December 2023 Newsletter
COMING MEETING: Tuesday, December 12, 2023
at 7:00 PM at Schramm Education Center, Schramm Park.
Following Meeting: January 9, 2024. Officer election and membership drive meeting.
Program: Holiday social time. Refreshments will be provided.
Presidents Notes: Greetings to all. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and that the remainder of your holiday season is equally joyful. As in the past we will provide refreshments and snacks at the upcoming meeting. Please join us in this opportunity to celebrate the season with your carving family.
As discussed at the November meeting, December is the month when we will be changing out the carvings in the Mahoney display case. Several members have already offered up carvings for display. However, if you haven’t replied yet there’s still time to get involved.
What would a newsletter be without discussion of the upcoming 2025 calendar edition? Please consider offering up some of your carvings for all to see. There are also a couple of other issues that need to be resolved. The first is that we need to decide who we might include for featured carver(s). Second would be changes we can make to the format to make its production easier. Please give this some thought so we can discuss it at the meeting.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone that in January we will elect new officers. Nominations are now open for consideration.
I look forward to seeing you all at the December meeting
Happy Carving, Kirk
Agenda for 12/12/2023
Welcome members and visitors.
Treasurer’s report. 2023 Club treasury report.
I. Old business:
1. 2024 calendar edition plan update. Ron Pigg.
2. Website and Collectors’ Corner page additions.
3. Display case update.
4. Library additions and requests.
II. New business:
1. 2024 Mini Decoy show discussion.
2. Add a web page for a photo gallery of members carvings.
III. Agenda additions:
IV. Member’s carvings.
V. Holiday cheer and fellowship.
VI. Adjourn.
At the last meeting…
Ron Pigg updated the members on the plan for the 2025 calendar.
We discussed featured carvers for the next edition(s). Names suggested were Al Thomas and Norm Wise. It was also proposed that we feature one carver in each version of the calendar. A final decision must be made soon… so, let us know your thoughts on members we want to feature in the next edition. Kirk will send out a signup sheet before the December meeting.
The overall plan is to streamline and simplify the production so that we can reduce the time to put the calendar together. More info to come at the January and February meetings.
Treasurer’s report… Norm gave a brief treasurer’s report. Most of the calendar order receipts have been collected and deposited. He will give an end-of-year report at the January meeting. There are no outstanding accounts due.
The 2023 IRS 990… form (Exempt Charitable Organizations) 501(c)3 status has been submitted and accepted.
Website Collectors’ Corner refresh… After discussion, Kirk will call Don Gabelhouse for more articles of interest on decoy collecting.
Library additions… Norm reminded the members we have added more study bills to the collection. We also have a collection of good mounts for carving reference. A complete list is posted on the CFDCC website on the Club Resources page.
A complete list of Tom Christie’s Youtube videos is available in a PDF document. Call or email Norm.
2024 CFDCC Mini decoy show/contest… We discussed several possible changes to the mini decoy show. Some of the suggested changes include a category for antique decoy replicas, delete the HOF category, and encourage more novice carver entries. After the discussion, the topic was tabled for the next meeting.
Mid-America Fall show report… Tom and Norm gave a brief report on CFDCC participation. Four club members manned the table and distributed the club brochure and visited with potential members. Club cost was $30. General agreement after discussion is to continue to participate if invited.
Display case update… Kirk lead a discussion on changes to the Mahoney display case and the recent changes to the Schramm case. An email will be sent out to solicit volunteers for the December to June Mahoney display period. We are keeping a file record of all loaned carvings for the two display cases.
The Schramm case carvings, which were installed in March, were replaced with new exhibits. Members loaning their carvings are Al Thomas, Bill Browne, Don Johnson, Dick Zechmann, and Steve Kohler.
Paul Satore presentation…. Paul’s presentation on antique decoy collecting was well received. Many in attendance requested follow-on presentations. We hope to have a recap of the presentation soon for those who could not attend.
Annual membership drive… January is the month we renew our membership to the club. You can pay $25 at the meeting or send your check to Norm Wise, 8502 So 101st St Lavista, NE 68128.
Upcoming course… Norm Wise will teach a 4 day dark-eyed junco songbird carving course from January 31 through February 3, 2024. It will be held at Mahoney State Park and cost is approximately $300 for the 4 days. This includes a pattern, wood cutout, class fee and, noon meals. The course is called the Nebraska Carvers Retreat hosted by Mid-America Woodcarvers Association. Maybe you know someone itching to get started in wildfowl carving. If so, contact Norm Wise for an application and registration form and more details.
FYI…
Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 16.
Every year, thousands of volunteers all across the country help count as many birds as they can in their own CBC circle between December 15 and January 5. Nebraska has many active circles across the state to help us learn more about the state’s birds in winter. Lincoln’s CBC coordinator is focusing on getting more people of all ages and abilities involved.
People of all ages and abilities can participate in this community science project by watching birds in the field, from their own window watching bird feeders, in a local park, or even at an accessible birding station.
For questions or to sign up, send an email to
Jason St. Sauver at [email protected]
Happy Holidays…Join the club for some holiday cheer, Tuesday Dec. 12.
at 7:00 PM at Schramm Education Center, Schramm Park.
Following Meeting: January 9, 2024. Officer election and membership drive meeting.
Program: Holiday social time. Refreshments will be provided.
Presidents Notes: Greetings to all. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and that the remainder of your holiday season is equally joyful. As in the past we will provide refreshments and snacks at the upcoming meeting. Please join us in this opportunity to celebrate the season with your carving family.
As discussed at the November meeting, December is the month when we will be changing out the carvings in the Mahoney display case. Several members have already offered up carvings for display. However, if you haven’t replied yet there’s still time to get involved.
What would a newsletter be without discussion of the upcoming 2025 calendar edition? Please consider offering up some of your carvings for all to see. There are also a couple of other issues that need to be resolved. The first is that we need to decide who we might include for featured carver(s). Second would be changes we can make to the format to make its production easier. Please give this some thought so we can discuss it at the meeting.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind everyone that in January we will elect new officers. Nominations are now open for consideration.
I look forward to seeing you all at the December meeting
Happy Carving, Kirk
Agenda for 12/12/2023
Welcome members and visitors.
Treasurer’s report. 2023 Club treasury report.
I. Old business:
1. 2024 calendar edition plan update. Ron Pigg.
2. Website and Collectors’ Corner page additions.
3. Display case update.
4. Library additions and requests.
II. New business:
1. 2024 Mini Decoy show discussion.
2. Add a web page for a photo gallery of members carvings.
III. Agenda additions:
IV. Member’s carvings.
V. Holiday cheer and fellowship.
VI. Adjourn.
At the last meeting…
Ron Pigg updated the members on the plan for the 2025 calendar.
We discussed featured carvers for the next edition(s). Names suggested were Al Thomas and Norm Wise. It was also proposed that we feature one carver in each version of the calendar. A final decision must be made soon… so, let us know your thoughts on members we want to feature in the next edition. Kirk will send out a signup sheet before the December meeting.
The overall plan is to streamline and simplify the production so that we can reduce the time to put the calendar together. More info to come at the January and February meetings.
Treasurer’s report… Norm gave a brief treasurer’s report. Most of the calendar order receipts have been collected and deposited. He will give an end-of-year report at the January meeting. There are no outstanding accounts due.
The 2023 IRS 990… form (Exempt Charitable Organizations) 501(c)3 status has been submitted and accepted.
Website Collectors’ Corner refresh… After discussion, Kirk will call Don Gabelhouse for more articles of interest on decoy collecting.
Library additions… Norm reminded the members we have added more study bills to the collection. We also have a collection of good mounts for carving reference. A complete list is posted on the CFDCC website on the Club Resources page.
A complete list of Tom Christie’s Youtube videos is available in a PDF document. Call or email Norm.
2024 CFDCC Mini decoy show/contest… We discussed several possible changes to the mini decoy show. Some of the suggested changes include a category for antique decoy replicas, delete the HOF category, and encourage more novice carver entries. After the discussion, the topic was tabled for the next meeting.
Mid-America Fall show report… Tom and Norm gave a brief report on CFDCC participation. Four club members manned the table and distributed the club brochure and visited with potential members. Club cost was $30. General agreement after discussion is to continue to participate if invited.
Display case update… Kirk lead a discussion on changes to the Mahoney display case and the recent changes to the Schramm case. An email will be sent out to solicit volunteers for the December to June Mahoney display period. We are keeping a file record of all loaned carvings for the two display cases.
The Schramm case carvings, which were installed in March, were replaced with new exhibits. Members loaning their carvings are Al Thomas, Bill Browne, Don Johnson, Dick Zechmann, and Steve Kohler.
Paul Satore presentation…. Paul’s presentation on antique decoy collecting was well received. Many in attendance requested follow-on presentations. We hope to have a recap of the presentation soon for those who could not attend.
Annual membership drive… January is the month we renew our membership to the club. You can pay $25 at the meeting or send your check to Norm Wise, 8502 So 101st St Lavista, NE 68128.
Upcoming course… Norm Wise will teach a 4 day dark-eyed junco songbird carving course from January 31 through February 3, 2024. It will be held at Mahoney State Park and cost is approximately $300 for the 4 days. This includes a pattern, wood cutout, class fee and, noon meals. The course is called the Nebraska Carvers Retreat hosted by Mid-America Woodcarvers Association. Maybe you know someone itching to get started in wildfowl carving. If so, contact Norm Wise for an application and registration form and more details.
FYI…
Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 16.
Every year, thousands of volunteers all across the country help count as many birds as they can in their own CBC circle between December 15 and January 5. Nebraska has many active circles across the state to help us learn more about the state’s birds in winter. Lincoln’s CBC coordinator is focusing on getting more people of all ages and abilities involved.
People of all ages and abilities can participate in this community science project by watching birds in the field, from their own window watching bird feeders, in a local park, or even at an accessible birding station.
For questions or to sign up, send an email to
Jason St. Sauver at [email protected]
Happy Holidays…Join the club for some holiday cheer, Tuesday Dec. 12.