2026 • May
MONTHLY HAPPENINGS
Club Meetings – April 2026
• Monday, May 4, 2026 – Monthly Club Meeting (First Monday)
• Monday, May 18, 2026 – Second Monthly Meeting (Third Monday)
• Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
• Location: Higher Ground Church basement, 5160 Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill Ky., 41015
Saturday Workshop
• Saturday, May 23, 2026 (4th Saturday of the month)
• Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Our third “Workshop Meeting” of the year
• Location: Higher Ground Church basement, 5160 Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill Ky., 41015
Meeting Agenda Highlights
• Financial Report: Presented by Ralph Cooper
• Business Meeting to follow
• Knife Drawing Raffle at the first Monday meeting
2026 Club Dues
• $25 per individual
• $35 per family
If you have not yet paid your 2026 dues, please do so as soon as possible.
Show & Tell – First Monday of Each Month
At our first Monday meeting each month, please bring any new carvings completed since the last Show &
Tell. Ralph will photograph them for the club website. Please bring your study sticks from the Lips workshop.2026 Ohio Valley Wood Carvers Expo
We’re excited to announce that the 2026 Ohio Valley Woodcarvers Expo will take place on
September 26-27, 2026.
• Coordinator: Jim Provins has kindly agreed to serve as the expo coordinator. In the coming weeks, Jim will
reach out to each club member to enlist your help in making this event a success. We are still looking for
more help with this event. However, even if you are not interested in directly being involved with the show you
can also use your many connections to promote the show to friend’s neighbors and relatives.
• Our approach: By spreading the many tasks across numerous volunteers, we ensure that no single person is
overburdened—just as the old saying reminds us, “many hands make light work.”
• How to get involved: The show application will soon be live on the club website. We encourage all
members to submit their applications early so they can be sure to get a table for the expo.
The location for the Expo will once again be at the Newport Elks building in Cold Spring, Kentucky. For the
Expo we have commitments from both Bob Statlander and Dick Belcher as vendors at the show.
Let’s work together to create a memorable expo for the entire woodcarving community!
Community & Outreach
The Hearts of Hope program to date has donated $150.00 tp the American Cancer Society. I would like your
support make this a yearly program similar to our Christmas Ornament program. We have an ornament to
carve and sell as a cancer awareness themed ornament but we also need your help in promoting the program.
Fifty percent of all proceeds from these sales will be donated to cancer research organizations. If you have a
particular research organization we would be happy to donate to that group as well. To date these ornaments
have created a very good reception since introduced at the Middletown show and groups I have had contact
with.
There are more than a dozen cancers represented by ribbon colors—many of us know someone who has
been affected one of these cancers. Color charts for the various cancers can be found on line. If you have a
request for an ornament please feel free to take one and carve and paint it accordingly. Promotion for the
ornament in flyer form points to the web site for ordering information. I will try to have an order blank also
installed on the web site.Christmas Ornament Project
It’s never too early to start carving Christmas ornaments!
Ralph Cooper has precut blanks ready and brings them to nearly every meeting. It is with these cut out blanks
that have the features outlined that make it easy to carve and paint them in little time. The kids love receiving
these and those who have delivered them love seeing them smile. If you are feeling a little down right before
Christmas joining in delivering these ornaments will definitely pick up your spirt.
Club Projects
Saturday Workshops – “Carving Workshop Day”
Saturday, May 23, our fourth-Saturday meeting and will officially become our fourth Carving Workshop
meeting.
May Workshop Topic: Is a presentation featuring the various methods used to
prepare your carvings for painting and sealing the finish.
This workshop will focus on:
• Basic introduction of the methods to prepare your carvings. Please bring your expertise with you to
the meeting and any supplies that you use in painting prep or finishing your carvings.
• Demonstrations of their use on previous projects.
• Reference material like manufacturers and brand names to help other members.
• Methods that you have used that have not been favorable for your use.
Please bring an open mind to this meeting. Sharing the means and methods that you use in preparing your
carvings for painting and finishing can benefit the group.
Sharing concepts for finished pieces may inspire you to try using these techniques others have experience
with.
May Club Project – TBD
Monday, May 4, 2026 We will use the first Monday meeting to prepare for the materials and techniques for
the 4H student carving classes coming up in May. See the item description below in the Future Happenings
section. The five members that have volunteered to lead a group of young 4H members through basic learn
to carve classes would like your help by providing the chance to practice their techniques in the first Mondaymeeting. If you are willing to participate please bring a scrap piece of bass wood and an open mind to help us
prepare our learning techniques.
Monday, May 18, 2026 I have a special class scheduled to challenge all the club members to expand their
abilities in an open minded carving experience. Like the first Monday of the month’s meeting please bring an
open mind and a quest for becoming a better carver by trying a new carving experience.
Walnut Hills Farmers Market
I got a text message from the director of the Walnut Hills Farmers Market. They are soliciting
vendors for their market. I have talked with them in the past and have a free version of booth
setup for educational and club activities. If anyone has some interest in setting up at the market
a few time this summer please contact me? If you would like to set up and sell at the market the
cost for one day is $25.00.
FUTURE HAPPENINGS
Guest Instructor – Bruce Henn
• May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd 2026
• Three-Day Instruction Cost: $160
• At the Campbell County Extension Office (3500 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights, Ky., 41076)
Bruce will provide expert carving instruction and sell rough-outs for class use.
Minimum of 8 participants required (currently 10 have signed up. A 15 student maximum for the class.).
More info:
• Caricature Carvers of America member
If you have an interest email, call or I will have a signup sheet at Mondays meetings. We currently have 5
people signed up and I plan to open it to the Miami Valley club during their show if we do not fill any open slots
before the Miami Valley show.4H Introduction to wood carving classes at the Campbell County
Extension Office.
• First class will be May 6, 2026 starting at 2:30pm setup w/ 3:00pm to 5:00pm instructions
• Second class May 13, 2026 starting at 2:30pm setup w/ 3:00pm to 5:00pm instructions
• Third class May 20, 2026 starting at 2:30pm setup w/ 3:00pm to 5:00pm instructions
The 4H of Campbell County participants range in age from 11 to 15 for these classes. Each participant will
have two carving projects to complete during the time spent in class. Approximately 5 parents will also
accompany their child to the class. Skills used in carving will be introduced to the students while preforming
the carving projects.
Thanks to Ralph Cooper for organizing this event and to Jackson Rawe, John Schnieder, Paul Kremer, and
Robin Hahn, have also volunteered to instruct at these classes. Each instructor will have two to three students
during the class. Mike Shelton has also agreed to oversee the instructions and lend his advice where needed
to improve the instructions for this group and in future classes.
This is our first opportunity to teach a large group of first-time carvers, and we are excited for the chance to
generate the next iteration of wood carvers to the tradition of our craft.
The 4th Cut” Saturday Workshop
• Saturday, May 28, 2026
• 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Will be a group presentation of the various methods members have used to prepare their carved pieces for
painting and for sealing the paintings once there are painted. Everyone is invited to share their techniques for
the good of the group. I will record the various techniques and included them in the 4th Cut work book in the
club library.
2026 EWCC Woodcarving Show
DATE: Saturday, June 13, 2026
TIME: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
LOCATION: 109 E. Wabash Street, Converse, IN 46919INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Martin – wtoddmartin7@gmail.com
Buckeye Woodcarvers Roundup
• July 15–18, 2026
• Poor Farmers Campground
7211 Lostcreek-Shelby Rd, Fletcher, OH 45326
Phone: 937-368-2449
Contact Barb Foster: 937-214-0790
Website: www.buckeyewoodcarversroundup.com
A fantastic opportunity to learn, observe, and connect with fellow carvers and instructors.
Ohio Valley Woodcarving Expo
• Saturday, September 26: 10:00 AM –4:00 PM
• Sunday, September: 27 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Competition Entry: Saturday morning, September 26
• Newport Elks (Cold Spring, Ky)
Contact: Jim Provins: ( jrprovins@gmail.com)513.312.3640
Website: Home – River Valley Wood Carvers
Rainstree Woodcarvers Show & Sale
• DATE: Saturday, November 14, 2026
• TIME: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• LOCATION: Mt. Summit Christian Church, 508 S. Walnut Street, Mt. Summit, Indiana
Contact: Randy Sollars – rsollars@hotmail.com – PH: 765-730-0286\
Additional Info: Pat Coffey, CCA Member, will instruct a two-day carving seminar on Thursday and Friday
before the show and will judge the show’s competition.PAST HAPPENINGS
Miami Valley Wood Carving Show
During this year’s show, the RVWC Club received $425 in donations for our Christmas Ornament program and
$230 for our “Hearts for Hope” initiative. Proceeds from the Christmas Ornament program will be reinvested to
purchase additional materials, ensuring the continuity of this worthwhile endeavor. Additionally, a $115.00
donation was made to the American Cancer Society through the “Hearts for Hope” program.
The third workshop meeting, aka “The 4th Cut”
The third workshop Candy Lytle lead a group of six through an entertaining and creative session of learning
the techniques of carving the lips of a mouth. The session was featured each student creating a study stick to
use for future projects. The two mouths created were female cupid lips of a closed mouth and a mouth and
lips that were open to reveal the teeth of the subject. If you were part of this group please bring your study
stick to the Monday meeting for the show and tell.
MISCELLANEOUS
Be sure to visit the club website and check out the latest updates.
A heart felt thank you to Ron Gabelman for keeping everything fresh and up to date.
Additional club agenda
Jim Provins had a discussion with Dick Belcher about the OVWC Expo. During that discussion Dick offered
his services to teach a one day knife sharpening class, a two day flat plane relief carving class, or a one day
face study stick carve. If you have an interest in any of these subjects please email me, call me or talk to me
at a meeting.
Jim will also be at the meeting to sign people up for help at the fall OVWC show in September. Without out
your additional help the show will be burdensome to a select few. The more people involved with the show the
