January 17th Meeting Note

[Chuck in Ms]

Hopefully everyone enjoyed a safe and happy Holiday Season. Now is the time to focus our attention on the new forging opportunities that 2015 will offer. This promises to be a busy year and attendance to our monthly meetings will insure you are kept up to date with the many upcoming events this year.
Our first meeting will be at Buddy Leonard's shop in Covington Louisiana on Saturday January 17. It will begin at 10 a.m. with a business meeting to discuss the upcoming year. Chuck Robinson will provide an update on where we stand with the Blacksmith Helper workshop and other news will be discussed. Our demonstration will be on traditional Joinery Techniques and is geared so that beginners and more experienced members will all have a chance to learn something new while being inspired by the skill of our demonstrator. Following the theme of last years ABANA conference we will be studying more joinery in 2015. If you have been wanting to improve your joinery techniques, use this year to master these skills.
Ed Scafidel will be cooking up a delicious pot of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo while we work at the forges in the back. The lunch meal being prepared on site allows us to get ample forge time and work with plenty of folks who are willing to help refine our techniques. Your $5 donation helps offset the cost of the meal and keeps you in the forge longer. Thank Ed as you get your hot lunch on site.
Our Show and Tell will feature Stylish Handles. Last February Col. Russ demonstrated a Pineapple Twist for knife handles or any handled items you forge. Lets see what you learned. Bring those Pineapple Twists or any other forged handle you would like to show. Be prepared to discuss how you did it and ask others how they did theirs.
IITH should be interesting and fun. Don't forget to bring those donation items and purchase tickets for the raffle. This important part of our meeting is the main source of income for our Scholarship Fund. See Sid Gale to learn more about the Scholarship Program.
The library will be available for those wishing to check out or return DVDs. This is an important asset and a resource that everyone should use to improve skills at all levels. If there is a title we do not have that would benefit members please bring it to the attention of Larry House.