TRI-VALLEY WOODCARVERS, California Carvers Guild, Chapter 5
CCG Mission Statement: Teaching, Sharing, Promoting the Art of Woodcarving
Carving groups and carving classes are held at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566. Every Tuesday and Thursday, 9AM till 4PM drop-in. Arrive when you can and leave when you want too.
2026 Officers. Click to see the list.
PRESIDENT: Bob Kehl
VICE PRESIDENT: Ken Morgan
RECORDING SECRETARY: Don Bott
CORSP. SECRETARY: Paul Fackler
TREASURER: Claudia Fernandes
EDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave Boles
CCG ADVISOR: Dave Boles
CCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave Boles
SHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt Alfred
WEB MASTER: Carol Salinger
Next Meeting – Feb. 14 – 9:00 am – 12:00 noon @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1020 Mocho Street, Livermore. (Same place as the Christmas party)
Zoom sessions every Mon at 7-8 pm.
From The Pres By Bob Kehl
Happy February TVC! This month, on the 14th, is a very special day honoring our loved ones – Valentine’s Day. As defined by Wikipedia, the day was first associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion on which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines“). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. How about getting your creative juices going and carving something “of Heart” for your Sweetheart?
I have a couple of items to mention to you:
TVC Business meeting February 14th
We will have our first business meeting in the new year on February 14th 9-12pm at the fellowship hall at the Holy Cross Lutheran church at 1020 Mocho Street in Livermore. We will be discussing/approving the TVC budget, discussing possible classes, and an election of officers. We have several new members to meet and get acquainted with, so make sure you attend.
TVC 2026 Annual Budget
The annual planned budget for 2026 needs some work! Claudia Fernandes & I divided the budget into two categories, as was done in previous budgets, separating the regular club operating expenses from show incomes/expenses. Looking at the total 2026 plan, we should come out at the end of the year with a minus mostly due to the high cost of the show venue. The positive side of the budget still provides growth in membership and promoting carving in the community with our annual show and teaching. Some of the money comes from an assumed increase of 10% in new members and donations from our school teachings. A lot of hope for more in income will come from a grant proposal we put forth last week. We will look at budget questions and approval at the February meeting.
RAFFLE PRIZES FOR THIS YEAR’S SHOW:
At this month’s meeting, we need to discuss getting started on this year’s show raffle prizes. We should decide again to limit our raffle prizes to 5 items this year, as we did last year. These items can be from any of the following categories: WOOD CARVINGS, BURNINGS, TURNINGS, TOOLS, or GIFTBASKETS/GIFT CERTIFICATES. We have had several members’ volunteer items for the show. All items will be welcome; we are hoping to receive these items as soon as possible, so that we will have photos/descriptions for our brochures to begin selling raffle tickets at all our upcoming events, such as the Alameda County Fair, Art under the Oaks, and other events or demos. The success of this process will depend on selling tickets early in the year before, as well as during our show in September.
Election of officers:
Every two years we have an election of officers. This is a formality of our bylaws. The officers are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Advisor. If you are interested in any of these positions, please present your nominations at the February 14th meeting or to the present officers prior to the meeting. We need to make sure nominees are willing to run for the office to which they are nominated. We will finalize the nominations and hold elections at the February 14th meeting.
Annual dues:
Dues are due as of the end of February.
Senior Center – Pleasanton
Below are members who attend our Thursday sessions. We’re started to see 8-9 carvers on Thursday’s and hope to add a few more before Summer. Would like to see more pictures from our Tuesday carvers where up to 15-17 carvers show up.
Bob Kehl – “Dancers” One piece of basswood. Started several years ago and recently pulled off the shelf to be finished. Bob is the TVC’s President and opens the Sr. Center Woodshop every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 AM. Bob is also one of the main participants in teaching carving to outside groups who’d like to learn carving such as the 4h, Scouts, Home Schooled groups, etc.
Ken Morgan working on his “Tasmanian Devil” automata. Ken is the V.P. of the TVC, turning out new projects all year long while selflessly providing help and guidance to any and all carvers who ask for help. He helps teach 4H, Home Schooled groups, and other groups that ask the TVC to teach their group about carving.
Below, Loren Jensen working on one of his “bust” carvings. Getting ready for the Vic Hood class at Oakhurst. In the middle is Tim Geiger’s low relief carving which he finished just this week. On the left is Carol Salinger working on a “Grandma”, a rough out from a Ellensburg, Ore. class by Ryan Olsen. The picture in front of her is specifically Grandma’s “apron”, which is the area she’s working on.
The Last Word
Hope you’ve read this far. We’re in the process of updating and hopefully improving our website and our newsletter. Please be patient, and it wouldn’t hurt to hear a few more members asking “What can I do to help?”
Maybe a first step would be to attend the TVC Meeting on Feb. 14 in Livermore (see address at top of newsletter). There’s a lot of effort that goes into just making sure the Sr. Center workshop is taken care of, wood is available, monitors are present, and that patterns and research material is there at the Sr. Center for your use. So please, join us on Feb. 14, if for no other reason than to thank those who make your carving experience more enjoyable.