Meeting Minutes – June 1, 2024

Meeting Location: Rural Life Museum, 4560 Essen Ln, Baton Rouge

• Fellowship before meeting-Attendance 21, Guests-4 Bob Pace, Kurt Loup, Max Broadnax, Cheryl Broadnax, total 25
• Collection of dues (Rick Albrecht) and selling of shirts and caps (Richard Robles)

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – Harold Choate

Welcome and Introduction of Guests– Richard Robles announced that Bob Pace had joined the club at last month’s meeting and that Bob has volunteered to work with Lee Owens on the Community Service projects. Thank you, Bob.

Officer Reports:

• Vice-President – George Campagna- St. Tammany Club will do the August skill topic. That meeting is at PMC in Hammond. Terry Landry is hosting the November meeting at his shop in Clinton. The skill topic will be Furniture Design.
• Secretary – Harold Choate- We had 20 people at the June meeting. It’s good to see Bob Pace back. Our Facebook page activity has recovered. If there’s anything you want posted on the page, please send me an email with the details.
• Treasurer – Rick Albrecht- contact Rick Albrecht for details.
• Webmaster – Open
• Community Service – Lee Owens- We’ve wrapped up making 4 glider rockers for Maiden House Volunteers of America. Harold Choate advised the one we built was delivered to the house. No one answered the door so we just assume they got it ok. Dale Ragel advised theirs is built and they encountered no problems in making it. Cody Henderson advised their rocker will be finished shortly. Lee talked to IRIS about some projects. IRIS is a shelter for abused women and their children. They have taken over an old nursing home and are fixing it up. Lee is impressed with the woman who is in charge. She is very dedicated and energetic. They discussed a number of projects but none are funded at the moment. They would like to have 3 picnic tables and 3 work tables. They would also like to have a 13 foot long 1 high cubby for a room with various shelving units. The Sylvia Peak Foundation is funding a whole wing. O’Brien House would like 40 more 4 drawer chests of drawers if we wish to build them. O’Brien House is a drug and alcohol addiction sanctuary in downtown Baton Rouge. We can build these anytime we want to. Lee wanted to gage the interest in taking on a project of this size. Lee advised Hal Canning had a water line in his house break. It flooded the whole house. Hal told Lee he has 6 or so cedar logs 8″ diameter x 2 feet long he’d like to give to whoever wants them. John Schatzle and Cody Henderson wanted them. Harold Choate volunteered to get the logs and deliver them to John and Cody.
• Education Outreach – Open

New and Ongoing Club Business

• Jack Carmena-Richard Robles advised he made a donation on behalf of the club to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in memory of Jack Carmena.
• Weyerhaeuser Mill Field Trip- George Campagna advised we have a field trip to the Weyerhaeuser Mill in Holden scheduled for June 21. Those going on the field trip should be at the facility by 10:00 am on June 21. Please wear long pants and sturdy shoes. There are a number of stairs at the plant. Please don’t attend if you are unable to climb and descend stairs. George read off the names of those signed up to attend.
• Rural Life Apprenticeship- The Rural Life Museum is hosting a summer camp for kids. Thursday, June 6 is Woodworking Day. Mark and Lee have assembled some wooden tool box kits for the kids to assemble. Volunteers are needed to assist the kids in this activity. You will need a cordless drill, 1/8″ drill bit and a hammer to do the assembly. We will have 4 tables set up. Each table will host 3-4 children per session. The time is 8:00 am to 12:15 pm. Mark will send an email to those who volunteer. We will set up out in the back of the Museum.
• Swamp Fest Coordinator- Richard Robles announced that it is time to start preparations for SwampFest Bird Houses. Richard said he would publish revised drawings for the birdhouses. We are changing the size of the holes for the nails to 5/64″ diameter. Art Miller will contact Bryan Thibodeaux about getting us a good price for the wood.
• BRWW shirts and caps- Richard announced he has the shirts and caps at the meeting for sale. We do have some long sleeve shirts for those that want them.

Members Questions/Concerns

Safety Topic– Use push sticks when you are cutting small pieces on a miter saw in order to avoid injury.

Skill Topic: Jigs – Mark Monistere

Show-and-Tell

Adjourn

Please bring the following items to the meeting: