Big Island Ukulele Guild
Minutes from 12/14/2019
Aloha guild members. President Carlos Newcomb welcomed seventeen members as they gathered for our December 14th meeting at Tom Russell’s shop in Kona.
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Carlos offered a positive report about our 2019 exhibit at the Isaacs Art Center in Waimea. It proved to be a good place to display our instruments and we’ve been invited back “anytime” next year. Mahalo nui loa to Carlos for hooking us up with the Isaacs.
He also led a popular kanikapila November 30th at the Wailoa Arts & Cultural Center in Hilo, so we’ve had a couple good end-of-year events. Carlos proposed continuing our search for additional locations for our exhibit, including the Kona area. Carlos also suggested that we participate again next year during the annual Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival.
Treasurer Tom Russell reported that the guild remains financially healthy. Our new exhibit venue costs us very little compared to the expense of a show at the Wailoa Center.
Tom proposed a workshop for later in the year to permanently update our display boards, which are showing signs of wear and tear. The group discussed improvements to the display boards, including angled hangers to that visitors could better view the backs of our ukulele. Rodney Crusat provided us with a look at his new, modified instrument hanger, which might be useful on our redesigned boards. Barbara Bach will also explore lightweight mirrors that could be attached to the boards – also for a better look at the back of the instruments.
We are searching for more workshop ideas. Currently being considered are the cam clamp project and possibly another inlay workshop. Your ideas would be appreciated.
The usual custom at our final meeting each year is to elect new officers, but it was decided to offer all members – both attendees and those who could not be there – a chance to vote. You should soon get an email that provides a ballot, with the responsiblities of each office. Please participate!
Following lunch, Carlos demonstrated his clever way for creating a curved back on his ukulele using the radius sanding dishes we built a couple of years ago, coupled with an ukulele body mold.
Tom wowed us with his amazing CNC machine he uses to precisely cut inlay materials and channels. A marvel if you know your way around computer programs!
Gary Cassel brought a bookmatched set of flame box elder wood. An amazing look, thought to be caused by a fungus brought into the tree by a bug attack.
Roger Johnson and Woodley White talked about the Guild of American Luthiers convention/exhibition scheduled for July 22-26, 2020 at in Tacoma, Washinton. Offered every three years, the gathering is a wonderful way to advance your skills and meet fellow luthiers. For more information, check out https://luth.org/.
Date and location of our next meeting is yet to be decided. Stay tuned.
Chris Stewart, BIUG Secretary Stewart, BIUG secretary