Meeting Minutes – April 5, 2025

Meeting Location: Keith Bryan’s Shop, 43041 Moody Dixon Road, Prairieville

• Fellowship before meeting
• Collection of dues (Rick Albrecht) and selling of shirts and caps (Lee Owens)

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – Harold Choate

Welcome and Introduction of Guests: There were 2 guests at the meeting this date. First, Mr. Donald Bourgeois Jr. from St. Amant, La. He is a retiree who suffered loss of vision because of a stroke and was particularly interested in today’s presentation. He is a long time woodworker who enjoys the hobby so much that he has 5 table saws! Mr. Bryan Bowman introduced himself as having been steered the club’s way by Mr. Jim Landry, a current member, on meeting each other at Brazos Lumber. He has a variety of woodworking experience over a long period of time and would be a welcome addition to the club.

Officer Reports:

• Vice-President – George Campagna: Mr. Campagna reminded members that the club schedule can be accessed on-line from the club’s website. Next month’s meeting will be at Mr. Doug Morgan’s shop. Mr. Jackie Parker will be doing the presentation the topic of which is to be determined.
• Secretary – Lee Soileaux: Mr. Soileaux reported that last month’s meeting was given by past President Brian Fitzgerald and that his continuing participation, though he now lives in East Texas, is much appreciated. Last month’s meeting was at the Rural Life Museum and there were 22 members in attendance and 3 show and tells.
• Treasurer – Rick Albrecht: Mr. Albrecht reported that the club’s bank balance is currently $4,006.06. This is a significant difference from last month’s balance. This difference is a result of reimbursements, primarily, for materials used in the O’Brien House project which should be replenished when we are in turn reimbursed by O’Brien House.
• Webmaster – Open
• Community Service – Ken Brown: Mr. Lee Owens reported on the progress on the O’Brien House project (dressers). He said that the current batch of 12 dressers will be the last of the dressers that the club will build for this project because O’Brien House recently received a donation of dressers from a local donor and does not need any beyond the 12 being completed. Mr. Owens also reported on the availability of T-shirts for purchase by members. He said that he has long sleeve and short sleeve shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. They will be priced at $15 for short sleeve and $20 for long sleeve.
• Education Outreach – Open

New and Ongoing Club Business

• Zoo: Mr. Campagna thanked everyone who volunteered for this club project. He repeated earlier instructions given by Mr. Robles and himself regarding the volunteers’ various contributions to the project and reminded everyone to be aware of the safety of the participants most of whom are quite young and will need our guidance to insure safe use of the drill presses that will be used. Mr. Robles made available a map of the zoo location so that volunteers could get to where they needed to be. He detailed the various pieces of equipment that would be brought to the Zoo.
• Mr. Robles added an unannounced item to New Club Business. He was contacted via the website by a gentleman who has about 1,000 back issues of woodworking magazines from about 1990’s to 2014. He wants to give them to the club but since we have no central location for general club use this would not be of benefit to the club. Mr. Robles will give contact information to any club member interested in the back issues so they can speak to the gentleman directly. Many of the back issues are still in the mailing sleeve. The magazines he has are Wood, Woodworker’s Journal, Woodsmith, and American Woodworker.

Members Questions/Concerns: There were no member questions/concerns:

Safety Topic: Mr. Robles brought up the subject of fire extinguishers for shop safety. There is always a need for extinguishers, properly charged, to handle electrical and chemical fires in the shop as well as wood fires. Keep one on hand at all times. A severe burn can be just as bad as a cut.

Skill Topic: Visually Impaired Woodworker Techniques – John Schatzle: Mr. Schatzle made a very interesting and informative presentation on the methods and techniques a visually impaired woodworker can use to successfully and safely work with wood. He prefers to do turning projects on his lathe but must also use a table saw to prepare his pieces for the lathe. He showed his fingers and they were all intact. He has been involved in woodworking for decades now and enjoys it even more so that he is retired. Thanks for your presentation Mr. Schatzle.

Show-and-Tell: There were 2 show-and-tells. Four projects were shown by Mr. Jim Landry and one was shown by Mr. Keith Bryan.

Adjourn