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THIS MONTH’S PROGRAM
(In-Person Presentation and Livestream)
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Christmas in July
with
Guild Members
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If you can’t make it to this month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming.
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Wood Collecting with the International Wood Collectors Society
with
Garry Roux
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Garry gave an engaging presentation where he showed samples of and discussed characteristics and uses of various species of wood from all over the world. Click on the link below to see the entire presentation.
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If you could not make it to last month’s meeting in-person, here is the LINK for streaming.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Annual Super Star Weekend
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Another great Guild weekend in store for Guild Members only!
Guild Super Star Weekend Coordinator Brad Bernhard has engaged Fine Woodworking Magazine‘s Roland Johnson for an all-day Saturday woodworking learning experience for only $60 per member.
More info will come in future Newsletters and on the SLWG website. Registration for this event will be available starting in November.
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Need Project Donations
Faust Park Art Fair
August 16, 2025
David is still looking for donations to sell at the Art Fair to support our Guild. We will have at least one location selling our products.
We also could use a couple of volunteers in the afternoon shifts. Send an email to David at grone@hotmail.com if you can help.
Also if you have projects to donate, bring them to the meeting and put them on the designated table at the back of the meeting room.
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A/V Tech Support Needed
The Guild is looking for 2-3 members proficient at Microsoft PowerPoint to help at the AV table during meetings. Additional IT experience a plus.
Contact Hal Donovan at hal.donovan@slwg.org.
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Save the Date
November Saw Dust Party
(Instead of the September Picnic)
Planning for the November Saw Dust Party which will be held on the November Meeting night is underway.
In addition to food, there will be activities resulting in prizes won throughout the evening. As well as purchased prizes (e.g. gift cards), the committee would love to offer shop-made prizes provided by our members. Many of the show-n-tell items are excellent examples of desirable prizes (and what prompted this idea). And note, the prizes do not need to be expensive in value, but they do need to be finished projects.
If you would be willing to donate one (or more) prizes for the event, send an e-mail to Joe.turner@slwg.org. Include a brief description of the donation and/or photo and we will follow-up with you on the details
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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.
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John Ferriera brought in several unique Vases that he turned from pieces of oak and red bud trees.
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John uses several finishing techniques which include dying different colors in sequence to get the effects, and has recently been using a 50/50 blend of lacquer and thinner for the final finish.
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Brad Bernhard brought in some examples of his Marquetry Projects that have had him engaged for the last two years or so.
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Brad uses a hand fret saw using a double-bevel technique with the jig shown above. His interest has focused on bird images which he obtains from books, online, and other sources. We look forward to his next class!!
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Tom Tierney made a Cremation Urn for a neighbor’s family member using spalted maple from a tree in their backyard.
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Tom found that these boxes are sized based on the weight of the deceased at one cubic inch per pound and are commonly filled from the bottom and permanently closed after filling.
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Brian Ellison finished out his multi-stage Dust Collection System that he had shown at a previous meeting by mounting everything on a mobile base and incorporating a foot-operated switch as well as adding a magnet to the pickup nozzle so it will stay where it is placed (as long as there is something it sticks to).
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Ron Romitti got some South African maple and walnut from U-Pick Hardwoods and made these beautifully styled curved panel design Jewelry Boxes with custom wood handles. Only manufactured parts are the hinges. Ron noted that the hardest part of the project was getting a clean cut on the curves. He will be donating these for the Faust Park Art Fair.
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Joe Turner shared a Jointer electrical problem that he had in his shop due to a pet with an agressive chewing habit.
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Joe’s obvious recommendation following this incident was to be careful of pets in the shop.
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Larry Strayhorn brought in his Table Project that he built in Bill Schuchat’s Woodworking Fundamentals Classes.
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Nice white oak mortise and tenon joinery bedside table with drawer and tapered legs.
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Keith Lissant brought this Cleanup Tote project as an example of a potential Beginner’s Class item.
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TOOL RECALLS
and Other Videos
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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
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COMMUNITY
St. Louis Woodworkers Guild contributions to the local community
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Holiday Toy Program
The Friday Toy Builders have over 700 toys in inventory at this point.
The trains shown below are made from the donated pews that members salvaged and have a custom-made coupling system designed and built by Don Turner.
Toys are built on the first and third Fridays of the month in the shop from 10 to 2. Everyone is welcome.
Wayne Humphrey
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The alphabet letters in the above picture were a special request by one of our hospital partners that Bob Baird made using his laser cutting machine. He also provided additional vowels and commonly used consonants so they could use them to spell out various words.
Toy Committee Chair Bob Baird will be at the Toy Table to receive completed toys and distribute parts to those who request them. Please be sure to contact him ahead of the meeting if you need parts.
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Toy Committee Update
We added Mercy Hospital Pediatrics on North Ballas Road to our list of toy recipients this month.
If you need 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.
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 and thank you to all who have built toys and contributed to this important program.
Bob Baird
Toy Committee Chair
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Collected
June — 58
YTD — 874
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Delivered
June — 75
YTD — 304
Since 1994 — 89,998
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2025 Toy Program Major Contributors
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Over 100 Club
Linda Turner — 253
William Marsek — 227
Paul Hellenbrand — 213
Over 50 Club
Bill Meuth — 79
Dan Sudkamp — 74
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NEW CONTRIBUTORS
None this month
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2025 Target and Challenge
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Target for Delivered Items: 4,000
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10% Member Participation Target
(40 Members)
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15% ACHIEVED
6 Members
(Total Guild Members 402)
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Organizations that we currently donate toys to include:
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BJC Children’s Hospital
Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital
Hawthorn Children’s Psych. Hosp.
LifeWise STL
Mercy North Pediatrics
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Peace Pantry Cedar Hill
RankenJordan Ped. Bridge Hospital
Rockwood School District
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Toys for Tots
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Bob Baird, Chair
Paul Bailey
Hal Donovan
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Charles Schrock
Grady Vaughan
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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.
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HSH Table Build Community Outreach
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Tom will NOT have wood to distribute at this month’s meeting
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We have completed 3 months of our fiscal year with a total of 34 tables delivered so far. Our goal is to deliver 150 by March 31, 2026.
The donations of wood combined with Members’ time and talent have helped and will continue to help St. Louis area residents and families. Every table that Members have donated through the Guild has gone to someone in need.
Already this year we have 4 Members who have built and donated 5 or more tables. More table builders are needed. Especially after the May tornadoes.
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
We would like you to join in on this effort. Please consider getting more involved in the Guild Outreach programs be it through HSH or Toys or both.
Your involvement will help make the programs, the Guild, and our community even better.
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
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Talley to 6/30/25:
Current Month Current Year Program Total
Dining Tables 0 1 34
End Tables/Sofa Server 6 24 351
Coffee Tables 0 4 37
Night Stands 0 5 10
Total 6 34 432
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Total Tables by Year
FY 2022-2023 102
FY 2023-2024 121
FY 2024-2025 175
FY 2025-2026 (3 months) 34
Grand Total for Program 432
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FY 2025-2026 Target and Challenge
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Target for Delivered Tables: 150
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Table of Recognition
Below are the Members who have built five or more tables in the current FY.
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5 +
Hal Donovan
Charles Schrock
Tom Tierney
Grady Vaughan
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Current Year No. of 5+ Builders 4
Overall No. of 5+ Builders 17
Current Year No. of Builders 9
Overall No. of Builders 38
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Hal Donovan sent in pictures of his HSH Tables #71 and #72.
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The below article featuring some of our pew wood story was published in the local church’s newsletter.
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An Amazing Gift from our Pews
Thanks to the efforts of many, our chapel pews have all found new homes. One amazing use that was shared with us last week is that many of the pews are being turned into furniture for our mission partner Home Sweet Home! The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild received half of the pews, and they are hard at work turning our history into beautiful tables for families throughout St. Louis.
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One of the wood workers, Jack McKay whose grandfather John McKay attended WGPC years ago, shared this photo with us of a table that he just finished. What an incredible gift! Thanks to John Soteres who coordinated with the woodworkers to make this happen, and to all who made sure that every pew and pew cushion was passed along to others who could give them new life!
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UPCOMING MEETING PRESENTATIONS
August 21 Adam Conner Joinery
September 18 Mary May Mary May’s School of
Traditional Woodcarving
October 16 Brian Ellison About the Scroll Saw
November 20 Guild Panel Stump the Chump
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Woodworking Classes
Held at Faust Park Workshop
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Faust Park Workshop Information
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- 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.
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August “Open Shop” Hours
Sat, Aug 3 9 am – 5 pm
Tue/Wed, Aug 5/6 10 am – 2 pm
Sat, Aug 9 9 am – 5 pm
Tue/Wed, Aug 12/13 10 am – 2 pm
Sat/Sun, Aug 16/17 9 am – 5 pm
Mon/Tue, Aug 18/19 10 am – 2 pm
Sat, Aug 23 9 am – 5 pm
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Next Shop Safety Class
When:
Thursday, August 7, 6:30 pm
Where:
Faust Park Workshop
Duration:
Plan for 3 Hours
Cost:
$20 for Current Members
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Safety Class attendees must register online and bring their current Guild membership card.
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Directions: Plug the following address into your GPS or phone:
1135 Henry Jackson Rd. Chesterfield, MO
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Join or Renew your Guild
Membership Today!
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Annual Dues Renewals
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 classes and use of the Faust Park Shop.
CURRENT Annual Membership Dues:
Basic Membership $50
Full Shop Membership $120
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!
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Yared Basilious
David Ford
Cheron Guyton
Cliff Heeley
Isabel Klopfenstine
Mary Kot
Nathan Loudenslager
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Joseph McArthur
Rob McFarland
Stephanie O’Connor
Mitch Reed
Ian Roslawski
Taylor Sanders
Donald Stolberg
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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.
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SLWG Officers, Board Members and Committee Leaders
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President:
Brian Ellison
president@slwg.org
Vice President:
Corey Doner
vicepresident@slwg.org
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Secretary:
Adam Conners
secretary@slwg.org
Treasurer:
Joe Turner
treasurer@slwg.org
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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
Jim Becher / Nick Balogh
webmaster@slwg.org
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Newsletter Editor:
Grady Vaughan
newsletter@slwg.org
Librarian:
Al Carlson
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
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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.
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Walnut Level sponsor. Guild members will receive a 10% discount on many items at Rockler.
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Pine Level Sponsor. Guild members will receive a 10% discount on saw sharpening at Quinn Saw.
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Pine Level Sponsor. Learn the art of Traditional Woodcarving with professional woodcarver, Mary May!
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Image Credits:
Turned Wood Box Collection Photo by Violet Oman
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