Mid-Hudson Woodworkers and Kaatskill Woodturners Current Events

The Northeastern Woodworkers Association has lost a talented and good friend with the sudden death of Stan Rosenberg on Thursday May 28, 2009. Stan was first and foremost a woodturner but his talents as a woodworker and teacher were among his strongest assets. His quiet and gentle demeanor, his unfailing good humor and resistance to ever becoming upset are things we will always remember about Stan.
Stan was honored as Mid-Hudson Woodworkers "Member of the Year" in 2004 at the Fourth Annual Banquet. He was more than instrumental in helping the Adirondack Woodturners get started and then helped start the Kaatskill Woodturners when The Opdahls offered one of their buildings to provide a workshop area for Mid-Hudson members to use. He also helped start the first "Learn and Turn" classes for woodturning beginners.

And who can forget the "Practical Workshop" display that Mid-Hudson worked so hard to set up at Showcase 2004 so that it looked like the inside of an unfinished shop. The highlight was a photo of Stan arranged to look as though he was looking in a window from outside!

Stan had a way of letting you find your own answers to problems by gently leading you with clever questions and ideas. This was why he was such a good teacher. To say he will be missed is too trite a statement to use where Stan Rosenberg is concerned. We will all enjoy his legacy for as long as NWA exists!

What: Veneering Workshop
When: June 6, 2009 - 9AM to 12 Noon (more or less)
Where: Opdahl Building
Who: Al Shinker and Chuck Walker

Here is an opportunity to learn some basics of veneering both modern and ancient. Live demonstrations will be the means and interactions are welcome.

An outline of what will be covered:

What: Mid-Hudson Woodworkers Meeting
When: Thursday May 21, 2009 at 7:30PM
Where: Hurley Reformed Church, Hurley, NY

Who: Don Muth of Personal Energy Transportation (PET) International, an organization dedicated to providing means for personal mobility in poor and underdeveloped countries. PET has a number of local organizations dedicated to building and shipping a special vehicle developed by one of the founders. Don Muth manages a group in East Jewett, New York. The photos show one of the vehicles operated by hand and arm power and also the assembly shop at east Jewett. For more information go to:

www.petnyej.org/

The group is always open to volunteers and contributions. One interesting fact is that Don Muth was John Grossbohlin's mechanical drawing teacher in high school. Thanks to John for arranging this presentation. It should be interesting and informative.

We will also have our usual great Show and Tell and announcements of future happenings. Be sure to bring something to show!

The program for the meeting on Wednesday May 13 has been changed - same place, same time. Instead of heat treating of metals we will have a presentation by Jay Hockenbery of the Nutmeg Woodturners League that meets in New Milford, CT at the Brookfield Craft Center.

His topic will focus on natural edge bowls. The example at right should be enough to whet anyone's appetite!

In addition to his talents as a woodturner, Mr. Hockenbery has been instrumental in starting a pen turning activity in Ghana. Check out the link and read about his mission.

www.woodburyumc.net/mod/group/view.php?group_id=13

Let's hope he will talk some about this effort!

Pyroman is rescheduled for June unless rescheduled again.

What: Kaatskill Woodturners Meeting
When: Wednesday May 13, 2009 at 7:00PM
Where: Opdahl Building
Who: Chuck Walker

This madcap scientist and pyroman...er technician will present a program on heat treating tool steel. He will unveil the mysteries of this ancient art with a display of sparks and pyrotechnology that will bedazzle the eye and boggle the mind. A demonstration will be given of rough identification of certain steels by sparks from a grinding wheel . The principles of hardening and tempering tool steels will be explained with simple words and much arm waving. He will attempt to make a tool for separating captive rings on turnings as the product of all this mumbo jumbo.

Come see what this is all about. Be prepared to be awe-struck if not dumbfounded at this audacious attempt. Be sure to brush up on your fire extinguisher know-how!