About the River Bend Carving Club
* The River Bend Carving Club membership consists of about 50 members from IL & WI.
* There are approximately 25 members from Kenosha/Pleasant Prairie area.
* Geographically, members are from Milwaukee south to Waukegan, IL and west to South Dakota
* The club was started in the fall of 1980 at Park High School in Racine as a way to share woodcarving knowledge. The founders
were a group of carvers from Kenosha & Racine that were attending carving classes at a store in Elmwood Plaza owned by Randy
Feest(?).
* The original group was Tom Sturino, David Raine, Len Davis, Nancy Reindl, Don McMahon, Jack & Lillian Thorsen, Joyce Levandowski
(and possibly more). Some are all still members of the club.
* The club later moved to Washington Park Golf Course, The Church of the Resurrection and then to The Calvary Memorial Church.
It now meets at the River Bend Nature Center, 3600 North Old Green Bay Road, Racine, WI.
* In the club's earlier years, they had free carving shows as a way to repay the residents of Racine for the use of the room at the
golf course. This free show concept was recently resurrected when one was held at The Church of the Resurrection and on 6th Street.
* At one time the club was involved in Ed Wember's TV show on local cable television in Kenosha.
* The club was also involved in starting the Annual Art Fair at Hawthorne Hollow and still has a booth there each year.
* The Racine Woodcarvers Show, sponsored by Dremel, Inc. & Ducks Unlimited, was held in Feb, 1991 & May, 1992. The club
either participated in or was involved in this short lived but terrific show each year.
* Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month from 7:00 - 9:00 at River Bend Nature Center, 3600 North Old Green Bay
Road, Racine, WI. There is an hour of carving before the meeting (6:00 - 7:00) followed by a short business meeting and a carving
related demonstration (when available).
* The club library has over 225 books, over 40 videotapes and over 60 carving or reference related magazines. Additionally, there
are numerous study bills, beaks, ducks, feet and fish for use by members to help in their carving.
* In 2012, the club name was changed from the "Wildlife Carving Club" to it's present name of "River Bend Carving Club" to promote
the fact that we support all types of wood carving and Pyrography (woodburning) as well.
