Tri-Valley Carvers Post published: April 7, 2026 Post category: Newsletters Post comments:1 Comment From The Pres: Bob Kehl  As spring approaches, many members are considering new carvings, travel opportunities, and RV excursions. Regarding upcoming trips, although I do not have an exact count, a small group of TVC carvers will attend the Oakhurst Rendezvous once again. This marks the 17th annual event, and participants anticipate enjoying camaraderie, engaging activities, and learning innovative carving techniques. The event runs from Sunday, April 19th through the 25th; please act promptly if you wish to participate. Final Opportunity for TVC Show Raffle Prize Contributions Preparations for this year’s TVC show raffle are underway. Currently, featured items include a wine bottle stopper, generously donated by Bob Kehl, and a gift basket from Trader Joe’s. These prizes are ready for photography and will be showcased during demonstrations throughout the Tri-Valley area where raffle tickets will be available. If you plan to contribute to this year’s raffle, there will be one final chance in April to make a donation. Kindly inform us of your intended donations to ensure this prominent aspect of our show is well supported. Alameda County Fair Event  The Alameda County Fair is fast approaching, and preparations are nearly complete. Please note the entry deadline is May 13th. All entries must be online. Check out the fair website for entering. We strongly encourage club members to submit more carvings for judging in order to help promote wood carving at the Fair. There are two categories for entries: Novice and Open, allowing fair competition between different skill levels. Beginners, including new club members, are encouraged to enter projects for feedback and improvement. With five distinct categories available, you can select the best fit for your submission. Outstanding carvings may also be included in the club display at the Fair. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Summer,” and the display cabinet now features movable front glass sliders. We are considering a central banner for the display, inspired by previous Pleasanton Library setups, to complement the Fair’s theme. Member input regarding decoration ideas is welcome. As always, we aim to highlight the club’s diverse wood carving talents, and all suggestions are appreciated. A sign-up sheet for wood carving and soap carving demonstrations will be available through Bob Kehl. Signing up ensures eligibility for complimentary Fair admission and parking passes and allows you to see which fellow member you’ll be working alongside. Promotional materials for our show and details about raffle prizes will also be distributed during the event. 2026 Officers. Click to see the list: PRESIDENT: Bob KehlVICE PRESIDENT: Ken MorganSECRETARY: Lorin JensenTREASURER: Claudia FernandesEDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave BolesCCG ADVISOR: Dave BolesCCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave BolesSHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt AlfredWEB MASTER: Carol Salinger Zoom Sessions Every Monday 7-8 pm. Shared on Zoom: pictures of Jim Planting melting "hard" Carnauba wax with a heat gun which also heats the wood for deeper penetration. And, the hot liquid wax also penetrates deeper providing a harder, sturdier, longer lasting finish. Below is…

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 KehlVICE PRESIDENT: Ken MorganRECORDING SECRETARY: Don BottCORSP. SECRETARY: Paul FacklerTREASURER: Claudia FernandesEDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave BolesCCG ADVISOR: Dave BolesCCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave BolesSHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt AlfredWEB 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…

Introduction 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 KehlVICE PRESIDENT: Ken MorganRECORDING SECRETARY: Don BottCORSP. SECRETARY: Paul FacklerTREASURER: Claudia FernandesEDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave BolesCCG ADVISOR: Dave BolesCCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave BolesSHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt AlfredWEB MASTER: Carol Salinger Next Meeting - Feb. 14 - 9:00 am - 12:00 noon @ Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1020 Mocho Street, Livermore. From The Pres By Bob Kehl Happy New Year!!!!! Here we are again, starting another new year of carving for The Tri Valley Carvers. Before going into all the fun things for 2026, I first want to talk about ending 2025 this last December with our annual Christmas luncheon. We had great fellowship, food, fun, and a wonderful auction. Twenty-five members of our carving family attended, and our fun auction was a fun event. What a wonderful event to end another great year for TVC! A merry Christmas was wished to all who participated. Many thanks to Ken for managing the challenging bidding, Jeanne Morgan for keeping track of the highly active bidding and collections. We will have our first business meeting in the new year in February at the fellowship hall at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 1020 Mocho Street in Livermore.  I have asked for the second Saturday of February, but will have to wait for approval. The meeting date should be OK, so plan on it. We have several new members to meet and get acquainted with, so make sure you attend. Again, the meeting time is 9 -12am on Saturday February 14th. 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: The annual dues for 2026 are due again in January. The $20 dues for the club are used to keep our activities going, including a basswood assortment available in the shop and our annual show in September. This year, after the delinquent notice, (see below), we will be updating the club active roster. The club Bylaws require: 1. Dues will be payable to the Treasurer in January of each year. 2. Dues will be considered delinquent by the last day of February. 3. If there is no response by the end of February a ‘delinquent/drop’ notice, giving a 30-day grace period, will be sent by the Treasurer. We have…

TRI-VALLEY WOODCARVERS, California Carvers Guild, Chapter 5 CCG Mission Statement: Teaching, Sharing, Promoting the Art of Woodcarving Carving groups, carving classes and business meetings are held at Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566. 2025 Officers. Click to see the list. PRESIDENT: Bob KehlVICE PRESIDENT: Ken MorganRECORDING SECRETARY: Don BottCORSP. SECRETARY: Paul FacklerTREASURER: Claudia FernandesEDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave BolesCCG ADVISOR: Dave BolesCCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave BolesSHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt AlfredWEB MASTER: Carol Salinger Next Meeting Christmas Party Let’s Celebrate the Holidays Together! Hey everyone! We’re throwing our annual Christmas Party and you’re all invited. It’s the best time to relax, have fun, and get into the holiday spirit with your carving friends. We’ve got an afternoon planned full of good food, laughs, and plenty of cheer. Event Details Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Place: Holy Cross Lutheran Church-Parish Hall, 1020 Mocho Street, Livermore. What’s On? Catered Tasty dinner, buffet style.  Slow-Smoked Tri Tip with a Peppercorn Medley Sauce. Wild Mushroom Chicken Marsala, Golden Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Seasonal Vegetables, Vintner’s Salad, Assorted Greens, Grapes, Walnuts, and Gruyere with a Champagne, Honey Vinaigrette. Dinner Rolls and Butter. A potluck desert table of sweet treats. Only $35. Our annual Auction. (Bring something to share). RSVP Let us know if you’re coming by December 5, 2025, so we know how much food the caterer needs to prepare. Sign up for a desert you can bring . Just reply here or get in touch with Bob at rjkehl@comcast.net. Hope to see everyone there for a Christmas party to remember. Don’t miss out! From The Pres By Bob Kehl Hello TVC Carvers! Here we are in December already. Seems like time really flies when we are having so much fun. December is a time to think back on what we are thankful for, as we enter the Christmas season.  Our contacts with the public have given us recognition as an active wood carving club promoting wood carving. Pleasanton “Holiday Boutique”. We have been invited to participate in a “Holiday Boutique”, an indoor event. The event is scheduled for December11th from 10am – 4pm. This event is another perfect way for the club to demonstrate what woodcarving is about and what our club members like to work on. The event is also a selling opportunity, so we can share some of your work. Maybe, if we can get enough of you to carve (in your "free" time) and donate a few Christmas ornaments, we could have an inventory for future events. Ravenswood “Yuletide” event Ravenswood folks have invited the club again this year to celebrate the holidays. We will be carving and selling our wares on December 14th 12-4pm in the billiard room of the estate. The address is 2647 Arroyo Rd, Livermore. This is a selling event. Artists in Residence Tri-Valley Carver is teaching a group (12) of home-schooled kids to carve.  This is a picture of my group (Gary Eaves).  I have 5 teens, and they are doing…

TRI-VALLEY WOODCARVERS, California Carvers Guild, Chapter 5 CCG Mission Statement: Teaching, Sharing, Promoting the Art of Woodcarving Carving groups, carving classes and business meetings are held at Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566. 2025 Officers. Click to see the list. PRESIDENT: Bob KehlVICE PRESIDENT: Ken MorganRECORDING SECRETARY: Don BottCORSP. SECRETARY: Paul FacklerTREASURER: Claudia FernandesEDITOR: Mike Pocha, Dave BolesCCG ADVISOR: Dave BolesCCG REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dave BolesSHOW CHAIRPERSON: Kurt AlfredWEB MASTER: Carol Salinger From The Pres By Bob Kehl Hello TVC Carvers! Here we are in November already. Seems like time really flies when we are having so much fun. December is a time to think back on what we are thankful for, as we enter the Christmas season. The contacts with the public have given us recognition as an active wood carving club promoting wood carving. Announcements: We have a lot to talk about this month: We will be discussing this year’s show pro & cons, as well as plans and updates for next year’s show. This year, the show moved along like a well-oiled machine, and I want to thank all for the great work making it so. We will also discuss any other classes that you may want us to work on for the January to March 2026-time frame. There are a number of neat projects that we can do, such as working on my moveable toys. I can bring in a large amount of “Go-byes” of Polar Bears, Elephant, and Dogs that were donated to the club by Jack Thompson from the Santa Clara club that also can be considered for new projects. Remember, we have increased the number of entries in our September show from 2 to 3 again this coming year. There are 72 categories to choose from for your entries, so let’s get started thinking about carving them and/or learning how from the classes on the second Saturday meeting times. Pleasanton “Holiday Boutique” We have been invited to participate in a “Holiday Boutique”, an indoor event. The event is scheduled for December 11th from 10am – 4pm. This event is another perfect way for the club to demonstrate what woodcarving is about and what the club members like to work on. The event is also a selling opportunity, so we can share some of our work. Maybe, if we can get enough of you all to carve and donate a few Christmas ornaments in your “free” time, we could have an inventory for future events. Ravenswood “Yuletide” event Ravenswood folks have invited the club again this year to celebrate the holidays. We will be carving and selling our wares on December 14th 12-4pm in the billiard room of the estate. The address is 2647 Arroyo Rd, Livermore. Bob Kehl - President Tools! Starting the first week in November, Ken will bring to carving some carving and turning tools that the club purchased. We will sell them off, about 1/3 at a time. We will do a silent auction and start it on…