LETTER FROM DESK OF THE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Another year has passed and we are entering the 27th year of our annual show and sale. Our committee has been working hard to produce another quality decoy competition and show.

Our show bird the Wigeon painted by Jeffrey Klinefelter is featured on the show pin, tee shirt and sweatshirts.

Our weekend begins on Thursday, with the judging of the Junior Duck Stamp contest that was previously held at Davis Bessie Power Plant in Port Clinton, OH. We are pleased to have this event included with our show this year. Children from Kindergarten to 12th grade from around the entire state of Ohio will be competing for the Best of Show award and to represent the state at the National finals. Adam Grimm of Elyria has represented the state in this contest. The final 12 pieces will be judged on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm. The final 12 participates and their families will be invited to attend the judging. We want thank the US Fish and Wildlife staff from Ottawa Refuge for asking us to host this event.

Again this year we will have the seminar for kids led by Jim Wilson where they will learn to paint a wigeon in the Mason Challenge grade style. The wigeon is also featured in our painting and head whittling contests. As an added attraction this year there will be silhouettes of the wigeon at the club table all during the show for those kids who did not get a chance to paint at the seminar. We want to thank Charley Hall for supplying the silhouettes and for the help to make the kid’s seminar possible. Thank you, Bob George for supplying the pattern and colors necessary for the Mason Wigeon.

We are pleased that Keith Mueller, Peter Palumbo and Ken Trayer will be putting on seminars. Keith’s seminar on Friday is a sell out and Peter is sure to have an over-flowing room on Sunday morning for those who want to learn about Peter’s style of painting. Peter will continue where he left off last year. This seminar will start at 10 am.
Ken will be covering Vintage Factory Decoys on Saturday afternoon.

Betty Odine has again sponsored the bird in the nest contest. This year any bird in a nest will be accepted. The purchase award will be $500. Let’s get those chips flying.

Our open hunting shorebird contest is again a purchase award sponsored by Tom Whitlock. We look forward to seeing exquisite examples of shorebirds by some of the best shorebird carvers.

Stop by the ballroom to see the Federal Duck stamp contest entries for the 2004 stamp. Adam Grimm has provided his displays and his enthusiasm to make the exhibit possible. Our flat art contest is located by this exhibit and we hope to see many entries again this year. This year the artist will be able to keep his painting and give the organization the right to use it in on the pin, tee shirts and publications.


We are pleased to participate in the Endangered Specie Contest sponsored by Wildfowl Carving Magazine. Their generous support of the prize money and ribbons is very much appreciated. In addition Wildfowl Carving Magazine will sponsor the Peoples Choice Winner in the Decorative Bird room on the second floor. Our show will again be showcased in Competition Magazine this is a real honor to be chosen to be included in the Competition Magazine. We thank you - Candace Derr.

Our thanks also go to Joe Engers for his continued support of our show in Decoy Magazine and for their sponsorship of the Vintage Contest.

This years’ first early bird drawing for one- night stay at the Holiday Inn won by Brad Falkinburg, Rocky River, OH. Dinner for two at the Holiday Inn was won by Bill Kaatz. Congratulations, to both of this year’s winners. Look in this envelope for the entry form and enter again for the next drawing featuring a night’s stay and dinner for two. Thank you for your continued support of the ODCCA in buying raffle tickets. A big Thank you also goes out to the Holiday Inn for the raffle prizes. Thanks also go to Peter Palumbo, Gary Joe Bryan, Jim Wilson, for their donation of prizes for the raffle. A special thank you to Dave White for the circa 1890-1900 vintage decoy. If you win this decoy and for some reason you do not want to keep it, Dave will give you $300 for the decoy. It does not get much better than that.
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We look forward to seeing all our old friends again and to welcome the many new visitors to our show.

Carvers keep those chips flying so your birds will be ready for the show. Collectors get those vintage birds out of storage and get them ready for trading and selling.

See you at show!

Tom Whitlock
President

Bob Lund
Executive Board Chairman

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