Stones River Woodwor
kers Club
Monthly
Meeting Minutes – April 22, 2025
Attendance: 45,
(including the guest speaker)
Guest
Speaker: Dan Voight
Subjects: Making
Mandolins
1.
Meeting called to
order by club President, Sam Clark, at 6:31 pm.
2.
We had three
visitors at the April meeting:
a.
Chris Barton
b.
Tony Vicari,
(Alex Marshall Father-in-law)
c.
Dan Voight,
(Speaker)
3.
Jeanne and Barry
will be conducting Scroll Saw classes in May.
a.
The classes are
scheduled for May 3rd, 10th, and 17th.
b.
The cost is $30
and includes lunch.
c.
The class on the
3rd will be making Christmas ornaments.
d.
The class on the
10th will be making a box with a ribbon.
e.
On the 17th,
they will be making a compound-cut, 3-D ornament
f.
All classes will
start at 9:30 am.
g.
They will make
other projects as time allows
h.
There are 2
openings left on the 10th.
i.
Scroll saws will
be provided.
j.
Members should
bring their own eye and dust protective gear.
4.
Gene Casto will
be conducting two classes on Segmented Bowl Turning
a.
Each class will
last for 2 days:
i.
June 6th
and 7th.
ii.
June 13th
and 14th
b.
Members will need
to provide a section of dark wood and the measurement from their miter track to
their saw blades on their individual table saws.
i.
This is to
facilitate a custom fit sled that they will build and utilize to cut the bowl
segments.
c.
They will also
build an adjustable segment length gauge.
d.
The class will be
in Gene’s shop and be held rain or shine.
5.
The club would
like to sponsor additional classes.
a.
If any member has
skills that they would like to share, then they are encouraged to step up and
volunteer to teach a class.
6.
Free wood is
offered from the grounds of the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, Tennessee.
a.
A 6’ diameter
sugar maple that was recently felled, is available to SRWC members
i.
They have to come
and cut it up and remove it.
7.
Bruce Currie has
some free wood available to club members.
a.
He has various
species available
b.
It is 4-5 years
dried and stacked.
c.
He may sponsor a
Club event to manage the dispersion, such as a breakfast meeting.
8.
It was announced
that a date has been chosen for the Club Picnic
a.
The date is July
26th, and will be in our regular meeting room from 11:00am till
4:00pm.
b.
Members should
bring a side dish or dessert.
c.
The Club will
provide BBQ, drinks and eating utensils/paper ware.
d.
Members should
consider donating items to the Club for their annual silent auction, which will
coincide with the picnic.
e.
Membership dues
do not cover all our expenses for the Club, and the auction is our only annual
fundraiser.
f.
If you want to
donate something and will need it to be moved or stored, the Club will
accommodate that.
9.
This weekend is
Pioneer Days at Canonsburg.
a.
The Club will
have a tent set up for the event.
b.
We are looking
for people to display items that they have made and/or want to sell during the
event.
c.
Members may also
do some limited demonstrations of woodworking skills.
i.
Electrical power
is available for our booth.
d.
Members are asked
also if they are available to man the tent a portion of the time.
10. Gregg Peay mentioned a friend of his and Lou Ferraro’s,
who is associated with an organization called, “Healing Waters.”
a.
This group works
with disabled veterans to teach them the skill of fly-fishing.
b.
They are asking
if anyone would be interested in making fly-fishing nets for the disabled
veterans.
i.
If anyone is
interested, see Gregg or Lou.
11. Gregg also mentioned that he knows someone whose
husband passed recently, and wants to sell his tools, including a Rigid lathe, Skil
bandsaw and Harbor Freight drill press.
12. Show and Tell
a.
Gregg Peay Wooden Puzzles
b.
Robert Musgrove Bottle Opener, Wine Stopper
c.
Mike Zinser Chess Board/Chess
Set
d.
Jeanne Altstadt Scroll Saw Christmas
ornaments, Cross, Jesus, 3-D Coyote/Cactus
e.
Sam Parnell Oval Shaker Box
f.
Barry Meier Several Scroll Saw
Ornaments
g.
Alex Marshall Natural vases, Cheese
Dome
h.
Chris Barton 16th
Century Writing Slope
i.
Gene Casto Laser Engraved
Tennessee Flags
j.
Myra Orton Mother of Pearl,
Lidded, Inlaid boxes.
13. Myra Orton announced that there are a few spots left
for the class that she will be teaching at the Appalachian Center for the
Crafts.
14. Vice President Jason Moore introduced our Guest
speaker, Dan Voight, who will speak about his journey in learning to make
mandolins, and to play them.
a.
Dan has received
his degree in Mandolin music and moved to Nashville in 2011.
b.
He currently
makes mandolins for sale. He also does
mandolin repairs and restoration, and occasionally plays music in various
venues locally.
c.
A custom built
mandolin sells for $6k to $12k, depending on the model chosen and accoutrements
selected.
15. The next meeting will be on May 29th, the
Tuesday after Memorial Day.
16. The monthly Hardees informal Breakfast meeting will be
on May 6th.
17. Meeting adjourned by Sam Clarke at 8:09 pm.