SLWG May 2025 Newsletter

Next Meeting:

6:45 PM Thursday, May 15th

Moolah Shrine Center, Oasis Room
12545 Fee Fee Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146

President’s Letter

I would like to thank the membership for having the confidence in me to elect me to be your president for another year. It gives me great pleasure to be a part of this wonderful organization.

Mentorship- Be on the lookout for an email with your mentor/mentee matches. Unfortunately, not everyone looking for a mentor could be matched at this time, but we are working on it. We need mentors for turning and for general woodworking skills. If you are able to mentor for one of these subjects (or for any topic), please email Mary at mentorship@slwg.org.

Swap Meet will be held on June 14 8:00 to 12:00 at Faust Park in the parking lot in front of the Whimsical Woods.

Membership Dues Increase
At the April Members Meeting, a brief summary of the New Shop Feasibility Study was presented. Over the course of a year, the Committee assessed the requirements for a new shop and evaluated various locations. After estimating costs (both non-recurring and recurring), the conclusion from this effort was that the Guild, at this time, is not financially able to support a new shop. The Committee deemed additional revenue needs to be generated if we are to move forward with a new shop.

A key action to move us in the direction of growing a reserve for a future new shop is to increase Membership Dues. Starting July 1, 2025, membership dues will increase to $50/year for a Basic Membership and $120/year for a Shop Membership. At the current membership levels, this would provide an additional $11K/year towards the new shop reserve. If you would like additional details regarding the effort related to the New Shop Feasibility Study and/or Membership Dues, you can contact Joe Turner (Treasurer) or Jay Noffsinger (Study Chairman).

Just an FYI the YouTube video will be posted a week later after the meeting this month.

Stay safe in the shop,

Brian Ellison

When choosing lumber, be it domestic or exotic hardwood, Visit Andrew and the team at U-Pick Hardwoods in St. Charles Mo.
U Pick hardwoods offers guild members a 10% Discount with your current membership card.

Beaver Industrial Supply has name-brand woodworking tools engineered to make your shop more productive. We carry a full range of products like high-end saws, planers, sanders, lathes, joiners, drills and dust extractors. Shop products from Axiom, Fein, Festool, Jet, Kreg, Powermatic, Laguna Tools, Skilsaw and more!

THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(In-Person Presentation and Livestream)

Woodmills

with

Matt Wallace

If you can’t make it to this month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming.

LAST MONTH’S PROGRAM

Business Meeting
Reports
Officer and Director Election

with

Guild President Brian Ellison

President Brian took us through the Business Meeting very efficiently!

Treasurer Joe Turner thoroughly presented the finances of the Guild and answered all questions.

And Joe also facilitated the Raffle which produced several lucky winners of special wood project material and gift cards.

Wayne Humphrey talked about the Holiday Toy Program, inviting anyone from beginners to advanced woodworkers to help with the production of finished toys for this program.

If you could not make it to last month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming. Note that last month’s meeting was shortened due to Guild business being conducted.

Looking for Volunteers for

Faust Park Summer Camps
June 12 and June 20, 2025

These are summer camps for kids at Faust Park that need some supervisors from the Guild when they are making totes and small cars. They already have 60 kids signed up!

See Dave Gronefeld if you can volunteer for either or both of these days.

Tool Swap Meet

Tool Swap Meet at Faust Park on Saturday, June 14th, 8 AM to Noon

In the parking lot near Whimsical Woods

Wood for the Community Service Programs

The Webster Groves Presbyterian Church is remodeling their chapel and contacted the Woodworkers Guild to see if we would want the old pews. They did not want to just throw them in a dumpster and hoped they could be put to some better use.

The Toy and Table programs of the Guild were just what they hoped to find and a couple of work sessions at the church got us four truckloads of red oak to take to the shop for further processing.

Thanks to the following for doing the heavy lifting at the church:

Harry Cheatham, Charles Schrock, Tom Tierney, and Wayne Humphrey.

Bob Kastigar mans the Cap and Apron sale table. Aprons are priced at $40 and Caps at $20.While cash is the preferred method of payment, checks or credit cards might be accepted if the Treasurer is present.
Crafted for durability, these items are ideal for daily use in the shop or when representing the Guild at events, such as the Faust Park events.

Donate to the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild HERE

SHOW AND TELL

John Ferreira brought in two turnings that he did which involved significant infill with epoxy and dying.

The colorful one was from a wild honeysuckle root ball and the other was from a piece of walnut with a healed branch division.

This picture is the honeysuckle root ball after an initial dying and before the epoxy infill.

This is the walnut piece with the branch occlusion after the initial turning but before any dying or infill.

Corey Doner made this scroll sawn set for a lady that he works with. The dog is made from walnut and the lady is hard maple. Finish is General Finishes Arm R Seal in a satin finish.

What you can get from SLWG Classes

Here are the results of a pen making class led by Corey Doner and attended by Paul Z., Andrea Lyons, and Leo Weisman held on March 30, 2025.

Wood Species : Padauk
Finished with Dr. Kirks Scratch FREE Polishing wax

Tom Tierney made the below two coffee tables for the HSH donations program. Nicely done!!

Solid oak coffee table made from two table leaves.

Coffee table made from church pew material, a table leaf and left-over hickory grids from a pizza cart project.

TOOL RECALLS
and Other Videos

Check these links out if you have these items (some might be a little dated):

DeWalt Miter Saw Recall LINK

Grizzley Children’s Tool Kits Recall LINK

Makita Cordless Hedge Trimmer Recall LINK

Harbor Freight Miter Saw Blade Guard Recall Article LINK

COMMUNITY

St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community

Holiday Toy Program

Holiday toy builders now have 573 toys in inventory. We have also been busy on other projects.

For St. Louis County Parks Summer Camp we have created 109 car kits ready to assemble. We are getting ready to create and assemble 35+ tool tote kits for the older children at the camp.

After deconstructing the end supports of oak church pews that we acquired, we have some odd pieces of wood to use up. Next month we will have photos of one of the creative uses for these pieces.

Toys are built on the first and third Fridays of the month in the shop from 10 to 2. Everyone is welcome.

Wayne Humphrey

Play horses for tykes.

Ends of oak church pews that are project opportunities

Meet Bob Baird, Toy Committee Chair. Bob collects and distributes toys to the team delivering to our toy sponsors. He also has toy parts for toy makers.

Toy Committee Update

We have plenty of supplies (wood, dowels, wheels, pins, etc.). Please don’t let that stand in your way of making toys 😊. Reach out to Bob or Wayne, and we will let you into the shed to look around for what you need.

Last month, I mentioned that small gauge pin nails were not okay. As long as you glue the pieces together first and the pins do not protrude, they are okay. Sorry for the confusion.

We have lots of patterns for toys of every kind. Contact me, and I will share them with you. We hope to have them all up on the website soon.

Please contact a committee member with any comments or suggestions you may have for the program.

Thank you to all who have built toys and contributed to this important program.

Bob Baird
Toy Committee Chair

2025 Toy Report

Toy Tally

Collected
April — 145
YTD — 482

Delivered
April — 30
YTD — 55
Since 1994 — 89,203

2025 Toy Program Major Contributors

Over 100 Club
Linda Turner — 157
William Marsek — 100

Over 50 Club
Dan Sudkamp — 74

NEW CONTRIBUTORS
Paul Hillenbrand — 18
Bob Baird — 8
John Chapman — 6

2025 Target and Challenge

Target for Delivered Items: 4,000

1.38% ACHIEVED

10% Member Participation Target

(40 Members)

15% ACHIEVED
6 Members
(Total Guild Members 402)

Organizations that we currently donate toys to include:

BJC Children’s Hospital
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
Hawthorn Children’s Psych. Hosp.
LifeWise STL
Mercy Hospital

Peace Pantry Cedar Hill
RankenJordan Ped. Bridge Hospital
Rockwood School District
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Toys for Tots

Toy Committee

Bob Baird, Chair
Paul Bailey
Hal Donovan

Charles Schrock
Grady Vaughan

Please contact us with comments, suggestions or if you need to arrange pickup or delivery of toys. Individual contact info can be found on the Members Only section of the SLWG website HERE.

HSH Table Build Community Outreach

Tom will have wood to distribute at this month’s meeting

Thank you to all the HSH Outreach Program participants. The Guild cannot do it without your willingness to volunteer your time and talents.

Information about our HSH table program and sample table measured drawings can be found on our website under the Community Service tab, HomeSweetHome. LINK HERE

Please contact me at the meeting or call, text, or email me if you are interested in building a table(s).

Tom Tierney
(314) 412-1817
tmtierney@gmail.com

Talley to 4/30/25:

Current Month Current Year Program Total

Dining Tables 1 1 34
End Tables/Sofa Server 8 8 335
Coffee Tables 0 0 33
Night Stands 1 1 6

Total 10 10 408

Total Tables by Year

FY 2022-2023 102
FY 2023-2024 121
FY 2024-2025 175
FY 2025-2026 (1 month) 10

Grand Total for Program 408

FY 2025-2026 Target and Challenge

Target for Delivered Tables: 150

7% ACHIEVED

Table of Recognition

Below are the Members who have built five or more tables in the current FY.

5 +
Charles Schrock

UPCOMING MEETING PRESENTATIONS

May 15 Matt Wallace Wallace Woodmills
June 19 Gary Roux Wood Collecting with the
Society of Wood Collectors
July 17 TBA TBA
August 21 Adam Conner Joinery
September 18 Mary May Mary May’s School of
Traditional Woodcarving
October 16 Brian Ellison About the Scroll Saw

Woodworking Classes

Held at Faust Park Workshop

See the Full Schedule on the SLWG Website HERE.

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.

June “Open Shop” Hours

June 1 9 am – 5 pm

June 3 & 4 10 am – 2 pm

June 7 9 am – 5 pm

June 10 & 11 10 am – 2 pm

June 14 & 15 9 am – 5 pm

June 16 & 17 10 am – 2 pm

June 21 9 am – 5 pm

Next Shop Safety Class

When:

Thursday, June 5th, 6:30 pm

Where:
Faust Park Workshop

Duration:
Plan for 3 Hours

Cost:
$20 for Current Members

Safety Class attendees must register online and bring their current Guild membership card.

Limit of 10 per class.
Visit the SLWG website for Safety Class Signup HERE.

Directions: Plug the following address into your GPS or phone:
1135 Henry Jackson Rd. Chesterfield, MO

Join or Renew your Guild

Membership Today!

Annual Dues Renewals

NOTE: DUES INCREASE SCHEDULED FOR JULY 1, 2025

Grace Period

If a membership lapses, a former member can rejoin the guild within 12 months of expiration without having to retake the $20 Shop Safety Class. After 12 months have passed, the individual will be required to Renew membership and retake the $20 safety class.

Annual membership renewal is available online (click on button below) with any major credit card, or mail a check for the appropriate amount with member’s name in the memo line to

St. Louis Woodworkers Guild
P.O. Box 411766
St. Louis, MO 63141-9998

Current membership and completion of Safety Class status is required for use of the Faust Park Shop.

CURRENT Annual Membership Dues:

Basic Membership $40 ($50 after 7/1/25)
Full Shop Membership $75 ($120 after 7/1/25)

A Basic Membership entitles the member to four (4) uses of the Guild Shop during the membership 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

See the SLWG Website for signing up!

Click here to pay dues online

WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS

Garrett Borel-Kelley
Sidney Comstock
Jeffrey Joyce
Steven Oscko
Margaret Potts

Jessica Russo
Mark Russo
Sam Tripp
Daniel Yanes

If you are a current or retired Boeing employee you can 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 Brian Ellison at president@slwg.org and if I don’t know the answer, I will try to find it for you.

SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders

President:
Brian Ellison
president@slwg.org

Vice President:
Corey Doner
vicepresident@slwg.org

Secretary:
Adam Conners
secretary@slwg.org

Treasurer:
Joe Turner
treasurer@slwg.org

Directors:
Hal Donovan (exp. 2026)
TBD (exp. 2027)
Bob Kastigar (exp. 2028)
Bob Danner (exp. 2029)

Immediate Past President:
Jay Noffsinger

Membership Coordinator:
Brian Ellison (Temp) – membership@slwg.org

IT/Sponsorship/Donations Coordinator:
Todd Martin – donations@slwg.org

IT Administrator:
it@slwg.org

Webmasters
Aaron Johnson / Jim Becher /
Nick Balogh
webmaster@slwg.org

Newsletter Editor:
Grady Vaughan
newsletter@slwg.org

Librarians:
Al Carlson
Sarah Porter

Toy Committee Chair:
Bob Baird
toys @slwg.org

Photographer:
Leo Weisman

Shop Manager:
David Gronefeld

Classes and Workshops Coordinator:
Corey Doner

Program Coordinator:
Corey Doner

Contact a Guild Officer with Questions

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 Patronize our sponsors who support the guild and our mission to encourage and educate members and non-members to enjoy and enrich their woodworking skills and experiences.

Walnut Level sponsor. Guild members will receive a 10% discount on many items at Rockler.

Pine Level Sponsor. Guild members will receive a 10% discount on saw sharpening at Quinn Saw.

Pine Level Sponsor. Learn the art of Traditional Woodcarving with professional woodcarver, Mary May!

Image Credits:
Voting Image by Freepik

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St. Louis Woodworkers Guild · PO Box 411766 · Saint Louis, MO 63141-1766 · USA

May 2025 Newsletter