BGOP SPRING FLING 2010

THE BLACKSMITHS’ GUILD of the POTOMAC Inc

Announces

Spring Fling April 16 thru18, 2010
Gates open 3pm Friday April 16

We again invite you to join us in at our traditional SPRING FLING, a two and a half day blacksmithing event with demonstrations, tailgating and story telling. The Berryville, VA. Ruritan Fairgrounds gives us ample tailgating and camping space NOTE : THE FAIRGROUNDS CHARGES FOR RV’S OR CAMPERS. $15.00 per HOOK-UP $ 10.00 PARKING per night.

THIS IS NEW ,WE DON’T LIKE IT BUT IT IS THEIR RULE. .

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Demonstrators for SPRING FLING 2010 will be:

Tom Latané from Pepin, WI. www.spaco.org/latane/TCLatane.htm

Plus the blacksmiths from COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

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The contest for 2010 Spring Fling will be anything that will fit into a box with an inside measure of 8-5/8 inches x 11 inch x 5-7/8 inches. It must be forged and signed by everyone that works on the project. It may have one or many pieces.

A great place to see and visit with old friends and make new ones while enjoying a great weekend of blacksmithing and the VIRGINIA country air.

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We will have the internet link to download your own registration package again this year. This option is for those that do not receive an invite by regular mail. It will be a pdf you just download and print, then mail in.

We look forward to seeing you at the Spring Fling.

Gates Open Fri at 3pm

Berryville is located 8 miles east of Winchester VA. on Va Route 7, and 45miles west of Tyson’s Corner, VA.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL MEMBERS

The Arlington County Manager's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010,
beginning July 1, 2009, include a proposal to close the Gulf Branch Nature
center and demolish the existing Nature Center building. The proposed
budget states that the park and parking lot will remain available to
visitors, with most indoor programs being relocated to the Potomac Overlook
Nature Center. The County has already moved to the position of the only
full-time employee of the Nature Center.

At this point it is unknown what effect closure of the Nature Center would
have on the Guild forge. At a minimum, the Guild would lose its forum for
Board meetings and special events. Electric service to the forge is from a
panel in the Nature Center building, so loss of electricity to the forge is
possible. Beyond this, the Guild has enjoyed a long and cooperative
relationship with the Nature Center staff, and closure of the Center cannot
be a good thing for the Guild in the short or long term.

The County Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on March
24, 2009, at 7:00 P.M. The County Board is scheduled to adopt a 2010 budget
on April 28.

More Info can be found below. please join the groups and send your letters as appropriate. More as it comes in .
Come to the meeting on the first Fri in March.


Friends of Gulf Branch Nature Center on yahoo

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64156458473&ref=nf

http://plantwhacker.blogspot.com/

http://thegreenmiles.blogspot.com/2009/02/look-at-proposed-cuts-to-arling tons.html

get in touch with Bill Wojcik or any board member if you can help

THE BLACKSMITHS’ GUILD of The POTOMAC

Announces

Spring Fling April 17,18,19, 2009
Gates open 3pm Fri.

We again invite you to join us in a return to the traditional SPRING FLING, two and a half day event with demonstrations, tailgating and story telling. The Berryville VA. Ruritan Fairgrounds gives us ample tailgating and camping space.
NOTE :THE FAIRGROUNDS CHARGES FOR HOOK-UPS. $15.00 per night

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The Demonstrators for SPRING FLING 2009 will be:

HOLLY FISHER HAS CANCELLED

STEVE JOSLYN - ARTIST BLACKSMITH, SMYRNA,NY

KEN SCHWARZ - MASTER BLACKSMITH, ANDERSON FORGE
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

RICHARD SULLIVAN-JOURNEYMAN GUNSMITH
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

J.J. ROBERTS - MASTER ENGRAVER , MANASSAS ,VA.

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CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED IN REGISTRATION PACKAGE OUT FEB 1,2009

A great place to see and visit with old friends and make new ones while enjoying a great weekend of blacksmithing and the VIRGINIA country air.

*******

We will have the internet link to download your own registration package again this year.

This is for those that do not receive an invite by regular mail. This is a non-response item you just download and print, then mail in. Look forward to seeing you at the Spring Fling.

Gates Open Fri at 3pm

Berryville,VIRGINIA is located 8mi. east of Winchester VA. on Va Rt.7, 45miles west of Tysons Corner, VIRGINIA

meeting 8/15/08 GULF BRANCH

8/14/2008, Kuck, Keith wrote:

Foundation crew reports that the foundation was poured that the delivery was 90 min late but the total pour time was about 50 min. All went well and we now have a load of gravel and a load of sand in the parking lot waiting to be moved to the site Friday night. We hope to have 800 pavers for the floor in the parking lot by Friday night also. Meeting Friday will be a moving party of Pavers, Gravel and Sand.

Cheers
Keith

AUGUST 9-10 2008

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THERE WILL BE A MEETING AT GULF BRANCH TO DIG FOOTERS FOR OUR ADDITION.
YOU ARE ASKED TO BRING A SHOVEL AND WHEEL BARREL IF YOU HAVE ONE .

Let Paul Hollis know if you can make it

Yea that is tomorrow SATURDAY AUG.09,2008 9:00AM

Laura Fay Blumenthal

So GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU we SENT Mbaye a package some time ago and are very curious as to its arrival .

LB said...
Hi BGOP,

I am a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Fatick, Senegal. I was just introduced to Mbaye Fall, the Senegalese blacksmith who participated in your Folkslife Festival in 2007.

Mr. Fall asked me to get in touch with BGOP and serve as his translator. Is there an email address to which I could send a letter? I intend on sending one by post, as well.

Next week, I plan on visitng Mr. Fall at his workshop and will take some photos to send to you.

Best regards,

Laura Blumenthal
Peace Corps Volunteer
Small Enterprise Development
Fatick, Senegal

Thursday, 17 July, 2008

Spring Fling 2008

THE BLACKSMITHS’ GUILD Of The POTOMAC

Announces

Spring Fling April 18,19,20, 2008
Gates open 3pm Fri.

We again invite you to join us in a return to the traditional SPRING FLING, two and a half day event with demonstrations, tailgating and story telling. The Berryville VA. Ruritan Fairgrounds gives us ample tailgating and camping space.
NOTE :THE FAIRGROUNDS CHARGES FOR HOOK-UPS. $15.00 per night

*********

The Demonstrators for SPRING FLING 2008 will be:

JAMES VISTE - ARTIST BLACKSMITH , DETROIT, MI

CRAIG BARR - MAKER OF PATTERN WELDED STEEL Cotopaxi, Co

KEN SCHWARZ - MASTER BLACKSMITH, ANDERSON FORGE
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

J.J. ROBERTS MASTER ENGRAVER , MANASSAS ,VA.

**********************************************

CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED IN REGISTRATION PACKAGE OUT FEB 1,2008

A great place to see and visit with old friends and make new ones while enjoying a great weekend of blacksmithing. And the VIRGINIA country air.
**

*****

We will have the internet link to download your own registration package again this year.

This is for those that do not receive an invite by regular mail. This is a non-response item you just download and print, then mail in. Look forward to seeing you at the Spring Fling.

Gates Open Fri at 3pm

Berryville,VIRGINIA is located 8mi. east of Winchester VA. on Va Rt.7, 45miles west of Tysons Corner, VIRGINIA