May 2022 Newsletter
COMING MEETING: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 7:00 PM.
Location: Schramm Education Center (SEC).
Following meeting: September 13, 2022
Program: Social time following the business meeting.
PRESIDENTS NOTES: Where has the time gone? It is May and we are about to start the summer break. Lets’ hope the break will be uneventful so we can focus on getting outdoors to enjoy nature… and, of course, do some wildfowl carving.
Looking forward, we will use the summer to plan and complete some club projects. First we must put the finishing touches on the 2023 club calendar. For the most part, the calendar is finished. Just a few more pictures and proofing the text are in order. Ron Pigg plans to submit the final copy to the printers by mid summer.
Those of us who could come to the April meeting committed to working on the serenity garden project for Schramm Park. We will be carving the figures on cedar blocks provided by the park staff. If you want to be included in the project, we will have unfinished blocks at the meeting. It appears we will have until July to complete our part of the project.
We discussed the mini decoy show at the last meeting. It appears we will go back to a competitive event. We discussed making 2 levels so that the less experienced carvers will not need to compete with our master carvers. We will give more time to this discussion at the coming meeting.
Some of us sent carving to Salisbury, MD for the hybrid World Wildfowl Carving Championships. A few club winners names have been posted to the Ward website. We will report what we know about the show at this time. The early report from the show indicates Al Thomas and Norm Wise did well. Congratulations to all the 2022 World Show winners.
We have heard that a wall mounted display case has been purchased for Schramm Education Center. We understand we will be able to use the case alternately with other organizations to showcase some of the Club members’ work. Don Gabelhouse has volunteered to research other locations for a club sponsored display case. The main purpose of the display case is to promote wildfowl carving to the public.
We had the pleasure to view a short, informative Nebraska Game and Parks Commission video featuring Cliff Hollestelle carving decoys. I will not comment on the age of the video, but most of us had hair and it had color when this was filmed. Thanks to Jim Layman for acquiring this video for our use and archives.
In leu of a program this month, we will provide refreshments and take time to socialize before the summer break. Hope to see you at the meeting. Bring your latest carving to show and share.
Ron C.
Club Business:
Meeting agenda:
Welcome members and visitors.
Treasurer’s report.
Old business:
2023 Calendar update and discussion.
2022 CFDCC Mini Decoy Show.
New business:
Serenity Garden Project.
Requests for September short program.
World Show report.
Agenda additions:
Member’s carvings.
Adjourn.
Refreshments…
At the last meting….
2023 club calendar… Ron Pigg presented the latest calendar edition. With the exception of getting a few more photos, and some text editing, he is ready to send the edition to the printer.
We anticipate delivering the calendars to those who order them at the September or October meeting. Orders will be taken at this coming meeting. The exact cost per calendar will not be known until the order is placed with the printer.
CFDCC Mini Decoy show… We discussed the mini decoy show and its format. There is general agreement to bring back the competitive component. It is felt that competition motivates some carvers to enhance their work and to give recognition of improved art.
It was suggested that we have 2 carver levels or classes. One will be a level for Hall of Fame members and the other for all other members. More discussion will be added to the agenda for this coming meeting. It is anticipated we will incorporate the show into the member and family picnic this coming fall.
Ohio Decoy Carvers and Collectors Club… Bill Browne reported on the 2022 ODCC show. The show drew many nationally notable carvers, as well as may collectors. The show continues to innovate and attract the best carvers. Congratulations to ODCCA on another successful show.
Serenity Garden Project… Kelly Ekue provided 24 6 inch by 6 inch cedar blocks for us to carve Nebraska and Iowa flora and fauna figures on 2 faces. Eight blocks along with line drawings, were taken by members to work on. When completed, the blocks will be assembled into totems to be placed in secluded serenity gardens at Schramm Park as well as other NGP facilities.
Show and Competition news:
43rd Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Assn. show was held on March 18 - 20, 2022. 225 carvers/artists participated in 24 contests and entered 560 works of hand-made art.
CFDCC members’ results for the show:
Bill Browne: IWCA Gunning Decoys,
Mallard, 3rd place.,
Pintail 3rd place, Ringneck 3rd place.
Rest of Marsh, Decorative Wildfowl, Upland Game, Chukar, 2nd place.
Songbirds: Nuthatch, HM.
Don Gablehouse: Decorative Gadwall drake.
Ward World Wildfowl Championships: At this time we know Al Thomas won 2nd Best in Division in the feather category and, Norm Wise won Best in Division, Advanced Miniature birds of prey.
We think other CFDCC carvers were successful, but we have no official reports. Hopefully we will have a full report at the meeting.
Congratulations to our winners!
Miniature kestrel by Norm Wise.
Best in Division 2022 Ward World Wildfowl Carving Championships.
See ya at the meeting on May 10th.