We’re off and running! We had a good start to 2023 with a DAW meeting that had over 60 in attendance! That is a post pandemic record! Our demonstrator, Donna Frazier did a great job with her Demo on “The Turners Gambit”. Thank You Donna! We collected more bowls for the upcoming North Texas Food Banks “Empty Bowls” event. We had several people sign up for the Bowl a Month Club, the Pen a month club to benefit the Veterans Court Pen Project and Beads of Courage. Some BoC Kits are ready for distribution, if you would like to put one together and turn a BoC box a limited number are available.
I was honored to receive outstanding support from many club members and friends to sponsor the Bowl Turn a thon. I was able to meet my goal of turning fifty bowls in a 24-hour time frame. Exceeding my goal by turning 52. I finished the last one during Open shop right at Noon. In addition to adding 52 bowls for use at Empty Bowls event sponsors donated additional funds for our donation to Empty Bowls of over $1500. I will present these funds to the NTFB at the event. The “Empty Bowls” event will be held Thursday evening February 23rd from 6-9 PM. We have been granted a demonstration area outside in the garden on the West side of the Perot Family Campus. Set up will begin at noon and if you are available to help set up your assistance would be appreciated. If you wish to eat Tickets are $60 ea. and are available through the NTFB web site. If you are just volunteering to help with the DAW demonstration area and will not be eating, then there is no cost to you as a volunteer. Of course, our demonstration is weather dependent. If it’s too cold, too wet or too windy we may have to try again another time. I was happy to deliver 218 bowls to Trinity Ceramics, another partner with NTFB empty bowls. Bowls donated at the February meeting will be added to the 2023 donation as there may be a deficit in the bowls needed. Like our club the number of ceramic bowls made is down from previous pre-pandemic numbers, therefore every bowl is needed to meet what the NTFB thinks will be the number of people attending. Finally, I believe our goal for the 2024 Empty Bowls should be 250-300 bowls. I am confident that as a club we can reach this goal for the coming year. Your bowl, BoC boxes and Veterans Court Pen donations are valued and appreciated.
Dues: currently, we have 104 members who have paid their dues for the year. Please take the time to go to the webpage and renew your membership or join as a new member. The benefits far outweigh the cost. Discounts at area wood stores, access to the best library on wood turning anywhere, a chance to learn from other turners and preferred access to classes by Nationally known turners are just a few of the benefits of DAW membership. Look for class announcements coming soon! I look forward to seeing you at our club meetings, open shop and other events through the year. DAW is your club, and you will receive much more benefit than you put into it. We need more volunteers and people participating to be successful in our endeavors to educate people and promote the art of woodturning. Your support is vital and appreciated. One of the greatest things I have enjoyed as a DAW member over the years is the unselfish sharing of advice, techniques and encouragement to make me a better turner. There is always something new to learn. A wise man once said, “when the student is ready the teacher will appear”. As far as I can tell many of us are both students and teachers. Come learn, teach and enjoy our great group of wood turning enthusiasts. We are an affiliated member of the American Association of Woodturners and your membership in AAW is strongly encouraged. DAW & AAW are huge reservoirs of knowledge expertise and can enhance your experience as a wood turner no matter what level or type of turner you are or aspire to be. See You Soon! Turn Wood Touch Trees!
Kevin Bassett