Big Island Ukulele Guild
Minutes from 03/25/2017
Aloha BIUG members. Our first meeting of 2017 was held March 25th at Woodley White’s home/shop in Na’alehu. Twenty-four members got together for the southern-most gathering of ukulele-builders in the United States.
New guild president Dave Stokes began the meeting with a proposal that we step up promotion of the guild. Several ideas were floated, including booths at the Kona Village Stroll and the Merrie Monarch Festival. Terry Davis looked into the stroll procedure and reported that non-profits can havebooths, but there is a long waiting list. Bob Gleason suggested that volunteers babysitting the display could sell their instruments there.
Dave spoke about the Kona BMW dealership that offers space for weekend exhibits. Roger Johnson has seen the space and it would require at least 40 instruments to fill the space.
The June 10th meeting will be at Gary Cassel’s Waikoloa home. Our August 26th meeting is at Bob Gleason’s in Kurtistown. Stay tuned for details.
Gary Cassell said the Kahilu Theatre exhibit may be back on for November. Gary will continue exploring this.
Terry Davis reported that the guild finances are solid and that we have 42 current members.
Mike Perdue is organizing a juried show for the annual Wailoa Arts Center exhibit that will require judges and players. The People’s Choice award will still continue. We have thirty-eight entries so far, but need more - so step up folks!
Gary Cassell suggested that we create uke hangers that allow viewing of the front and back of the instruments. Any ideas?
Tom Russell has an idea for nice koa name badges for us, complete with the guild logo. He’ll keep us posted on developments.
Details to come regarding the show, but Rodney Crusat’s wife may once again create our show poster, Jane Klassen will make the display labels and Terry Davis is in charge of the opening night food. We still need entertainers, plus building demo volunteers for the second Saturday during the exhibit and set-up and take-down help.
We had a wonderful show and tell with many different instruments presented and passed around.
Rodney Crusat offered a great demo about building cutaway bodies. First tracing the new shape, taking into account where to begin the cutaway curve, relative to the neck and fretboard angle, using PVC irrigation fittings to draw curves and clamping freshly bent sides. Rodney bends solid wood liners, but makes them in to two layers for ease of bending. He also showed off some beatifully made cutaway molds.
We hope to see you at our next meeting!
Chris Stewart, BIUG Secretary