History of Treasure Coast Woodcarvers

  1. The Treasure Coast Woodcarvers Club was started on June 14, 1983 by twelve people including teaching there at the time, and they met at Port St. Lucie Bowling Lanes for two months. Dick Bothfeld then arranged for the group to meet at Spanish Lakes Golf Village. The club soon grew too big and needed more space. It was decided to rent a room at IRCC Community Center. Meetings were held there on the second Wednesday of each month, except July and August. Membership then rose to 66, and it was necessary to rent double space at the the Community Center. Dues were $10 annually. Shows were held at the Marina Community Center on Prima Vista Blvd, The Polish American Club on Prima Vista Blvd, and the PSL Community Center Exhibition Center on Airoso Blvd., also Martin County Library and Orange Blossom Mall, in Fort Pierce. February 28, 1993 thru Feb. 26, 1995 the show was held at Club Med Sandpiper Convention Center Exhibit Hall. We now meet at the Walton Community Center, located on Harris Street and Ridge Ave, in Port Saint Lucie. Len Allman made arrangements to use the place in October 1996. We also hold all of our carving classes there. We meet at the Center each Tuesday from 8:00AM to 12 Noon, we also meet each Saturday from 8:00Am to Noon. Grady Warren acquired the Log Cabin at Frances Langford Park in Stuart. They meet each Wednesday after 12PM. For the years 2005 through 2007 our show was held at the Port St. Lucie Community Center on Arioso Blvd. in PSL. and the attendance grew each year. In 2008, 2009 our show was held at the Frances Langford Community Center. Attendence has been great. We are now one of the biggest woodcarving shows on Florida's east coast. Some of the members who have acted as the Show Chairman are Grady Warren, Ed Jettinghoff, Leon Banister, Joe Nolan, Russ Cox, Don Millenbruch. In 2004 due to three hurricanes in one month our library was flooded; we lost most of our books. Since that time we have re-purchased new books and placed the books in three metal cabinets to prevent any further destruction of our very extensive library; books. Some noted people who have given carving classes are: Chris Howard-Indian Faces, Cheryl Dow - Wood Burning, Smith - Fire Wood Burning, Dunkle - Bishop Dudes, Paul Doherty - Birds, Painting lessons.

  3. Past Officers: Pres. Richard Bothfeld 84-85 Vice Pres.:
  4. Ernestine Pence 83-84 Secretary:
  5. Henry Vineis 84-85 Pres.:
  6. Henry Vineis 86 Sec.
  7. Bob Caruthers 86 Treasurer:
  8. Jules Gagne 87-89 Pres.:
  9. Martin Styer 87-88 Vice Pres.:
  10. Henry Vineis 87-88 Sec.:
  11. Dan Sprengart 87-88 Treasurer:
  12. Rocco Pennella 89-90 Historian:
  13. Jay James 88-89-90. Pres.:
  14. Dan Sprengart 88-89 Vice Pres:
  15. Ed Tucker 89-90 Sec:
  16. Vi Loche 1989-91 Treasurer:
  17. Rocco Pennella 90-91 Pres:
  18. Ed Myers 89-90 Vice Pres:
  19. Ed Tucker 90-91 Librarian:
  20. Henry Vineis 89-92 Pres:
  21. Bob Jones 90-91 Pres:
  22. Len Allman 91-92 Vice Pres:
  23. Grady Warren 91-92 Sec:
  24. Alice Pennella 91-92 Tres:
  25. Rocco Pennella 91-92 Pres:
  26. Grady Warren 92-94 Vice Pres:
  27. Al Renz 92-94 Sec:
  28. Alice Pennella 92-94 Treas:
  29. Henry Hellriegel 92-94 Pres:
  30. Frank Kapalko 94-95
  31. Charles Harman 94 Sec:
  32. Vern Steinmann 94 Tres:
  33. Jerry; Hellreigel 94 Show Chairman:
  34. Grady Warren Pres:
  35. Bob Knox 97-98 Vice Pres:
  36. Leon Banister 97-98 Pres:
  37. Vern Steinman 98-99 Vice Pres:
  38. Frank Kapalko Sec:
  39. Jerry Steinmann Treas:
  40. Jerry Steinmann Librarian/Historian:
  41. Joe Nolan, Show Chair:
  42. Joe Merli Pres: Thorngren 99-2000 Vice Pres:
  43. Grady Warren Sec:
  44. Joe Nolan Pres:
  45. Grady Warren Pres:
  46. Joe Nolan 2001-2005 Vice Pres:
  47. Leon Banister 01-02 Sec:
  48. Mike Coccia 03-05 Treas:
  49. Bob Knox Show chair:
  50. Leon Banister Pres:
  51. Joe Nolan 05-06 Vice Pres:
  52. Ed Jettinghoff 03-06 Sec:
  53. Patricia Conklin Treasurer:
  54. Mike Coccia/Bob Knox Show Chair:
  55. Ed Jettinghoff: 04-06 Class Scheduler:
  56. Joe Nolan Pres:
  57. Ed Jettinghoff 07 Vice Pres:
  58. Paul Doherty Sec:
  59. Patricia Conklin Class Scheduler/ Tres:
  60. Mike Coccia Librarian: F
  61. rancesca Pratten Pres:
  62. Ed Jettinghoff 08 - 10 Vice Pres:
  63. Don Millenbruch Sec:
  64. Patricia Conklin Treas / Class Scheduler:
  65. Mike Coccia Show Chair:
  66. Russ Cox Librarian:
  67. Paul Doherty Pres:
  68. Ed Jettinghoff 09 -10 Vice Pres:
  69. Don Millenbruch Sec:
  70. Sue Bowers Tres :
  71. Mike Coccia Show Chair:
  72. Russ Cox Class Scheduler:
  73. Mike Coccia / Barry Hoffman