đź“Ł News & Updates
Ted Standfield opened the meeting by welcoming guests and asking members if they had any items for sale. David Peterson mentioned he has even more tools for sale and will be posting them to the website. When asked by a member for an update on the Bomber Ball, David informed the group that the event takes place on November 7th. The Whiteman AFB Community Council assured the guild leadership that they will provide updates on how our donations for the charity auction and dinner are utilized. Ted then introduced Jay Helland for the evening’s presentation on studio furniture.
Visitors & New Members: We are thrilled to officially welcome our visitor and new members: Kelley Carter (visitor), Jim Greenia, and Tom Grinlington (new members).
Member Classifieds & Announcements: David Peterson has sold many of the tools he listed on the guild website, but he is currently adding even more. Be sure to check the “Tools for Sale” tab on the website, and contact him directly if you are interested in any items.
đź’° 2027 Dues Collection
The guild has officially started accepting dues for 2027. Guild dues remain at only $20 per year—an incredible value that directly supports our monthly programs.
🛠️ Upcoming Events & Presentations
| Month | Theme / Event |
| November | Leadership Elections |
| December | Gifts, Gadgets, and Gizmos |
🔍 Phil’s Finds (John Kuiper)
John Kuiper brought in a SharpMate sharpening system that he purchased from a company called Sawinery. He detailed his experience working with the company to resolve initial issues with the sharpening stones included in his kit and one of the setup jigs used for proper angle adjustment. John expressed his appreciation for their customer service, noting how promptly they resolved his issues. He is also very impressed with how well the system functions and the quality of the gantry-style blade holder.
You can view the sharpening system through this SharpMate – Best Plane & Chisel Sharpening Jig – Sawinery Link.
🧠Program
Jay Helland presented an engaging program on studio furniture. Jay opened with some background on himself and how he got into woodworking, sharing what it was like growing up in a military family and continuing his craft while managing Parkinson’s disease. Although numerous furniture styles and makers exist, Jay focused on five of the most renowned masters of the last century: Wharton Esherick, George Nakashima, Garry Knox Bennett, James Krenov, and Sam Maloof.
Jay provided background on each craftsman and artist, describing their unique styles and the distinct focuses of their functional art. He also shared a personal memory of meeting and spending an afternoon with Sam Maloof at his home and studio in California, describing him as a soft-spoken, open, and gracious man who treated Jay like family.
Unfortunately, the library’s audio system failed, preventing members from hearing the sound for four short two-minute videos highlighting each craftsman. To make up for this, the PowerPoint presentation has been converted to a video so that it can be viewed via [this link].
📸 Member Directory Photo Reminder
A quick reminder to all members: please connect with Phil, Alan, or Randy to have your photo taken for the online member directory so we can keep our contact and profile records up to date.
✨ Show and Tell
This month’s show and tell celebrated all things frighteningly fun in honor of Halloween. Once again, our members brought in numerous holiday-appropriate creations and amazed everyone with their skill and craftsmanship. Great job, LSWG! All show-and-tell items can be viewed in the [photo gallery here].
