This years Hunting Decoy contests, featured the most decoys, entered in the ODCCA and IWCA contests in history. Carver’s from United States and Canada entered these contests to test their skills. Rick Johannsen swept the ODCCA contest held on Saturday, March 18, winning the Best of Show, 2nd Best of Show and 3^rd Best of Show with a Green Wing Teal Hen, Pintail Hen and Pintail Drake.

The IWCA Hunting Decoy contest featured 104 entries from around the country and was won by first time winner, Rick Johannsen. This marked the most entries' in history at any IWCA Show. Rick won with his Green Wing Teal Hen, Redhead Drake and Pintail Hen. The contest featured all first place specie winners from IWCA shows during 1999.

The contest was a success due to the hard work which Bob Sutton and Mark Costilow through the mailings and countless phone calls that were made to get those 104 entries to this years show.

Around the Hunting Decoy contests was the Hunting Decoy Amateur Best of Show and 3^rd Best of Show winner was Jim Brace, Liberty Township, OH with his Wood Duck and Blue Bill. The 2^nd Best of Show Winner was Fred Zink, Sr. of Clayton, OH.

Thanks to all the judges and the many volunteers who worked hard to make this years contests the best ever. Many thanks to Bryan and Joann Watson from California for their help in entering and recording all the decoys.

IWCA paid memberships totaled 811 compared to 556 at this time in 1999. There are four more IWCA shows this year, that are in need of your entries. Help support these shows by attending or mailing your entries.

This year’s IWCA board meeting will be held in Chicago sometime around the first or second weekend of August. If you have any input for the meeting, please contact Bob Sutton , @562 431 4003 or myself @ 740 453 3940. Remember the IWCA is only the carving organization whose major purpose is to represent the carvers.

Sharon Heatwole, National Sales Manager, Performance Hospitality Management, of Dallas, TX has offered her apologies on behalf of the Holiday Inn, Westlake, OH for the wrong room assignments, the booking of the conference rooms on Friday, cleanliness of rooms, poor food preparation and other problems which the guests of the Holiday Inn may have had. She invites anyone to call prior to July 31 for complaints or comments. The telephone number is (800) 762-7416. We met with Sharon and the other representatives of the hotel and expressed our feelings to them. Our contracts with the hotel have been amended to prevent the problems that occurred at the 2000 Show and Sale.

Winter - December 15^th Summer July 31^st

Spring - April 1^st Fall - October 1^st

Cabin fever ever was rampant, it was the last days of winter, as decoy collectors and carvers from across the U.S. and Canada began to arrive for 23^rd Annual Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Show. Anticipation ran high, as the news of the McClerry Auction’s high prices were whispered among collectors. What would it mean for the traditional decoy shows like ours? Would prices skyrocket? Would new collectors suddenly develop from folk art collectors? Would sales of decoys on the Internet increase, or decrease attendance at the traditional shows? As it turned out, not much change was noted, but the questions persist. Read Decoy Magazine for comments about this issue and a great article about the show.

What a weekend it was, cool temperatures but sunshine. Our own native Ohio carver, Rick Johannsen swept first, second, third, and the Best of Show in the Hunting Decoy Contest, and he also swept first, second and third place in the I.W.C.A. National Shoot Off! To appreciate this accomplishment, one must realize that in the O.D.C.C.A. Hunting Decoy Contest and the I.W.C.A., we had 104 entries, the most ever! As I.W.C.A. President, Bob Sutton said, we would like to thank Gary Byran and Mark Costilow for a job well done with both contests. The judges had a challenging task to pick the winners, as quality decoys were the rule. Mr. Sutton also noted that there were a good number of folks observing the contest judging. We are pleased that this record breaking event will be published in the Wildfowl Carving (Competition 2000). This newsletter, a large one, contains all the official winners. So have fun reading and remembering our great "Millennium Show"!

In a way, it was the best of time and worst of times, due to remodeling of the Holiday Inn, Westlake this year. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience to our guests. But thanks to our resilient board members, the show pulled together wonderfully. I am happy to announce that we have been told that we can expect the Federal Duck Stamp Exhibit to return to the show annually. We look forward to this addition at our show. Isn’t Adam Grimm’s work awesome? We are all so proud of him.

Thanks to all participants and congratulations to all the contest winners. I hope all of you had as much fun as we did.

Good Decoying,

Tom Whitlock

Dear Bob,

I do hope this letter finds you well. The reason that I am writing is to congratulate and to thank you and everybody involved with the ODCCA Annual Decoy Show. Since 1983 I have only missed one show, and each time I arrive at the Westlake Holiday Inn, it’s like going home.

To think of the talent and expertise that have passed through those doors during all those years of your wonderful show, is mind boggling. The wealth of classic Vintage decoys has at times, been astounding, enough for any wannabe collector like myself to swoon.

The way your organization embraces conservation and strongly promotes and supports hunting, especially waterfowl hunting has always been at the very core of the organization. To me, that is the bedrock of the ODCCA.

As a member of several organizations, and a founder of the Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo, I understand the burden and sacrifice each of your Chairmen and committee members must shoulder. At times a very thankless job.

With so many contests at your show, I really don’t know how you do it! I attended the Easton Waterfowl Festival for the first time since 1975. Wow, what a difference, the show had grown in leaps and bounds. The Festival Directory is crammed with sponsors, donors, partners and a host of committees and councils. Needless to say, many of the positions had to be paid positions; a volunteer only has so much time to give.

It is my understanding, that very unselfish people, driven by passion and enthusiasm for decoys, carving and collecting run your organization. Seemingly, each show you embrace and encourage another facet of wildlife and waterfowl art…. Keep on pushing the envelope. Almost as if to welcome others into our fold, add their passion and enthusiasm into the mix.

I applaud your intentions, and I am very interested in entering these new contests, but there is only so much artwork and carvings I can produce. If I focus on a new thing, something else seems to suffer.

To me the heart and soul of the ODCCA is vintage decoys and the Wildfowlers contests (what used to be upstairs when Paul Busick and his cronies from all over the country used to pump us up, and have one helluva great time?) now held at poolside. The old tools and artwork of old hunters, and new. The characters, the legends, the cantankerous, yet understanding guys, the drinkers, the regular guys and the egotistical arrogant know it all’s. With all their hi-jinks, laugher pranks practical jokes and comradery. The hunters, the decoys, the carvers each and everyone unique, bringing something different and most likely their own, to the table.

Is it just me, or are some contests so serious now that no one smiles, or laughs, people whisper and the competition is fierce. Come on, these are firggin decoys!!! Most are so taxidermy correct that 6o years from now, who will know who made what, and whose personal style is that anyway?

Years ago, I met Bill Green when he judged at the Pymatuning show. His passion and enthusiasm for decoys impressed me, as did the ODCCA then, and now. I just hope that the talent that runs, and is at the nucleus of the ODCCA is never spread so thin that the core reasons for the show suffer.

I apologize for the tangent, but your show means a lot to me. As do the friendships and acquaintances I’ve made over the years, not mention the knowledge and wisdom gleaned from such talented and world-class people.

I wish each and everyone of you the best, and may God Bless all for producing and creating one the best shows in the country.

Sincerely Vince Pagliaroli

Dear Vince,

We thank you for your kind comments concerning the show. For the many volunteers who work very hard at the show and who we do not see until the new show we felt this letter was very important to all of the members of the Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association to read.

These words give us the drive to begin planning for the new 200l show. It is indeed our focus for planning yet another great event.

Many things have changed over the years, different ideas, pushing the envelope, new ways of doing things, but yes, the old decoy and where it was found, wooing the those great waterfowl is the back drop to our organization and why we get together for our annual get together. Picture all of the decoys around the water getting ready to do their job decoying waterfowl. The calling of the duck and goose calls ringing through poolside. Close your eyes and thinking your at the marsh and now opening them and you see birds which well tell the story of the best anyone person can do!

When one looks at the vintage decoys and the new winners this year it just does not get better than this!

Thank you, Vince, your letter helps us to steer the right course for the next show which we hope everyone enjoys!

Bob Lund

The shore bird entries were down a little this year, but the quality of the carvings was outstanding, a really good contest. Thanks again judges, for doing a great job, you had a tough job to do and you did it well. We had some newer species entered this year, which added more excitement to the contest. The Plover class was again the category with the most entries. The Best of Show bird was an outstanding Wimbrel by Del Herbert, Chula Vista, CA. Del also conducted the Painting Seminar on Friday featuring a Hen Goldeneye. Del also won 2^nd Best with Black Bellied Plover. June Lyons, Long Beach, CA won 3^rd Best with a Whimbrel.

Thanks, Carvers, Judges, Recorders and Volunteers! Hope to see you all at next year’s show.

Daniel Loge’, Grand Junction, CO., Winner of Flat Art Contest

By Richard and Lu Weldon

Daniel Loge’ painting of a Canada Goose was selected as the winner of the first flat art contest. The art work will be used for the 24^th Annual show pin which is given to all who attend the show. The second place was given to Nathan Janes, Port Clinton, Oh, for a Canvasback and third place went to Jefrey Klinefelter, Edna Green, IN for his Black Duck. There 11were other painters who entered the contest.

Daniel has taken 1^st place in the World Painting Competition, Ward Foundation in 1997 and 1998. His artwork has been on the cover of Ducks Unlimited Magazine in 1984, 1985 and 1992. Wildfowl Art Magazine featured his art work on the cover and an feature article on him in the Winter 1997.

Daniel’s work is on display at the Pam Driscol Gallery, Aspen, CO, The Sportsmans Gallery, Savannah, GA, Steven Fland Galleery, Moravia, NY, Ton Kobis Decoy and Wildlife Galler, Frenchtown, NJ, and many other galleries in Colorado.

Dan has been painting and illustrating for 20 years with a specialty in wildlife art. He graduated from Spectrum Institute for the Advertising Arts and has attended Sheridan College, Canada for computer animation.

A good painting should have a life of its own. Creating quality artwork requires a certain working attitude that is triggered by acting on a great idea. I draw my inspiration from real life experiences and enjoy the challenges and processes involved in producing great art.

Dan Loge"

By Bob and Sue Monschein

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2000 ODCCA raffle. It was a success due to the overwhelming response from the members and people who attended the show.

The winners of this year’s raffle were:

1^st Prize - John Peterson and Nancy Kelly Blue Huron - Winner was Dick Weldon

2^nd Prize - Mallard Field Decoy by Mark Costilow - Winner was Ed Parker

3^rd Prize - Mason Decoy - Mr. Donsante

4^th Prize - Print "Wildfowl Counterfeiters" - Julie Teeter

Thanks to John Peterson, Nancy Kelly, Mark Costilow and Dave White for their contributions to the raffle.

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to next years show.

I would like to congratulate the Board Members and all of the committee chairman for putting together another great show.

I want to thank Vic Sutek, Dave Camp, Don and Darlene Fetters and Brian and Kathy Born for selling all of those great "Coot" shirts. Thanks to my Grandson Cory for handing out show buttons on Saturday.

I would like to welcome all the new members who joined the club at the show and to welcome those that renewed their memberships. The winner of this year’s one-year membership was Greg Krejci from Wickliffe, OH, congratulations Greg. Our annual drawing has gone so well for the past two years next years drawing will be for a THREE-YEAR MEMBERSHIP. Dues are $15 for one year or $40 for three years, and are renewable on February 28^th each year.

Please mail memberships to ODCCA membership, 163, Crystal Lake Road, West Union, WV26456, telephone 304 873 2608. E-mail pcostilow@iolinc,net.

Judging Decoratives! Dick Rhode (left), Roy Kroll (center), Del Herbert (right).

By Duane Ganser

The judges for this year's contest were; Roy Kroll, waterfowl biologist and manager of the Winous Point Shooting Club. Dick Rhode, carver and winner of several Best of Show ribbons at contest around the country and blue ribbon winner at The Ward World Championship in the decorative decoy contest. Del Herbert, carver and winner of The Ward World Championship Shootin Rig Contest. Del recently had his rig of geese placed in the Smithsonian Institution. We thank the judges for the impartial job they did judging all the decoys.

We would like to congratulate all the carvers who entered this year's contest. To finish a decorative carving is a major accomplishment and every one who did so is a winner. Your carving may not have won Best of Show, but every carving helped make this years show, The Best Ever (at least in our eyes).

The contest had forty-nine (49) carvers entering eighty-six (86) decoys. The Novice division had twenty (20) carvers enter thirty (30) carvings. Congratulation to Jack Goeller of Kettering Ohio who won Best of Show in the novice division. His drake mallard impressed the judges. The IWCA presented Jack with a gift certificate for carving tools. We know Jack was very pleased to receive
these awards. Second Best Of Show went to Mary Beauvois with her pied bill grebe and third went to William Beal with his carving of a hen bufflehead. The novice carvers should all be proud of their fine work, keep it up.

Eleven (11) carvers entered thirty (30) birds in the Intermediate division. Rick Bobincheck won Best of Show with his beautiful swimming drake mallard. Rick, who is from McClellan, PA. also won a gift certificate from the IWCA. Carvers who mailed in their entries won the second and third Best of Show. Robert Kroese was second with his green wing teal hen and Bob Melcher took third with his drake bufflehead decoy.

The open division had twenty-six (26) birds entered by eighteen (18) carvers. The Best of Show bird was a beautiful carving of a Tundra Swan made by Lionel Dwyer. Lionel is from Pickering, Ont. Canada. The second and third Best of Show went to William Browne of Lincoln NE. with a drake scaup and a hen old squaw, respectfully.

As you can see by the hometown of a few of these carvers, we have a very good draw from around the country and Canada too. Not only mail-ins, but by those who attend the annual show. The carvings entered represented sixteen states.

Scott and I would like to thank the volunteers who helped with the registration of the decoys, both Friday night and Saturday morning. Another helper that I would like to recognize is JoAnne Watson. She not only helped register birds Friday night, she also recorded the winning birds as they were pulled out of the judging tank. What thoughtful people her husband Byran and she are to help us out when we needed it.

One more person needs to be recognized for the help he gave, not only to the floating decorative contest, but also to the entire ODCCA show. Mr. Richard Kemtz, who was the past chairman of the floating decorative decoy contest, is a tireless worker. He set up the judging tank on Friday afternoon with little or no help. He helped put together the viewing room and light system on Friday night. He has the paper work for the contest so well organized that anyone could have taken over as chairman and done a great job with it. He organized the entries so the judging could be done as smoothly as possible. He stayed after the show closed on Sunday evening to help with the clean up of the room. He should be acknowledged for the outstanding effort put forth. He is a super asset to the club and I wish to share this fact with all that enjoy our club. Dick is truly a part of the foundation of our organization and I would hate to think what would happen to the ODCCA if he would no longer be a part of it. I hope everyone who reads this will let Dick know how much his help and hard work is appreciated. Thank you Dick, for a job well done. In addition, "Thank You" for the help in making our first year as co-chairman go so well. I sure hope you will continue to help us in the future!

Signature Bird Winner

Peoples Choice Award(s)

OUR SPECIAL THANKS GO TO THE FOLLOWING FROM THE ODCCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Wildfowl Collecting Magazine for putting our show in Competition 2000 Magazine, we are very pleased and honored.

Decoy Magazine for the great article about the 2000 show.

Thanks to all show chair people and volunteers who worked so hard on producing another great show. We hope you can come back and help next year.

Thanks to the carvers of cocktail birds! This was the best showing ever of cocktail birds.

Thanks Bob Sutton and R. D. Wilson for an outstanding job in auctioning the cocktail birds. It was great to have you both here.

Thanks to Bob and Bonnie Kasper who again did an outstanding job in handling the main Auction.

Thanks to anyone we missed, without you there would be no show!

---

Tom Whitlock (left), Bob Lund (center),talking about John Purvis (right) and his accomplishments in receiving his Life Membership in ODCCA.

COLLECTOR PROFILE
John and Mary Purvis
New Baltimore, MI

by Bob Lund

For the past 12 years John and Mary Purvis have worked hard to make the Collectors activities at the annual show and sale to become one the best in the country. John took the challenge to make the pool side rooms, collecting seminars and the best contest of vintage decoys.

John and Mary, both natives of Michigan, began seriously collecting decoys 20 years ago. They like to collect Ontario hollow body decoys, Michigan, lowheads and other birds. They have written articles in the Wallace-Homestead Price Guide to American Century Antiques, Eight, Ninth and ten Editions.

John still enjoys duck hunting which he began when he was 10 years old. John and his dad hunted over a rig of many Masons off of Sand Pointe on Saginaw Bay. One of John’s memories are that of a neighbor giving him a stack full of Budgen Sanpier decoys which he proceeded to repaint and use in his hunting rig. They finally started to sink and he put them on a shelf and later sold them for $5 each. There are no Sanpier decoys in the Purvis collection.

John and Mary offered this advice in a previous newsletter. We can add but little to the beginner’s rule of decoy collecting: Buy only what you like and can afford! No beginner is expert enough to select the "best" or "most collectable", nor are we convinced that such a thing even exists. We believe that the beginner should buy what "appeals to the heart" more than to the " head". If that folksy beat-up piece of wood will look good on your book shelf or pie safe put it there.

John and Mary have traveled the country visiting other shows and collectors and always invite the people they meet to come to the show.

Because of this dedication which John and Mary Purvis have shown to the ODCCA, we were pleased to present a life membership to them. We salute you and dedicate this profile to both of you.

 

---

Back to Newsletter page

---

Copyright ©2002 O.D.C.C.A. All rights reserved.
Webmaster@odcca.org