March 2012 Message from the Guildmaster

In my first message  as your newly appointed Guildmaster, I would first like to say thank you  to everyone  in our organization who has worked so hard in the past to bring the guild to its current position.  I appreciate your confidence in me, and I hope that I will be able to adequately “follow in the footsteps” of Ed’s great leadership during the past two years. Thanks also to our  executive committee, committee chairmen, and all of our members, who have worked diligently to make our guild what it is today.

Our 2012 meeting in Carlisle, PA is now history, and I must say that from the response I received, “a good time was had by all”. Many thanks to Dick Toone, and everyone who spent many  hours organizing our gathering.  Plans are already in place for 2013, so stay tuned!

In my opinion, our conference reached a new peak this year. Recorded attendance was 96 members, a new record for our meeting. The tables and displays were fantastic, as usual. Jim Leach did a superb job of organizing a blowing horn display that was truly mind boggling. In addition, Jim cataloged and photographed all of the horns that were present with the goal of publishing these important artifacts at a future date. The throaty bellows and whoops from many of these horns could be heard throughout the show!

The workshops were outstanding, and I believe that we have arrived at a very successful method of communicating our art to those who attend the meeting. Every time I went out to the hall, folks were gathered around the tables, taking in the skills and techniques that were being demonstrated. Thanks to all who manned and worked these tables. I hope that we can continue, and expand these programs in the future.

Congratulations to our new Journeymen, Mike Burke, and Rich Hujsa. It is always rewarding to see members advance through our ranks as artisans. Congratulations are also in order for our drinking vessel and strap contest winners, Mike Burke, and Ginny Hawker. Beautiful work!  Congrats. also to our contest winners, who entered some outstanding pieces. A special congratulation to Mr. John DeWald, who hit a three 1st. place home run, with the addition of Best of Show! Great work John!

After this year’s show, I thought back to the first annual conference I attended in Williamsburg, VA. I joined the guild at that show, and had no idea of what to expect. The members attending that show made me really feel welcome, and openly shared their considerable knowledge of horns, history, and techniques. Five years later, I see more of this than ever at our meetings, and through our membership in the guild. I believe it is this open sharing of knowledge and skills that makes our organization unique, and I feel that through this process, we offer our members an invaluable resource.

I look forward to serving as your Guildmaster. Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions to keep our organization moving ahead for the future. Thank you.

Y.M.O.S.,
Jeff Bibb