ST

Newsletter

February 2002 - April 2002
Greetings from the Editor
WE DID IT AGAIN

Rally On the Rio was an enormous Success. We had more student, more fun, beautiful weather and great instructors.

There were a total of 270 Students and 34 instructors. Each was presented a tee shirt with a Rally On The Rio Instructor Patch. There were instructors for all levels starting with those who never held a carving knife or tool, to those who were looking for ways to improve their already talented carving skills. We had some truly heavy hitters such as Rex Branson, Stu Martin, Wanda Marsh, Cheryl Dow, Carole Jean Boyd, John Engler, Elaine & Fred Stenman, Lee Roy Berry and many more great instructors.

The variety of instructors made it a hard decision for the students. There were Santas, wood spirits, Carolina Wren, Indians, Mountain men, Flowers hibiscus, iris and Roses, 4" to 24" caricatures of all kinds from Ladies to fisherman, Woodburning scenery to animals and everything in between, bolo ties, animal busts, clay sculpture, choice of many different human and animal figures, chip Carving, low, med and high relief carving, Fish, Duck and cotton wood bark carving and we even learned to paint.

Once again Tom Sarff provided a diversity of many beginner projects to help beginner carvers learn the correct way to carve in a humorous way.

This year the Weather was very nice no long johns were needed. Donuts and Coffee was a main attraction in the morning with classes starting at 8AM most like myself made it to the Rally before morning coffee.

There were a large variety of blanks available for sale as instructors brought in all they teach,

Brenda again catered a lunch at a low price and a large number of Rally participants took advantage

During the Rally several courses were available for the non carvers making a crazy quilt vest, learning to do cro-hook, making a variety of rag rugs in heart, square, or round forms , Painting nutcrackers, bird houses, and a variety of other items , making roses from pop cans. Great way to recycle.

The last day of the Rally started at 10.00AM with a carving contest conducted by Bill Williams it was a no holds barred contest. You pick your wood from a box of different kinds and different sizes, next you make your masterpiece using any tool you wish. Carvers were divided into three groups, Novice never carved in a carving contest, Intermediate those who won in a carving contest, Advanced the Big Boys and Girls

Novice: 1- Bob Parke 2- Jack Fox 3- Lee Berry
Intermediate: 1- Allen Carmicheal 2- Charlie Johnson 3- Gerry Schider
Advanced: 1- Carole Jean Boyd 2- Jake Heugel 3- Jerry Lee
And our prestigious award for first blood went to Allen Carmicheal.

Judges had a difficult time. The criteria was no saw marks, originality, difficulty, using complete piece of wood. Judges were Joan Newton, Lorraine Roberge, Toby Craft, George Vaughn, Ralph Garrett and Elaine Craft.

After the Carving contest came the Raffle for all of us who had purchased loosing tickets during the week. We had many winners of blanks, food tickets, tools, fishing trips, dolphin watch trips, rough-outs, books, and many other nice items. I wish to thank all who donated to our Raffle.

A catered Bar-B Cue or as we call it in South Texas "a Pachanga", time to say goodbye to all our old friends and our many new friends and put an end to our fun filled week of carving. We all look forward to the next Rally when we all get together again.

Again, I wish to thank the volunteers that worked so hard - Max Blanchard at the reception Desk who sat there all week and did not complain - Maxine who handled the reservations of students and the RV parking - Toby Craft for the Raffle donations - and all those who helped sell tickets. A huge "Thank You" for the Ladies in the lunch room - Grate Job.

Edinburg Museum Demonstration

Edinburg Historical Museum invited us to demonstrate carving. I wish to thank Fernando Gutierrez, Lorraine Roberge, Charlie Heinz, Toby Craft, and a special thanks to Charlie Johnson who carved little dogs and gave them to the children.

Show
By Margaret Cawood

The Rio Grande Valley Woodcarvers of Texas held their annual Show and Sale at the Civic Center in McAllen on the 18th and 19th of January. Stu Martin did a very good job as Show Judge. He had close to 250 entries to examine and grade.

Fred McMillen’s pair of ducks was awarded the Best of Show Ribbon; Claude Rousseau’s Stagecoach and team were judged People’s Choice by the visiting Public.

Marilyn Heine again headed the Silent Auction table and her efforts were repaid by a very respectable showing of carvings and worthwhile bids.

Our Show attendance was down again. The main reasons for this, we feel, was the bright and sunny weather and the large number of attractions in the area for the group of people who attend the show, mainly the Winter Texas in the Valley. We again had excellent newspaper, TV, radio, and local advertising, but it just didn’t pay off this time. We hear of dropping interest in Carving Shows almost nation wide, so I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised.

Show Results, 1st through Honorable Mention:

Relief, Nature Scenes: Jerry Enama, Asher Schanck (no 3 or HM)
Relief, Urban Landscape and Buildings: Arbra Davis; Jerry Enama ( no 3 or HM)
Relief, Animals, Birds, etc.: Bonnie Berkihiser; Jerry Enema; Gordon Carls; George Johnson
Relief, People Involvement: Weldon Johnson; Harold Olds; Darlene Everson; Asher Schanck
Animals In the Round
Realistic, Roughout: Lawrence Dick; Weldon Johnson, Vickie Gillenwater; Jack Cawood
Realistic, Non-roughout: Pete Blansit; Lee Berry; Claude Knuth; Eldred Scholes
Caricature: Charlie Johnson; Margaret Cawood; David von Doehren; Jack Cawood
Group: Weldon Johnson; Lee Berry; Bill Greene
Class Work: Jake Heugel ( no 2nd through HM)
Human Figure in the Round
Realistic, non-roughout: Herb Bartlett; Bill Greene; William Anderson
Caricature: Arbra Davis; Charlie Johnson; Jake Heugel; Ray Isom
Bust, roughout: Charles Brook; Bob Henderson, Ray Isom, Lee Lufkin
Bust, non-roughout: Tom Hagney; Thomas Henke, Harold Olds, Asher Schanck
Group: William Anderson; Asher Schanck ( No 3 or HM)
Class Work: Bob Henderson, Pete Blansit, Joe Murphy, Merle Orlowski
Birds in the Round
Waterfowl and Shorebirds: Weldon Johnson, Jim Delso; Terry Shanafelt; Ray Isom
Prey: Jim Delso; Bob Lane, Fred McMillen; Dean Kerl
Songbirds: Evelyn Beck; Milton Smith; Terry Shanafelt; Sharon Hurst
Groups: Fred McMillen; Jim Delso; Milton Smith; Claude Knuth
Upland Game: Jim Delso ( No 2nd through HM)
Class: Jim Delso; Vickie Gillenwater; Gary Roberts
Stylized: Bill Greene, Charles Brooks, Gordon Carls, Harry Pringnitz
Fish in the Round: Joe Murry; Evelyn Beck; Bill Greene
Single Carousel Animal: Milton Smith ( No 2nd through HM)
Knife Carving
Chip Carving: Joyce Cook; Gary Roberts; Margaret Barry; Claudie Adkins
Whittling: Merle Clark; Richard Anderson; George Johnson; Harry Leibold
Groups, Mixed Subjects: Claude Rousseau; Harry Leibold