipment and supplies.  Dan helps with safety classes, made a lot of trips to Grizzly on our behalf and most importantly, keeps the shop equipment running.  Our thanks to them for all they do.
 
Guild elections are coming up with nominations in March and elections in April.  If you are interested in serving in any elected position, please talk to one of the officers for more information.
 
Our February meeting is going to bring back Wayne Meglan and the cedar strip canoe that he built.  When he brought it in for Show and Tell, he didn’t have time to go into a lot of detail so this time he will be going into more detail about its construction and answer your questions.

See you at the meeting on Thursday,

Wayne Humphrey

Toy Committee
Bill Schuchat is stepping aside as Chairman of the Toy Committee and Dan Lender is going to replace him.  Bill will continue to be active in some aspects of outreach projects involving toys and boxes.

Membership Chairman Needed
The Guild needs one or two people to handle membership duties starting as soon as possible.  If you are interested in filling a position, please contact Wayne Humphrey at president@slwg.org.
 


Last Month’s Meeting


Celebrating Contributions of Our Guild Members in 2019
 

The President of the Guild, Wayne Humphrey facilitated this celebration with several facts about the Guild and the level of participation by the membership.

Wayne pointed out that we have about 250 members on average, of whom at least 124 are active volunteer contributors to Guild programs.  32 members participate in multiple activities.

The Toy Program had 51 contributors who made enough sawdust to deliver 7,705 toys to our children’s care partners in 2019.

The Bring-Me-a-Book-St. Louis Book Box Building Program had 20 Guild members who have built 1,002 book boxes since the program’s inception in 2018.

The Keepsake Boxes for foster care children program had 12 members participating who built 179 boxes in 2019.

At the Guild’s Faust Park Shop, we had 41 shop monitors provide at least 664 total hours of their personal time keeping an eye on activities to keep a safe working environment.

In addition to the above, other Guild members donated their time:

  • 9 members of the board
  • Variable number of mentors
  • Membership
  • Librarian
  • Rockwood School Program
  • Website
  • Newsletter
  • Speakers
  • Instructors
  • Photographer
  • Others that volunteer on special projects as needed

March Meeting

The March meeting will be the annual Show and Tell meeting and silent auction.  This is a chance to bring in those items to show off and tell us about them.  If they are too large to bring, shoot some photos and talk to them. 

The silent auction is your chance to get rid of some tools and equipment that you no longer want.  If the items are too big to bring in, print some photos and create a good description of the item to use.  More details will be coming out before the March meeting.

 

SHOW AND TELL

Brian Romine brought in a couple of used demonstration SawStop blades and cartridges to give away as project raw materials for a creative Guild Member.
Wayne Humphrey showed a trebuchet (catapult) made based on plans he found in an issue of Wood Magazine.
Jay Noffsinger showed us a Gerstner-type tool chest that he made during a class led by Doug Dale at Marc Adams School of Woodworking.  Construction is primarily of quartersawn oak with some of the hardware sourced from Gerstner and includes felt-lined drawers.  He completed it with an antique oil poly finish from General Finishes.
Wayne Meglan showed us a walnut lazy susan with a redwood inlay monogram and finished with Minwax..  He also went through the method that he employed to cut the circular piece using his jig saw.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Steve Mettes made this “finger joint ladder” in response to a request from Ranken Jordan. It is used in physical therapy for shoulders and fingers.

Surplus Woodworking Equipment SALE
 
The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild is beginning the process of auctioning several pieces of surplus tools and machinery.  The auction will be in the silent format and open to Guild Members only.  The items for this month will be:
Inca Slot Mortise Cross Slide Table

Delta Drill Press 14-040

Delta Plate Joiner 32-100

Delta Bench Top Planer 22-540

Delta Hollow Chisel Mortiser 14-650

Seco Vertical Bag Dust Collector UFO-90

DustRight Vortex
 

 
Each month we will post additional items for auction on the Website and in the Guild Newsletter.  The website will have images and descriptions of each item. If you would like to inspect an item prior to bidding, please contact James Payne as noted below.  Items are located at Faust Park.

All items appear to be in working order.  However, no electricity is available where the items are being stored. Therefore, the Guild Board is offering a forty-five day warranty for refunds/returns.  Warranty period begins at award of winning bid.

Since this is a blind auction, only one bid per item should be submitted by an individual.  See website link above for minimum bid amounts for each item and other bidding details.

For any questions or to arrange to inspect an item, please contact James Payne at (314) 226-3924.  Bids should be emailed to:  auctions@slwg.org

Donation to the Guild

One of the Guild’s members has made a $250 donation to the Guild and we thank him very much. 

Audio/Visual Improvements

Thanks to Andy Clawson and Hal Donovan, we have made improvements to our visual presentations.  A camera can now be mounted above a table so a presenter can work with small items or do detail work on a table top and an image be projected on to the big screen in the front of the meeting room. 
 


COMMUNITY

St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
 

Keep those toys coming!!!  We have lots of parts and materials available at no cost for members to build toys for the kids.  Not only that, the Guild will reimburse Members for other toy materials. 
See Bill Schuchat (he looks like the guy in the red sweater at left) or the new incoming Toy Committee Chair Dan Lender (above).

     WANTED: A Few Willing Woodworkers

 

Our Community Service projects have been growing significantly and the Toy Committee needs to grow as well to meet that need. Whether you are new to woodworking or have lots of experience, we’d love to have you join our committee.

Some of the tasks we need help with include:

> receiving toys at the table before meetings
> monthly deliveries
> managing the toy pattern library
> ordering parts (axles and wheels)

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Dan Lender or anyone on the Toy Committee.

SPECIAL PROJECT FOR RANKEN JORDAN
 
Ranken Jordan has requested more Body Figurines and Wands like the ones they received from the Guild in January.
Vickie Berry has made 65 Wands and Keith Lissant is working on Body Figurines.

Let someone on the Toy Committee know if you want to contribute to this effort.

FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE CARE COALITION
Upcoming New Project

We sent Foster and Adoptive Care a photo of the Tote that Guild members have built to see if this might be of interest for boys in addition to boxes we are donating to them.  They responded positively so we will have a Tote Build soon.  There are a number of Tote components already to be assembled in the Shop so this should be an easy project. 

As above, let someone on the Toy Committee know if you want to contribute to this project.

       ROCKWOOD SCHOOLS TOY KITS
                 Doing it Again! 

Last year’s program was a huge success with students, and we’ve been asked back for classes this Spring. We’ve changed up the kits and added a Forklift and a Skip Loader to the mix (see photo below).

Once again, we have four members who are making the kit parts.  The students will be assembling them on March 31 and April 1-3.
Kit patterns will be available at meetings and in our pattern library.

If you’re interested in building kits or participating in the classroom supervision of the kids at work, please contact Dan Lender or anyone on the Toy Committee.

Skip Loader & Forklift
Model T Car

    Successful Toy Build at Rockler

We had a Toy Build at the Rockler Store on January 11, 2020 and had 8 volunteers who demonstrated woodworking skills for the public.  21 butterflys &  20 animal cutouts were made on scroll saws.  Guild members also prepared 200 racecars (drilling axle holes and rounding over the edges on a router table)  for the Woodworking Show.  Dave Windus worked all day to build a Model T car (see photo above).  The event lasted from 10 AM to 4 PM. 

Toy Tally

Collected
January — 1,562
YTD — 1,562

Delivered
YTD — 706

Since 1994 — 70,568!
 

2020 Toy Program Major Contributors

Over 300 Club
Wayne Humphrey – 499

Over 100 Club
Bill Meuth – 264

FIRST-TIME CONTRIBUTORS

None this month!

2020 Target and Challenge

Progress towards our 2020 targets:

Target for Delivered Items:  7,138

11% ACHIEVED
A Good Start!

22% Member Participation Target

8% ACHIEVED
21 Members so far

Toy Pattern Library is Growing

 
Keep checking the website for new patterns throughout the year as well as the schedule for donating seasonal items.  We’ll continue to add new and interesting patterns for all levels of woodcrafters so check back often.
 
Find patterns at:  https://slwg.org/community-involvement/toy-program/

BEHIND THE SCENES

The updated Toy Patterns have all been uploaded on the new Guild website.  If you have a toy pattern that you want included on the website, please get with Dan Lender and he will get it taken care of. 

Organizations that we currently donate toys to include:

Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition
Mercy Children’s Hospital St. Louis
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
St. Louis Children’s Hospital

Rockwood School District
 

WOOD PAYMENTS
Beginning January 1, 2020, the Toy Committee will Pay for Wood that members use to make donations. This will include toys and boxes donated for the area Hospitals and the Foster kids.  The committee will have a form for submitting expenses and payments to members will be made on a quarterly basis. Please keep the requests reasonable and proportional to the donations made.
 

Toy Committee

Dan Lender: (314) 878-1015
Bill Schuchat: (314) 406-1823
Vickie Berry: (972) 741-1944

Hal Donovan: (314) 570-6563
Steve Mettes: (901) 237-4483

Please contact us with comments, suggestions or if you need to arrange pickup or delivery of toys.

Woodworking Show

The annual St. Louis Woodworking Show was held February 7-9, 2020 with the Guild showing off our skills and wares as usual in fine style!!  The show seemed to go off without a hitch. 

Many of the visitors to the table were interested in the fact that we have a Guild Shop where they could access tools to build their projects.

Ten Guild volunteers prepared race cars on January 11 and 18 at the Guild Shop for use at the Show. Parts for over 400 cars were finished including car bodies and axles.  Thanks to all who assisted in this effort.  123 cars were assembled at the Show for us to donate to the hospitals and approximately 100 cars were made by kids to take home for themselves.

The display table was manned by several shifts of Guild volunteers over the three day event. 35 members donated their time setting up, removing and working the booth.

A hearty thanks to all those who participated!!!

Bring Me A Book Team News

We are back in the box building business! After a short down period to enable the distribution team to adjust inventory and delivery schedule, it’s time for us to restart our assembly process.

Sixty-four, flat pack book box kits, consisting of two unassembled book boxes each, will be available at the February meeting. The kits will be available on the lower level parking lot at the rear of the Moolah Shrine building. Look for the White Ford 150 Pickup by the entrance.

Please provide your name and indicate the number of boxes you pick up on the log sheet with the kits.  Completed boxes should be returned at the March Member meeting.

Thank you to the members who have supported the BMAB literacy program by building boxes.
 

For those Guild Members who are delivering completed boxes, please set your boxes in or near the White Ford F150 parked at the rear entrance on the lower level.

Please make sure to tell Tom Tierney the number of book boxes you have returned.

Book Box Tally

As of January 31, 2020
 

Unassembled Box Kits ready for members to pick up      0

Book Boxes in process of assembly                                 0

Book Boxes in QC                                                             0

Book Boxes Completed and Delivered  to BMABStl    
    since beginning of program in April 2018                 1003

Book Box Program Major Contributors

We will be posting major contributors for 2020 as the program moves forward. 

Book Box Committee

Tom Tierney: (314) 412-1817
Jack McKay: (314) 435-2232

Charles Schrock: (314) 822-3709
 

Check out the Events Calendar on the SLWG website HERE.

SAVE THE DATE

WEEKEND WOODWORKING SEMINAR

with

GEORGE WALKER,  Furniture Designer

April 17-19, 2020

George has written numerous articles for Popular Woodworking Magazine over the years.  Stay tuned for more information about this Spring weekend event.

Woodworking Classes

Held at Faust Park Workshop

Guild Opportunities to Learn

The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild states in its bylaws that the purpose of the Guild is to: “Encourage and educate its members to enjoy and enrich their woodworking skills.”

Long before the Guild’s Faust Park Shop opened, Guild members have opened their shops to hold what we have come to describe as “Mini-Workshops.” Each of these members has developed skills in our craft that they are willing to share with all of our members. They do this, not for pay, but for a sense of duty to the Guild and to ensure this great pastime continues to thrive. All these Guild workshops are extremely reasonably priced compared to any other woodworking classes that I am aware of today.

We are in the process of establishing a diverse selection of Mini-Workshops for 2020. While not yet completed, we already have a great line-up. The Fundamentals of Woodworking class in its third year will kick off in February.  Also, on February 22nd and 23rd will be “River Table” Techniques by Don Iverson. This will be a “hands on” continuation of his meeting presentation in November of last year.  In March, we will have a workshop on Tuning and Using Hand Planes. This class will get your grandfather’s “hand me down” or that “flea market find” off the shelf and working again.

April 18th and 19th will bring George Walker, noted author, lecturer and columnist, to St. Louis for a great weekend on furniture design, what works and why, and how to incorporate it into your work. This will provide you with the basics of going beyond the typical furniture plans found in the current woodworking publications.

Don Turner will do a workshop on Building Cabinets in May which will follow his presentation to the membership at the regular meeting that month. Always wanted to redo your kitchen? Don will show you the way!

Shaker Oval Boxes have always fascinated people. In June, Jay Noffsinger will do a combined presentation followed by another “hands on” workshop on Building Shaker Oval Boxes in his shop.

A Sharpening Workshop will be held in July to teach you several methods to bring your edge tools into proper shape.

This is only a partial list of the workshops that are in the planning stages. If you have recommendations for topics that are of interest to you, let Wayne Watson (vicepresident@slwg.org) know.

The Guild’s website is the place to see the upcoming classes. Remember that space is limited for most classes so if you are interested in a class enroll early to insure that you have a spot. The website makes it very easy to enroll and pay.
We will continue to provide updates at the Meetings, on the Website and in this Newsletter as additional classes are finalized and scheduled.

Wayne Watson

Upcoming Classes

(See Fundamentals and Opportunities to Learn articles below)
 

Payment for classes:
-Payment in advance is required to be registered
– By check, mailed to Guild’s PO Box
– Pay online Guild web page through PayPal
– Pay at the meeting to Eric Oman
 
Please note that registration closes by the 5th of the month in which the class is scheduled.  For example, for a class held in July, registration is due by July 5.

Registration or Questions?
Contact Eric Oman  at   eric.oman@yahoo.com   or     636-248-0069

Recent Board Activities
 
A lot goes on that sometimes the general membership doesn’t hear about.  We will try to publish some bullet points every month to let you know about these items.
 
  • With the end of the fiscal year coming up there are budgets to be developed and candidates for elections to be chosen.  The five year plan is also under review.
 
  • There is the constant challenge of finding people for elected and appointed positions. 
 
  • We are hoping to expand outreach programs even more but won’t take on additional programs if we don’t have people to spearhead these programs. 
WH

Faust Park Workshop Information

  • To participate in the Workshop Safety Class or use the shop, you must have paid the current year Guild dues and have your current membership card with appropriate marking.
  • To use the Guild Workshop during open hours, you must have passed a Workshop Safety Class. 

March Shop Hours
Mar 3 & 4,       10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Mar 7 & 8,       9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Mar 10 & 11,  10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Mar 14 & 15,     9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Mar 21,            9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Make Checks for Safety Class payable to SLWG and attendees must bring their current Guild membership card.

Link to Safety Class Signup and Directions to the shop on the SLWG website HERE.

Next Shop Safety Class

When:
          Thursday, March 5th
           6:30 PM    
Where:
           Faust Park Workshop
Duration:
           Plan for 3 Hours
Cost:
         $20 for Current Members

To attend Safety Class, must RSVP by Feb. 29 to vicepresident@slwg.org
 

New Shop Equipment

The Guild has purchased a new scroll saw for the shop and the two old ones will be sold at auction at some point.  The Guild will not provide blades for the scroll saw as there are many sizes, styles and brands to choose from and they have a pretty short life expectancy depending on what you are cutting.  Blades are available from local suppliers or by mail order. 

Join The Guild Today!

GUILD MEMBERSHIP

Annual Dues Renewals  for 2020 are NOW OPEN
 

Annual membership renewal is available online with PayPal (preferred, as this speeds up the check-in process at the meeting) or at the meeting when you sign in.  
If you are coming to the meeting and want to avoid a long line, put your funds in an envelope with your name on it and what you are paying for.  You can just drop it at the table and not have to wait in line.

Current membership status is required for use of the Faust Park Shop.

Annual Membership Dues:

Basic Membership            $40    (4 uses of the Guild Shop during 2020)
Full Shop Membership                $75    (Unlimited use of the Guild Shop during 2020)

A basic membership entitles the member to four uses of the Guild Shop during the year.  A shop membership entitles the member to unlimited use of the shop during open shop hours.

Member benefits also include:
 

                      > Discounts at Guild sponsors
                      > Access to Project Workshops 
                      > Access to a local community of woodworkers
                      > Access to the secure portion of the website

Just Complete & Return This Application!

Or, bring the completed form to the next meeting and Join right there!!!  Cash, checks, PayPal or credit cards accepted.

Click here to pay dues online

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Brian Ellison
Brian Gilstrap
Robert James
Joseph Meyer
Mark Peterson

If you are a current or retired Boeing employee you can now contribute to the St. Louis Woodworker’s guild through the Boeing Gift Match program.  The guild is now an approved charitable organization with the Boeing program.  As an employee participant, your donation of $25.00 USD or more or the equivalent volunteer hours of 25 hours or more will be matched 1:1 by Boeing.  The maximum individual contribution is $6,000.00 or 6,000 volunteer hours.  Your contribution is tax deductible as long as you follow three simple steps:

Step 1:  Eligible Boeing employees or retirees first make a contribution directly to the guild

Step 2:  After making your donation go to Total Access and click on My Community Giving – GIVE – Gift Match on the Boeing Gift Match page.

Step 3:  Register your donation whether it’s monetary or volunteer hours and select The St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild and enter the total amount and the date of the contribution.

It’s that easy, you get a great tax break and it benefits the guild directly.  If you have any questions, please email Wayne Humphrey at president@slwg.org and if I don’t know the answer, I will try to find it for you.

The St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild is now listed with Amazon Smile.

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite woodworker’s guild every time you shop at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild. 

Simply go to smile.amazon.com and select the St. Louis Woodworker’s Guild as your organization that you want to receive donations from your eligible purchases.  The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.  You don’t make the donation, Amazon Smile does.  It truly is at no cost to you.  Just make sure you go to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com.  If you have any questions on how the program works, just send an email to Wayne Humphrey at president@slwg.org .

SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders


President:
Wayne Humphrey – 314-440-2173

Vice President:
Wayne Watson – 314-541-3047


Secretary:
Tom Tupper – 636-236-3313

Treasurer:
Tom Tierney – 314-412-1817

Directors:
Grant Black (exp. 2020)
Vickie Berry (exp. 2021)
Violet Oman (exp. 2022)
Don Turner (exp. 2023)

Immediate Past President:
Bob Brinkmann

Marketing & Membership Chair:
Wayne Watson

Membership Coordinator:
Michael Graber

Woodworking Show Coordinator:
Wayne Watson

Book Box Committee Chair:
Tom Tierney

Outreach Coordinator:
Open

Newsletter Editor:
Grady Vaughan

Librarian:
Al Carlson

Toy Committee Chair:
Dan Lender

Shop Manager:
Wayne Watson

Classes and Workshops Coordinator:
Eric Oman

Web Master:
David Zemon

Media Coordinator:
Bob Kastigar

Legal Counsel:
Bill Hobson


Our Sponsors

The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild relies heavily on sponsorship to execute on our mission statement of education, community service, and local development. Please support our sponsors. 











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