In 1992 and 1993 informal get togethers were held at various sites in Vermont for people interested in the craft of woodturning. These sites included Tom Foster’s home in Weston, Johannes Michelson’s shop in Manchester and Michael Mode’s original studio in an old foundry. In those early days no attempt was made at formal organization.
Then late in 1993, Michael Mode announced a meeting of all interested parties to assemble on November 16, 1993 at North Ridge Woodworking Shop in Richmond, VT. Eleven woodturning enthusiasts showed up. A list of those present was recorded by David “Herb” Hurlbut of St. Albans. It was agreed upon at that meeting to set up an organization and pay annual dues of $5 primarily for postage and stationary to contact each woodworker in the state.
Though monthly meetings had been decided upon, it was three months before the harsh Vermont winter allowed
the turners to reassemble. At the next meeting in April, 1994, the 11 members present elected Luke Mann to be president, Bob Martin, vice president and Dave Hurlbut as secretary/treasurer.
Application for chapter status to the American Association of Woodturners was decided upon and successfully accomplished. Notification of official chapter status was received from the AAW in early May.
Following a survey of turners throughout the state, it was decided to limit the range of the chapter to the northern half of Vermont. A business meeting format was employed and its immediate success ensured its continued use. “Show and Tell” and at the lathe demonstrations have become the most popular meeting formats.
Two meetings have evolved over the years into traditions. Each May we visit with Michael Mode for a highly educational evening at his studio/workshop and each July we assemble at Dave Hurlbut’s home in St. Albans for our annual barbeque.
That meeting is highlighted by Al Stirt’s sharing his vast woodturning expertise with the members. In November
2002 the chapter was presented with a sizable grant from Morgan Stanley secured for us by member Argie Economou. That was the impetus for us to make several changes in the organization. We formed an education
committee under the chairmanship of Ralph Tursini to plan our educational outreach programs. The education committee met several times through the winter of 2002-2003 at Bob Bouvier’s shop in South Burlington.
The committee accomplished several things in short order, including the transfer to new meeting quarters at Woodbury’s on Pine Street in Burlington. Proprietor Scott Bennett generously donated the use of the space as well as a newly acquired Oneway lathe. The restructuring resulted in the creation of a separate treasurer position (Ted Fink),
the successful application for an educational grant from the AAW crafted by Dick Montague and incorporation of the chapter as a non-profit on February 7, 2003 through the efforts of Haviland Smith.
Under the leadership of Ralph Tursini, Chapter President, membership steadily increased and the breadth of demonstration topics at monthly meeting expanded greatly. Demonstration topics included not only variations of bowl and spindle turning, but also tool making and sharpening, sanding and finishing, lidded boxes, sphere turning,
photography, marketing and hazards of dust exposure.
Russ Fellows assumed the presidency shortly before the club had to vacate Woodbury’s in the fall of 2007 due to its financial demise. Russ was elected to that high and noble office in his absence, having audaciously failed to attend the annual election meeting. Meetings were held for the next 16 months at the woodshop of the Shelburne Craft
School at the kind invitation of Joe Powers, resident woodworker. A restructuring at the Craft School in early 2009 forced us to find a new home. By coincidence, Corina Driscoll and Robert Fletcher had just moved the Vermont Woodworking School into a large, newly renovated barn on Route 104 in Fairfax, VT.
The chapter sold its Nova 3000 lathe to the school and found a warm spacious home for its Wednesday evening
meetings. Chapter President Russ Fellows graciously hosted the semiannual board meetings each April and October
as well as the annual August picnic. During 2009-2010, in addition to the annual picnic demonstration by Al Stirt, outside demonstrators Alan Lacer and Peter Bloch gave day long demonstrations on tool making and lamp shade turning respectively.
The Woodchuck Turners were well represented at the AAW National Symposium in Hartford CT in June 2010 with a dozen members attending. In October, 2011, Nick Rosato took over as President. We started to organize a panel of mentors.
November, 2012, we move to Nick Rosato’s shop in Winooski as The Woodworking School rearranged their space to suit their own curriculum. As Toby Fulwiler declined re-election this year, we were without a Secretary for a spell. Nick Rosato took notes and passed them to the newsletter.
January, 2013: Harvie Porter takes over as Secretary. Our February meeting was made an all-day affair on a Saturday. Guest demonstrator was Rich Detrano. We asked for a members’ fee of $10. His subject was deep vessel turning.
January 2014: We start meeting at CVU in Hinesburg. Better space for our 30-odd attendees .There are a variety of
Show and Tell exhibits. We have a visitor from New Zealand who brings some VERY exotic woods to look at. He’s Adrian Anderson. He continues to visit us when he comes up for a stay with relatives. Unfortunately we hear that
he died in May 2018.
From time to time, “Woodchuck Chatter” evolves; the look, arrangement, and content changes. Sometimes there is a
large amount of contributions from members. The AAW no longer sends a special message to affiliated chapters.
At the July 2014 meeting & in that “Chatter”, there’s a lot of conversation about starting a business. To be in business, it means registering as such, getting insurance, developing a look and communications, and actually working at it. We have 63 paid members and 6 Honorary members.
January 2015: We have our first meeting of the year at Wake Robin in Shelburne. It’s an extended Show and Tell
meeting. Thanks to our Wake Robin residents who are Woodchuck members. It’s a nice place with a great meeting room. We start a series of member profiles.
July 2015: We continue to meet at Skunk Hollow Studios in Jericho. Russ and Bob are gracious hosts. Russ’s shop
continues to fascinate with lots of professional tools and piles of projects in the works. Want to see the progress and
growth of an artist in wood? Visit Russ’s shop.
November 2016: We meet again at Nick’s shop in Winooski. Janet Collins is now VP. Tom Dunne gives notice he has an exhibition at Edgewater Gallery On The Green in Middlebury.
April 2017. Still meeting at Nick’s shop in Winooski. CVU isn’t available and Russ isn’t back from Florida yet.
October meeting At Skunk Hollow. We elected a new slate of officers. Ted Fink, long-time Treasurer, asked to step
down and Karen Drennen volunteered to stand for election. Sal Chiarelli is a new name on the Board as a member at large.
We moved back to CVU in November.
August 2018: Nick announces decision not to run as Woodchuck President for the following year. Due to Al Stirt’s schedule, we shift our summer schedule: August meeting goes to the 15th and the picnic meeting, featuring Al Stirt, goes to September 9th.
September: The picnic goes well. Members help Russ clear out lots of wood. Al Stirt gives a great program tying his
creativity to his wilderness trips in Canada. We have nominations for a new Board. Elections are in October.
Last modified: October 18, 2018
