Starting a Carving Club

[Jim Arnold]

I was recently approached by someone who asked me to help with starting a carving club. They already have a nice venue (in a 1920's bank that has been totally retrofitted to serve as an art center for the area).

Having no idea about how to start something like this, I thought I'd come to the source and ask for help.

What makes for a good woodcarving club? For you folks that have any experience with clubs and guilds, what aspects do you like best and/or least?

All thoughts appreciated...thanks everyone.

Best to All,

Jim

[TreeWizard]

Well several ideas that have been successful with clubs I'm familiar with have been:
1. A yearly auction of unwanted or unused items with proceeds going to the club treasury. This has always been a fun event especially with a good auctioneer.

2. Occasional contest to carve say a mushroom in 30 minutes. We never do anything complex so as not to discourage new carvers.

3. Have an online newsletter with pictures of work the members bring to meetings.

4. Our club supports a local Renisance Fair and supplies carvers for demonstrations.

5. If you can get some help, a yearly show open to the public. If you can have some carvers demonstrating at the show it can bring in new menbers.

I'm sure others have a lot more ideas.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I would think if you were able to offer some kind of carving classes that would help attract people, especially new carvers.

Dave

[Mitchell]

I'm not really directly answering your question... but it may lead into an answer.

It all depends on what the prospective members want the club to be about.

You can form an 'unorganized' club just for carving.... meeting for the sole purpose of carving together with a crowd. You could still invite carvers for lessons or special programs.

On the other end of that scale, you can form an organized club with By-laws, business rules, Board members, charter members, etc. for a more function-based group. These work well for sponsoring shows, etc. -- Especially if money (treasurer) is involved.

Hickory (Catawba Valley Woodcarvers) has a club that's near you that's well organized.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Jim... If you haven't already done so try searching past threads on this forum in regards to starting a club. There have been a number of informative and if I remember right even heated discussions.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Heated discussions on this forum Eddy ? No way

Dave

[Simplyme]

I always though a carving group was somewhere you could go sit around with other carvers and just chat and carve and drink lots of coffee, maybe pick up a few pointers. Something simple like that. A place were everyone knows your name

[TreeWizard]

Simply: It certainly can be that, we had our meeting last night and the business portion lasted 6 minutes.

[Simplyme]

Originally Posted by TreeWizard

Simply: It certainly can be that, we had our meeting last night and the business portion lasted 6 minutes.

Thats what i'm talking about. I'm also located in New York, But I'm in New York City. Bet you there was alot of coffee involved?

[Ed Redwine]

Jim: To get something started here in my home town, I first approached the Senior Center and secured a spot.
Next, I had the local paper run an article stating that woodcarving would be offered and anyone interested was invited to attend the initial meeting.
Well, the turnout was pretty good and after a few months settled down to a few guys that were interested in carving.
We are unorganized in that there is no need for us to have officers or any structured organization. We just meet, carve, clean up and go home.
You are in North Carolina which is the home of a large number of excellent carvers and some pretty darn good clubs. Maybe some of these folks will give you some more ideas.
Good Luck....