March 2024 Newsletter
COMING MEETING: March 12, 2024.
Time: 7:00 PM.
Location: Schramm Park Education Center.
President’s Notes:
Greetings everyone. I want to start off by thanking everyone for electing me to another term as your President. The last year has been interesting and it’s hard to believe it has passed so quickly. Guess that’s what happens when you have a Club with such great members. Speaking of great members, I want to thank Norm for staying on as Secretary/Treasurer. Without his help and guidance I don’t think I could have pulled it off.
We have a few things going on:
- We will have a visitor at the April meeting. Ron Cisar was a science teacher with the Omaha Public School system. Ron has extensive birding experience and will be discussing his field guide. Thanks to Lon and Jean Berndt for setting this up.
- If you get a chance check out the Collectors Corner section of the website. The article “Nebraska Made” has been added. In addition, another article, “A Timeline Tale of Factory Blue-Winged Teal Decoys” has be added. This article is reprinted with the permission of the author, John Ockerbloom and Russ Goldberger.
- There are several other articles that we have come across which are being considered for addition to the Collectors Corner page. However, if you have any ideas of what you’d like to see, let us know. We want to make sure that additions to the website reflect what you are interested in.
- Don Gabelhouse has a couple things he’s been working on for us which might result in presentations at future meetings. In addition, we might even have a shot at a magazine article. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks Don for your help.
Last but not least, a plug for Nebraska Game and Parks. After an extended period of time, the restaurant at Mahoney State Park will be up and running starting March 15th. Hoping that things go well for them. If you’re in the area check it out.
Happy Carving Kirk
Meeting agenda: Meeting agenda (3/12/2024):
Welcome members and visitors.
I. Treasurer’s report. 2023 Club treasurer’s report.
II. Old business:
1. 2024 calendar edition plan update. Ron Pigg.
2. Website and Collectors’ Corner page additions.
3. Library requests.
III. New business:
1. 2024 Mini Decoy show discussion.
2. Web page addition and changes.
3. April Program
IV. Agenda additions:
V. Member’s carvings.
VI. Adjourn.
At the February Meeting…
Officers reelected. Kirk Pfeffer and Norm Wise were unanimously elected to another term as President and Secretary-Treasured respectively.
Calendar update. Ron Pigg gave a brief overview of the organization of the 2025 calendar. Here are the highlights:
The target for completion and submission to the printer is July. Ron asked each carver send a brief biography to him ASAP. The focus of the biography should be on carving career and participation in club activities.
We previously discussed looking for an alternate printer. Jim Layman checked with the printer used by his church. Jim received a price which was a fair amount higher than what we are currently paying. After discussion the decision was made to stay with our current printer.
Norm will continue to photograph carvings at the next 3 meetings. Or, you may contact Norm to make an appointment to photograph your carving for the calendar. Contact info for Ron and Norm will be included with this newsletter.
Mini decoy contest…The 2024 Mini decoy contest was discussed.
It has been proposed we add a category for antique or heritage decoys. This category will feature mini decoys that represent the heritage of the decoy art.
We will bring a proposed updated guideline to the next meeting for consideration.
Hall Of Fame update… The HOF committee met to consider new members and discuss possible changes to the selection guidelines.
Ron Cleveland and Don Gabelhouse were selected for admission to the Club Hall of Fame. Ralph Stutheit was selected for posthumous admission.
Minor word changes were made to the HOF preamble and selection criteria. These will be presented at the coming meeting. After review, the changes will be posted on the Club website.
We will plan to hold an HOF admission ceremony at the May meeting.
Website update…
Norm announced a new article would be added to the Collectors’ page. This 2008 Nebraskaland Magazine article is titled “NEBRASKA MADE” and written by John Farrar, Larry Peterson, and Gary Zuruba. It features a review of decoys made in Nebraska as early as late 19th century decoys. Nebraskaland Magazine gave permission to reprint this article. You may read the article by going to our website Collectors’ page then download the article in PDF format.
Club history… Ed Svoboda continues to build our club historical binders with new (and some old) articles, photos and records. He will bring the binders to the next meeting.
Interest Program… Lon Bernth suggested we contact Ron Cisar and ask him to make a presentation at the April meeting. Kirk asked Lon to contact Mr. Cisar.
At this writing, Mr. Cisar has agreed to come to our April meeting and present a program on birds and his field guide to selected bird species of North American. We will provide more info on the program and Ron Cisar in the next newsletter.
Coming Shows and competition…
45th Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association Vintage Decoys & Wildlife Art Show and Sale…
March 16 - 17, 2024. Look for more info at www.odcca.net and in our coming newsletters.
Wildfowl Carving Online Championships will return in 2024. The Dates and Prize Sponsors for the 2024 Competition will be announced after the first of the year. This is an online competition and should not be confused with the Ward Foundation Wildfowl Carving Championships.
53rd Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival… will be held on April 26 to 28, 2024 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, MD.
See the World’s best wildfowl art!
Dues are due… You may pay your 2024 dues at the meeting or send $25 to Norm Wise.
Contact info:
Ron Pigg [email protected]. 402 216-3967
Norm Wise. [email protected]. 402 320-2947
8502 South 101 St. Lavista, NE. 68128
2025 Calendar sneek peek…. Photos below
Ron Cleveland… decorative decoy with combed feather detail.
Aemal Khattak…decorative smoothie shoveler drake. See ya at the meeting on the 12th.
Time: 7:00 PM.
Location: Schramm Park Education Center.
President’s Notes:
Greetings everyone. I want to start off by thanking everyone for electing me to another term as your President. The last year has been interesting and it’s hard to believe it has passed so quickly. Guess that’s what happens when you have a Club with such great members. Speaking of great members, I want to thank Norm for staying on as Secretary/Treasurer. Without his help and guidance I don’t think I could have pulled it off.
We have a few things going on:
- We will have a visitor at the April meeting. Ron Cisar was a science teacher with the Omaha Public School system. Ron has extensive birding experience and will be discussing his field guide. Thanks to Lon and Jean Berndt for setting this up.
- If you get a chance check out the Collectors Corner section of the website. The article “Nebraska Made” has been added. In addition, another article, “A Timeline Tale of Factory Blue-Winged Teal Decoys” has be added. This article is reprinted with the permission of the author, John Ockerbloom and Russ Goldberger.
- There are several other articles that we have come across which are being considered for addition to the Collectors Corner page. However, if you have any ideas of what you’d like to see, let us know. We want to make sure that additions to the website reflect what you are interested in.
- Don Gabelhouse has a couple things he’s been working on for us which might result in presentations at future meetings. In addition, we might even have a shot at a magazine article. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks Don for your help.
Last but not least, a plug for Nebraska Game and Parks. After an extended period of time, the restaurant at Mahoney State Park will be up and running starting March 15th. Hoping that things go well for them. If you’re in the area check it out.
Happy Carving Kirk
Meeting agenda: Meeting agenda (3/12/2024):
Welcome members and visitors.
I. Treasurer’s report. 2023 Club treasurer’s report.
II. Old business:
1. 2024 calendar edition plan update. Ron Pigg.
2. Website and Collectors’ Corner page additions.
3. Library requests.
III. New business:
1. 2024 Mini Decoy show discussion.
2. Web page addition and changes.
3. April Program
IV. Agenda additions:
V. Member’s carvings.
VI. Adjourn.
At the February Meeting…
Officers reelected. Kirk Pfeffer and Norm Wise were unanimously elected to another term as President and Secretary-Treasured respectively.
Calendar update. Ron Pigg gave a brief overview of the organization of the 2025 calendar. Here are the highlights:
- We will produce 2 calendars.
- The featured carvers will be Al Thomas in calendar 1 and Norm Wise will be featured in calendar 2.
- Both editions will include a Collector’s page, Hall of Fame Page, and a Mini Decoy Contest photo page.
The target for completion and submission to the printer is July. Ron asked each carver send a brief biography to him ASAP. The focus of the biography should be on carving career and participation in club activities.
We previously discussed looking for an alternate printer. Jim Layman checked with the printer used by his church. Jim received a price which was a fair amount higher than what we are currently paying. After discussion the decision was made to stay with our current printer.
Norm will continue to photograph carvings at the next 3 meetings. Or, you may contact Norm to make an appointment to photograph your carving for the calendar. Contact info for Ron and Norm will be included with this newsletter.
Mini decoy contest…The 2024 Mini decoy contest was discussed.
It has been proposed we add a category for antique or heritage decoys. This category will feature mini decoys that represent the heritage of the decoy art.
We will bring a proposed updated guideline to the next meeting for consideration.
Hall Of Fame update… The HOF committee met to consider new members and discuss possible changes to the selection guidelines.
Ron Cleveland and Don Gabelhouse were selected for admission to the Club Hall of Fame. Ralph Stutheit was selected for posthumous admission.
Minor word changes were made to the HOF preamble and selection criteria. These will be presented at the coming meeting. After review, the changes will be posted on the Club website.
We will plan to hold an HOF admission ceremony at the May meeting.
Website update…
Norm announced a new article would be added to the Collectors’ page. This 2008 Nebraskaland Magazine article is titled “NEBRASKA MADE” and written by John Farrar, Larry Peterson, and Gary Zuruba. It features a review of decoys made in Nebraska as early as late 19th century decoys. Nebraskaland Magazine gave permission to reprint this article. You may read the article by going to our website Collectors’ page then download the article in PDF format.
Club history… Ed Svoboda continues to build our club historical binders with new (and some old) articles, photos and records. He will bring the binders to the next meeting.
Interest Program… Lon Bernth suggested we contact Ron Cisar and ask him to make a presentation at the April meeting. Kirk asked Lon to contact Mr. Cisar.
At this writing, Mr. Cisar has agreed to come to our April meeting and present a program on birds and his field guide to selected bird species of North American. We will provide more info on the program and Ron Cisar in the next newsletter.
Coming Shows and competition…
45th Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association Vintage Decoys & Wildlife Art Show and Sale…
March 16 - 17, 2024. Look for more info at www.odcca.net and in our coming newsletters.
Wildfowl Carving Online Championships will return in 2024. The Dates and Prize Sponsors for the 2024 Competition will be announced after the first of the year. This is an online competition and should not be confused with the Ward Foundation Wildfowl Carving Championships.
53rd Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival… will be held on April 26 to 28, 2024 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, MD.
See the World’s best wildfowl art!
- Attend seminars and classes by master carvers for artists of all skill levels.
- Shop from a wide variety of vendors for fine artwork, home decorations, art supplies, and more…
- Become a Competitor. Read more. Click here.
- The Ward foundation is asking members to submit carvings for a special exhibit during the 2024 show. We will bring more info to this meeting.
Dues are due… You may pay your 2024 dues at the meeting or send $25 to Norm Wise.
Contact info:
Ron Pigg [email protected]. 402 216-3967
Norm Wise. [email protected]. 402 320-2947
8502 South 101 St. Lavista, NE. 68128
2025 Calendar sneek peek…. Photos below
Ron Cleveland… decorative decoy with combed feather detail.
Aemal Khattak…decorative smoothie shoveler drake. See ya at the meeting on the 12th.