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February Membership Meeting
Like a somewhat weathered, but still stalwart PNW Doug Fir, Doug Reynolds is a grand patriarch of South Puget Sound wood craft organizations. He was a founding member of the Evergreen Woodworkers’ Guild and remains a structural, timber frame bent of our chapter of the American Woodturners Association (AAW) – the South Puget Sound Woodturners (SPSW). His service as Director of Wood Rats is as long as the height of this Doug Fir! When needed, he doubled his duties as the Director of Programs. In 2022 he rallied chapter members to turn and donate more than 200 bowls for the Pierce County Food Bank.
Always entertaining, Doug is a reliable Member Demonstrator SPSW. His past contributions include Wood Stabilization (June 2022) and Chucks, Chucks and More Chucks (May 2024). Both of which may be found in the members only portion of our SPSW website under demonstration videos. In his latest rendition coming to the SPSW stage on February 19, 2026, Doug will share key insights for making a John Beaver type Wave Bowl. One of his goals is to demonstrate less involved techniques most of us could deploy in our own shops to safely cut a round object in half… You don’t want to miss this one, there might even be a golden reward at the end of the rainbow.
January Membership Meeting – Rick Rich
Our 2026 SPSW Program begins with a fun and twisted focus on spindle turning. Rick Rich is back once again. This time Rick will demonstrate making a Turmkreisel. Simple translations to English include tower spinner or pedestal spinner.
Rick Rich is a professional woodturner from Clark County, Washington. He is proud to be a founding member, and current president, of the SW Washington Woodturners. Rick is also a member the Cascade Woodturners Association in Portland, OR, the Northwest Woodturners of Tualatin, OR and the American Association of Woodturners. His strong preference is spindle turning, but he includes faceplate turning, bowls, small tabletops, dishes, and like items in his repertoire.
Rick’s description says, ‘This unique desk toy has a top which eventually tips over and stays on the tower, ready for the next spin.’ On Jan 15th, 2026, he will also demonstrate making a traditional spinning top with a small bowl to spin it in. This demo focuses on tool use techniques and exploring precision turning. No specialized tools are used—just the standard equipment most turners already have. Get ready to enjoy a fun and unique toy turning demo!
December Potluck Rescheduled
Due to a power outage at the Allmendinger Center in December, it was necessary to cancel our Holiday Party. We would like to invite you to our newly scheduled Holiday Party, “Turning Resolutions in 2026”.
Date: January 8, 2026 Time: 6pm*
Place: Allmendinger Center in Puyallup
What to expect:
Potluck food assignments by last name
- A—I: Main Dish
- J—P: Salad/Side Dish
- Q—Z: Dessert
Gift Exchange: Does not have to be a turned piece, but exchanging wood turned items is okay. No gag gifts, please. (“My favorite wood turned piece in my home isn’t something I turned.” ~Pat McCart)
General Raffle Tickets given 1 per membership
Help tin ticket raffle for prizes. If you have not filled out your ticket for helping this year, please make sure you get your name in the tin.
Pick up your 2026 meeting schedule.
Bring your BEST TURNED Piece for 2025 to show. All Skill levels encouraged to bring your best work this year. Item must be started and completed in 2025.
If you are brand new to turning or are a first year member with the SPSW, we encourage you to come and participate, let me know who you are because we have something just for you.
*We would never turn away a helping hand on the 8th. We can always use some help to set up the facility to greet our guests. We need help moving around tables and chairs before (@5pm) and after. Taking out the trash is a biggie at the end of the night. We will also be setting up tables for the raffle and helping hands drawing and a special table for our 2025 President’s Challenge Winner Display.
p.s. This does not replace the regularly scheduled January meeting/demonstration. Stay tuned for the January Newsletter for more details on that.
Christmas/Holiday Party has been CANCELED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE
I just got a call from our facility management at WSU and the DF Allmendinger Center is out of power and they will not be able to restore power in time for us today. I am not sure if we can reschedule for another day. I wanted to make sure to get the word out immediately.
Happy Holidays to you all!
Kathy Garlick
