Joined a Carving Club!

[Ron Davidson]

I don't know if I mentioned it or not but I joined a carving club. The name of it is Great Plains Wood Carvers. I went to my first meeting on the 9th it was a dinner /business meeting they have every month. The next meeting is on the 23rd or next tuesday. It is a carve in and should be interesting. The only problem I have had is in getting there but so far the president of the club has been kind enough to come and pick me up. They seem like a real nice group and hope to be able to learn allot and contribute what little I can. I plan on taking a few of my carvings so they can see what I carve and how much help I need. I will let you know how it goes.
Ron

[Donna_T]

Hey Ron,
That's great. The members will be a great resource for you--and new friends, too. I'm going to be in Wichita (Park City)next weekend for a Monroe workshop, but am riding with someone else and won't have a way to get across town to say hi.

Hope you're staying warm...enjoy the club experience.

Donna T

[Ron Davidson]

Sorry I will miss you Donna. I think several of the club may be there at Park City. I heard some of them talking about it. I am trying to stay warm it's now a balmy 13 degrees up from 6 earlier. No carving again today.
Ron

[xsailer]

Hello Ron, glad to see the club thing worked out for you and I'm sure you will benefit from it. The working meeting later in the month will be the real learning experience. I'm looking forward to coming to the meetings when I get back home.
If it's up to 13 degrees I can easily understand why you're not carving in your shop.
I've been enjoying your relief pictures, keep it up.

[santagibbs]

Hi Ron.. IT's great that you are getting to join a carving club.. Oh how I wish we had one this area..what a great experience it would be for me...Somtimes I am tempted to put an ad in the paper to see if anyone would be interested.. Well, hey.. there might be some out there like me that are just wishing..the only problem, I wouldn't know a hoot about how one should be run..Does anyone out there have the experience of starting a club? Charlotte um... Bob , now that would be a good article in Wood Carving Illustrated.. or has it been done before? Just some pointers on starting a club.. Charlotte

[squbrigg]

Ron ..... that's a great idea, joining a club. it is really satisfying for you to have the encouragement and support of the members and for them to have to example you set, that there are few things in life that will deter a person who really wants to carve.

Charlotte ..... I just went through the process of establishing a small club, or carving group. Talk to your local newspaper and other carvers in your area to see if they can help you get started. Write up a short ad giving the basics and have it ready for the paper when they ask. I can e-mail the stuff I used to you and you can ammend it for your own needs if you like? (I'll need you e-mail address of course) That I write a column for our local newspaper certainly helped, but wasn't essential.

Let me know and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Bob

[wade clark]

Ron,
That's a great move. Both for you and the rest of the carvers in the group. I've found 2 clubs within an hour drive of me and as soon as I get caught up at home I plan on joining one. There's one on Wednesday eves and another Saturday mornings. I found them through Woodcraft Supply's website. When I get joined up, and get you to come visit, maybe we can go together to it. I'd like that.
Wade

[xsailer]

santagibbs,
FYI it takes absolutely NO experience to form a carving club. In fact it would be better I think sometimes to have no experience. The only thing you need is the desire and the will. They're others out there that will help and besides no organization is really needed except someone to name a place for fellow carvers to meet. You can make up your own rules as you want to. I've been a part of several organizations and believe me it only takes a few to run it. As you suggest there likely are others that would love to get together if somebody would just say so.

Go for it santagibbs and have fun. It is fun!

[bbowers]

Starting a "club" can be as easy as finding a place to meet & a group of people wanting to carve. Our club meets every tHursday night (except holidays) at our local senior center. We pay $25 a year to help donate to the center and have bought some starter tools and a sharpener. We have a beginner class once a year as interest warrants. It is pretty loose structure wise, but a great chance to carve for a couple hours every week. The sharing of talent amoung carvers is the best. I would encourage everyone to try a club.
Barry