ST

Newsletter

February 2003 - April 2003
Greetings from the Editor
What A Great Rally

"Rally On The Rio" has celebrated its fourth year and it had the most attendance ever with increase in Registrations for Beginner Carving Classes. This is a good indication we have a new wave of carvers coming up and some very good ones.

It started out with two days of the nicest, warmest weather that you could hope for in the beautiful South Texas. Cold soda pop & water was the refreshments of the day until the third day and it was hot coffee from then on, as one of our occasional cold fronts blew in. It was coat weather from that time on; but, as you know cold weather does not stop the serious wood carvers. The fun just got better every day. This year we had more than 30 top of the line instructors. We had planned to include a wood turning demonstration; but, due to an accident he was not able to make it down to south Texas. He has assured us that he will be down next year.

Our instructors come from all over, some from great distances like Alaska, Florida and even a pyrographer from Wales.

The last day of our Rally ended with a carving contest that proved to be very entertaining.
Open winners
First Place - Carole Jean Boyd
Second - Charlie Johnson
Third - Tom Sarff

Intermediate
First Place - Toby Craft
Second - Gerry Shrader
Third - Sam Wilson

Novice First Place - Kathy Brunner
Second - Arlon Blocker
Third - Elaine Craft

First Blood Award Went to Charlie Johnson

The last day of the Rally we had a very delicious Bar-B Cue dinner catered to us while we enjoyed the music of Paul Martinez an entertainer who was inducted into the Americans Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in Iowa along with Jim Parres, Paul Flora, John Boyer, Paul Wilkerson all members of the South Texas Music Festival.

The dinner was followed by our final raffle of all items donated to the Rally by our generous Instructors, tool vendor, and students.

We ended the festivities by closing our "Rally On The Rio 2003". Everyone departed to their many far away places with a new carving or woodburning and a smile on there face.

Bye I'll See You Next Year!