April Meeting

 

Stones River Woodworkers 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 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th.

b.    The cost is $30 and includes lunch.

c.     The class on the 3^rd will be making Christmas ornaments.

d.    The class on the 10^th will be making a box with a ribbon.

e.    On the 17^th, 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 10^th.

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 6^th and 7^th.

                                                           ii.      June 13^th and 14^th

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 26^th, 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                           16^th 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 29^th, the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

16.  The monthly Hardees informal Breakfast meeting will be on May 6^th.

17.  Meeting adjourned by Sam Clarke at 8:09 pm.