Boy Scoutarama (View)

The Tidewater Turners believe in giving back to the community. During the Scoutarama members demonstrated turning and shared their finished projects with the local Boy Scouts. The scouts visited various stations throughout the day, one of which was ours. This was a wonderful day of sharing and education for both the scouts and turners. During the 2004 Scoutarama at the Pepsco Boy Scout Camp Area, members demonstrated without electricity. However at our station they did more than just watch us turn. It became a truly interactive demonstration.

Burlarama (View)

On Saturday, October 12, ten club members met at Jerry Whitehurst's house to see what they could do with a giant Red Oak Burl. Showing up for duty were Bob Chiavarini, Jim Vogel, Kyle Trager, Wolfgang Vogelbein, Mike Dennis, Mike Barker, Bob Waddell, Bud McConnell, Ron Wood, and Cliff Guard. After a lot of oohs and ahhs the inevitable questions came up. What do you do with a burl that size? Where do you begin? Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One Piece at a time.

Civil War Days (View)

Each year the Chesapeake Public Library in Chesapeake, Virginia, holds Civil War days. Civil War re-enactors and guilds from around Virginia and South Carolina come together at the library for a two day event. Many visitors dress in period attire and fun is had by all. Tidewater Turners gets invited to demo and sell their wares. While teaching the public about turning, turners make tops to hand out to the kids as they watch. The library also has books on turning and wood working available for visitors to check out and read. During the 2004 event at the Chesapeake public library part of our turners turned inside as another group was outside with a treadle lathe, built by Jim Vogel, making bowls as they did during the Civil War era. While turning outside the turners had front seats for the battle re-enactment and cannon fire.

Francis Land House Demo (View)

The Francis Land House is a local historical land mark in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Each year Francis Land House sponsors a show for all the local guilds and craft clubs. The Tidewater Turners demonstrate and show their wares. The first appearance of the treadle lathe, built by Jim Vogel, was in March 2004. It is made of Ash with a 1"x 8" spindle. The main wheel is 26" in diameter and filled with concrete. Visitors operated the treadle lathe while a turner made a bowl. Later a hand crank was added to this lathe for visitors to use.

Member's Christmas Party (View)

Each year the Tidewater Turners hold a Christmas party for members and their families. Members bring food and projects. There are three areas of competition: 1. Ornament - members turn ornaments to hang on the tree. 2. Mantel - any turned item that you would display on your mantel. 3. Potpourri - any thing turned can be entered, however, after the voting for first place, those that entered potpourri select another potpourri to take home. This is a night of food, fun and fellowship among the turners and their families.

Meeting Events (View)

Typically, each club meeting begins with a discussion and/or announcements of club business and upcoming events. Then a demonstration is put on by a scheduled presenter which is followed by a show and tell session participated in by members. Members bring in projects of interest to illustrate their skills, share techniques, and stories concerning the project. Periodically, inconjunction with Woodcraft, we substitute an "Open Lathe" session for the scheduled club meeting. Open Lathe is hosted by a member. The host will share how they turn with others. Participating members get a chance to use one of the club's or Woodcraft's lathes to work on the demonstrated project or on their own project. They can also just choose to drink coffee, hang out, and chat. It is a good night for all!

Member's Picnic (View)

Each year the Tidewater Turners hosts a picnic for members and family. For several years the picnic has been held at the home of Bill Knox. Bill also has his own saw mill. Each picnic features a demonstration, great food, and members bring wood for Bill to cut into slabs. The saw mill is the highlight for most members. Members also bring wood and tools to trade or sell. In 2004, the demonstration was wood stem wine glasses by Debbie Glaze.

Member's Show (View)

Each year Tidewater Turners holds a members show. Club members enter projects they have completed during the year and compete for best of show. Judging is done from an outside judge. As visitors and members view the various works, they cast votes for the "Viewers Choice Award."

Other Events (View)

Tidewater Turners participated in the Occasion for the Arts in Williamsburg Virginia. Two lathes were set up for demonstration and the turners who went set up their wares for visitors to view. There were many questions answered and new friends made, plus we had front row seats for the colonial fife and drum parade.

Each Spring the Virginia Beach Pavilion puts on the Spring Fling. Vendors from around the area come to sell their wares. The Pavilion offers free space to the local guilds to share with the public. The Spring Fling is three days long and averages 5,000 people each day. Visitors are informed about turning and the turners answer questions and hand out pamphlets about the Tidewater Turners of Virginia. With over 15 guilds plus 100 vendors there is always something new to look at and people to meet.

On March 3, 2005, Tidewater Turners were invited to demonstrate at the Main Public Library in Virginia Beach.

Woodcraft's Grand Opening (View)

Every wood turner needs somewhere to buy tools, wood, teach, learn, share and just hang out. In January 2004 a Woodcraft store opened in Norfolk. This was a great event with wood working demonstrations, hot dogs, popcorn, soda and coffee. Woodcraft invited several Tidewater Turners members to demonstrate. Today, The Tidewater Turners of Virginia meet at Woodcraft for our meetings and classes. The Tidewater Turners members also teach classes for Woodcraft which include basic turning to advanced hollow forms. Woodcraft also contracts nationally known turners to come and teach. Some names include Cindy Drozda, Kim Blatt and Trent Bosch.