Blackhawk Carving ClubThe Blackhawk Woodcarver
Presidents
Report December 2025
Here we are sailing down the final
month of 2025. Snow has arrived, so we now believe it is Winter; even if it
has not officially arrived yet.
I consider this a very busy month;
however, we will only have two club carving sessions: the 3rd and
17th of December. There will be no official business meeting or
Show & Tell on the 17th. Our big event will be the annual
Christmas Party on the 10th of December; and it will be held at
Peterson Meadows in lieu of our normal carving session at Ken-Rock. We will
not have carving sessions on the 24th and 31st of
December in order for the facilities personnel and our members to spend more
time in observance of this special holiday period. We will resume normal
carving sessions on the 7th of January 2026.
The Club Christmas Party will be on
the 10th of December at Peterson Meadows, 6401 Newburg Road,
Rockford, IL. We will be in the large room to the East side of the main
building. Doors open at 9:00 am; same location, time, and format as last
year. The buffet brunch will start about 9:30 am. We currently have 47 paid
reservations! Remember to bring your carvings for display! Also, buy raffle
tickets! We have 17 pledged donations for our “bucket raffle”. Information
and pictures of the raffle prizes should be found later in this newsletter.
Raffle tickets will be sold at the door and at the same price as last year.
Best wishes to all for a blessed
Christmas and for 2026,
Tyrone Johnsen
Secretary
Report for November 2025
The meeting was called to
order by president Tyrone Johnsen at 9:30 with 31 members present.
The minutes of the October
meeting were read by secretary Jim Foster and approved with no corrections.
Treasurer Larry Stenzel
reported he has had great response from the membership in collecting dues
and expected the reservations for the Christmas party will meet or exceed
last year.
Gordy discussed the website
and the availability to access newsletter history.
Tyrone reminded everyone of
the December 10th date for the Christmas brunch and talked about the
donations already collected for the bucket raffle to be held at the
Christmas brunch.
He also asked three senior members
to be election judges and began the process of electing new officers.
Two of the current officers
Tyrone and Richard Brittnacher have agreed to serve another year since there
was no one nominated to their positions.
Tyrone announced he had
volunteers for the secretary and treasurer positions and nominated Roger
Benedict for secretary and Betty Gregory as treasurer. The nominations were
seconded and approved with a unanimous vote by the membership.
Roger Benedict presented a
host of Show and Tell items by various members and John Skaggs displayed his
collection of relief carvings from various class projects that were taught
by Roger Benedict.
The meeting was adjourned at
10:25.
Respectfully submitted by secretary
Jim Foster
Bucket Raffle
Prizes
Our first bucket raffle prize is
this beautiful Helvie 1-1/4” detail knife generously donated by member Jim
Foster. The bucket raffle will be part of our club Christmas Brunch Party on
the 10th of December 2025.
Framed oil painted “The Colors of
Fall” by and donated by Betty Gregory
Bob Hallstrom chip carved this
beautiful jar and lid which he is donating to our Christmas Party raffle.
Nick Scheuer carved and painted this
stunning full size cardinal, which he is donating to our Christmas Party
raffle.
Relief carving “The Barn” by and
donated by member John Gregory
Image not available Carved Feathers
carved & mounted by and donated by Scott Grey
Framed painting “Cottage by the
Stream” by and donated by member John Gregory
Gordy Moscinski hollowed out this
gourd and then beautifully painted on it, Also donating to our Christmas
Party raffle.
A framed print of Bert Hassel’s
“Greater Rockford” airplane donated by member Tony DeVita.
The airplane is now restored and on display in Rockford’s Midway
Village and Museum Center
This vintage portrait of the dashing
dashing Italian Conte de Finocchio donated by Trone Johnsen
A Beebe Knife generously donated by
member Don Stansfield
Newsletter
deadline
Keep sending your pictures and
stories by the January 5, 2026 deadline.
Door Prizes
Don't forget the Door Prize drawing
on First Wednesdays. Bring something you don't need or want
anymore, but know someone would be thrilled to win at the drawing.
Carvers
wanted
Sometimes I get calls from people wanting to have a carving done (for money). If you are interested in any of these contacts, let me know and what kind of carvings you are interested in doing for people. Don Stansfield
Facebook
Like us on Facebook “Blackhawk
Woodcarvers”. Many pictures and information.
Want to buy
or sell
If you have anything that you would
like to buy or sell send me an email and I will put it in the newsletter.
Gordy
December Birthdays (that we Know of)
2
Larry Stenzel
5 Bob Hallstrom
9 Ted Faber
14 Don Stansfield
20 Jim Foster
Committees
(815 area code)
Webmaster & Newsletter Editor
Gordy Moscinski
Photographer, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Programs, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Picnic, Tony Devita
Club
Officers (815 area code)
President, Tyrone Johnsen, 397-9274
Vice Pres, Rick Brittnacher, 608-346-6501
Treasurer, Larry Stenzel, 389-4714
Secretary, Jim Foster, 414-3248
Show and Tell
John Skaggs paid tribute to fellow
member, teacher, and master carver Roger Benedict.
Attached are carvings John did, many in classes lead by Roger.
Betty Gregory carved and painted a
number of Christmas gifts and ornaments.
John Gregory carved a couple of
interesting figures. Note the eyes on the unpainted
Santa.
Gordy Moscinski created this
beautiful pair of conifers utilizing different woods.
Richard Dunphey continued his series
of bobbleheads and added an interesting carving from a golf ball.
Jim Batchelor display a couple of
interesting pieces to test his skill and provide visual enjoyment.
Jim Foster captured a couple of
bears before they into hibernation.
Bill Aupperle carved this tree out
of butternut allowing the grain to add to tts beauty.
Roger Benedict relief carved this
Amaryllis in bloom.
Nick Scheuer this owl many years
ago.
