This will be briefer than usual because obligations elsewhere piled up and time slipped by so in the interest of getting this out in time for the March 20 meeting here are things in a nutshell.

A total of 44 members attended the February meeting. We are continually bursting at the seams in the Woodcraft classroom. If all members should ever decide to attend a meeting we’ll have to adjourn to the parking lot. The fact that we are affiliated with Woodcraft has resulted in a lot of new members.

Discussion was held on the planned turning challenge using the wood that has been donated to the club. Jeff Mee suggested that the event not be a competition with prize money and Angelo Iafrate agreed that perhaps there could be another competition later on. The donated wood was distributed at the end of the meeting via a lottery system. Angelo also suggested that the gift certificates we received from Craftsupply be used in addition to $300-$400 from the treasury to purchase books and videos that members can borrow. It was moved, seconded and voted to purchase books and videos using finds from the treasury and the gift certificates. Angelo will recommend what to buy but other members are welcome to come forth with suggestions.

Ken D’Ambrosio, president, noted that it is too late for the club to enter the 2003 symposium with a project but that the club should try to do a project for 2004. Ideas for such a club project are welcome.

Ken also noted that the he will use his property in Wickford during the Wickford Art Festival to display and sell turnings. All club members are welcome to put items up for sale—the agreement is that 10 percent of all profits go to the Make a Wish Program. The art festival is the weekend after the Fourth of July.

Birdhouses wanted: Ken suggested that with spring (supposedly) coming, members think about making birdhouses as a Show & Tell project for March.

Larry Dunklee suggested that the Sears Craftsman lathe he donated to the couple a couple of years ago be auctioned off as a fundraiser.

The program was a slide presentation by Angelo on a Morrison Pillbox project he did for a customer. The pillbox is actually a trick device used by magicians and involved intricate turning to very close tolerances. It was a fascinating procedure demonstrated by Angelo’s slides (and yes he did his own photography to boot!). Nice job Angelo.

Among the Show & Tell entries were an Easter egg and cup out of mahogany and maple by Randy Miller; neat wine bottle stoppers and a plumb bob made out of Corian by Curtis Mason; a bowl and cup made out of apple by Jean Schwinn; hollow vases of sycamore and spalted maple by Peter Teubel who attended as a representative of the Association of Revolutionary Turners out of Woburn, Mass (their club meets the 4^th Thursday at Woodcraft in Woburn); Christmas ornaments made of thinly sliced walnuts by Emilio Iannuccillo; a lidded box by Denise Pratt; spindles by Dennis Hornik; maple and poplar fruit compote by Bill Smith; hollow turned vases of box alder  and black walnut by Ken (apologies if we forgot someone). Note: Many people have asked for Ken’s formula for finishing. It will be sent out in a separate e-mail.

We thank Mike Murray for the donation of Corian and maple blocks that was donated for a mini-raffle at the end of the meeting.