The following people have agreed to serve as contacts for their particular skills.  If you have questions, suggestions for activities, or other comments relating to these skills, please call these folks.  Their interest is to help the club better serve their area of expertise.  Your participation with them will help them achieve that goal.

             Design:        Tom Cowan    967-4835                             Finishing:      Phil Bishop          967-4626
            Turning:        Tom Church   967-4460                            Carving:        Harry May           962-0215
            Sharpening:    Bob Reese     728-7974                             Joinery:        Ross Roepke       455-9140

                                                                                      President:             Tom Gillard, Jr.
                                                                                      V. President:          Anthony Watts
                                                                                      Secretary:              Karen Kerce Browning
                                                                                      Treasurer:              Jim Steadman
                                                                                      Publicity:                Louis Bryant
                                                                                      Newsletter Editor:     Chuck Taylor

You are in for another treat in our programs since Tom Cowan will be our presenter. Tom will be speaking on “Arts & Crafts” furniture styles and discussing some of the inspiration that he draws from having a family legacy that has been associated with this period of furniture. Come and join us for Tom's interesting and informative program.

The Tennessee Valley Woodworker's Web Site is constantly being updated with the latest club news and happenings. If you want to know the latest club news, be sure to take a look and check it out!!!!!!!
 

Click "here" to view all the latest information concerning "TVW Upcoming Events" or "here" to view upcoming programs on our Web Site.

The popular “Turning Bee” was held at Tom Cowan's shop on June 14 with about 25 "turners" in attendance. Everyone was able to get some good hands-on experience and “expert” advice about turning from the "instructors". Attendees were exposed to “green wood” bowl roughing, spindle turning demonstrations and other interesting lessons.
As always, a good time was had by all. A special thanks to Tom for hosting the event.
 
 

The Executive Committee is sponsoring an Exhibition for members to show items they have made to the public. The 2009 Exhibition is now named "In the Spirit of Fine Woodwork" and is scheduled for the early part of May 2009. This will give members time to design, develop, and build their items for the show and to give time to develop public awareness. Additional details will be shared as they evolve.
Preliminary to the 2009 exhibition,

The Club has reserved a room for a mini-exhibit at the Foothills Crafts fair at the Coffee County Convention Center on November 7 and 8.  The purpose of this event is to promote the Club's 2009 Exhibition.  More details regarding the Foothills Craft exhibit will also be furnished, as the date draws closer.
 
 

The Carvers met at Phil Bishop’s Shop on July 5 for some “carving time”. The group of Harry May, Phil Bishop, Sharron Wright, Bob Leonard and Dick Wollam worked toward bringing the “Cigar Store Indian” to “life”. It is nearing completion and looking good.

The group will be showing and demonstrating carving techniques for Polly Crockett day in Sept. and the Webb School Art and Craft Festival in Oct.  Other woodworkers are welcome to participate and provide demonstrations at these activities

The next carver’s meeting date and location will be announced at our July meeting.
 
 

The TVW participation in the "Turn for the Troops" program, sponsored by Woodcraft, is on-going. Thanks to those members that are supporting this effort. If you still have pens to make, please finish them and turn them in to Anthony. It is an opportunity to show your support for the troops and enjoy some woodturning fun. Thanks to Anthony Watts for coordinating this effort.
 
 

Information is coming soon concerning the 2008 “Shop Tour” season. If you are interested in being a “host” on the Shop Tour schedule this year, please contact Doyle McConnell. He is looking for shops to fill this year’s schedule.

A good excuse to clean the shop!!!!!!

DIGITAL LIBRARY NEWS

DoyleMcConnell attended the Woodturning Symposium in Provo, Utah. He saw examples of turned objects being dyed with aniline dye.  The dying is done from the inside after turning, and it bleeds through to the outside. He tried the technique on a vase that he had recently turned. The finished product is remarkable.

Bob Reese displayed his 25th violin, and had Tom Brantley, a champion fiddler play it. It was made of Oregon Curly Maple.

Jim Van Cleave showed a detailed relief carving of a rooster on a walnut slab.

Bob Leonard brought and discussed an antique veneer scraper.

Chuck Taylor displayed a natural edge Ambrosia Maple bowl.

Greg Pennington brought a fan-back white oak chair with a basswood seat and spindles turned from maple. The finish was milk paint.

Henry Davis brought 4 by 6 mantle picture frames from a plan in “Woodsmith” issue #154.  They had tops held on by 2 dowels and were double sided.

Dick Wollam had carved a group of dolphins playing over a driftwood “wave”.  The dolphins were carved from pine and stained with picked oak.

Felix Rees brought an oak necklace rack.

Geoff Roehm brought a bowl he had roughed out at the turning bee.

John Mayberry displayed a cherry side table he made for a granddaughter.

Jay Hazel discussed two stave bowls, one of Curly Birch, and the other of Purple Heart highlighted with hackberry.

Anthony Watts brought some picture frame molding to share with the members. He also brought a dressing wheel his grandfather made for his grinding stone.

Fred Heltsley showed us a new material by Certainteed.  It was a foam board which cuts like wood, but can be heated and bent for curved applications.

Tom Church brought and discussed pictures of a 7’6” square conference table he had built for the CEO of Target.  It was made out of salvaged Cypress.
 
 

How many times have you picked up your shop calculator and found it too dirty to read or use? Here is an easy solution to this annoying dilemma.

A small pocket calculator comes in handy in a workshop, and some woodworkers rely on one constantly. However, wood dust, moisture, and liquid spills can play havoc with a calculator's delicate workings. Place the calculator inside a clear, re-sealable sandwich bag and keep it there. You can still easily operate the calculator and read its display without worrying about damage from dust, debris, or fluids.

HAND PLANE: A tool for making long, wide flat boards into a lot of "uneven" surfaces and making a lot of "sweat" and "shavings" in the process. A good lesson to learn.....Let the chips fall where they may!!!

 

LINKS AND CONTACTS

We are trying to start a new service for club members. Your VP, Anthony Watts, has requested that we add some key local suppliers to the website to help members find items needed in the shop; for example:  belts and pulleys.

To accomplish this, we've changed the table of contents at the left and top of the home page from LINKS to LINKS AND CONTACTS.  We will, from time to time, add information on the Links and Contacts page based on members inputs.  If you find a place to purchase something pertaining to woodworking and would like to share that information with others, send an email to Loyd Ackerman with the details for inclusion.  We're not trying to replace the Yellow Pages; this is just for those special items and special contacts.
Information needed is:  Name, address, phone #, and website (if they have one) of the business and what you found them.

We strive to always keep the club membership roster listing up-to-date. If you have address, email or phone number changes, please contact Chuck Taylor (931-728-7086) or Jim Steadman (931-962-2940) so that your information can be updated in our membership listings. We are making a concentrated effort to keep our membership information current.