Minutes of the 70th & 71st Annual General Meeting

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The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft

70th & 71st Annual General Meeting Saturday, May 8, 2021 Via Zoom Videoconference

Present:
Executive: Lauch Harrison, Jim Wilkes, Della Chynoweth, Lauren Malec. Ex officio: Eugene Pik, Barbara
Chynoweth, Kim Winchester, Paul Kitchener. Non-members: Joanna Malec. Voting Members: Karen
Weber, Sea Leather Wear (Stanley Major), Barry Taylor, David McPherson, Bob Pfister, Nancy Durham

Regrets:
Tracy Howard, Sean Dalgetty

Call to Order:
By Lauch Harrison at 10:06 a.m. Lauch read his President’s Message to all present:

Welcome to the Virtual Annual General Meeting. What great changes the last year and a half has brought to our Leather Working Society and Canadian Society. The time has gone by alternating from very quickly to a dead stop. Without our normal milestones it seems so little time has past since we met last in Norland. The extended period of inactivity has not served us well and if I use my own experience, I did not spend much time with leatherwork.
The Society continues to shrink, but we will continue for our members until our funds are gone.
Our ability to pass along the craft to a new generation has been usurped by the internet and the myriad sites with information, patterns, videos and chat rooms that are free and easy to use. Our challenge is finding ways to remain vital, offering workshops is one avenue. Two years have past and one workshop was developed or given. We can’t sustain interest in the Society unless we can draw outside interest for two reasons; income and introducing the Society to potential members.
The Fellows of the Society judged the First Virtual Annual Competition from photographs and I congratulate them on the effort and thank them for the time spent.
I hope this is not the only way to present our craft for others to see. I hope we will gather, do workshops, demonstrations and have some real Annuals in the coming years.

Minutes of the Last Meeting:
Dated May 4, 2019. Lauch allotted time for all present to read the 69th Annual General Meeting Minutes as circulated prior by email for any revisions, errors and omissions. Motion by Lauren Malec that the minutes be accepted as circulated. Seconded by Jim Wilkes. Carried.

Business Arising from the Minutes of the Last Meeting:

• Number of Articles required for a Weston Trophy Entry motion from Council: Motion by Eugene Pik that the number is changed to 3. Seconded by Kim Winchester. Carried.
• Slate of Officers for the next term, 2021-23, included herein. Lauch congratulated all acclaimed.
• Ribbons and Awards were given out at the conclusion of (e) below along with the Fellows Report, presented by Kim and Eugene. See the CSCL Facebook post for the complete virtual competition

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results and new electronic certificates created by Kim. Awards were paid from General Funds and e-transferred to the recipients.

Reports as Read or Circulated:
a) 1st Vice: by James Wilkes
Nothing to report b) Membership: by Kim Winchester
For the year 2020 -2021, The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft had 37 members.
16 General members, 0 student, 0 Associates, 9 Fellows, 5 Life Memberships, and 7 sustaining members.

I am sorry to report that Dorothy McPherson, one of our Life Members passed away on February 24,
2021.

Please remember to notify the Membership Chairperson of any changes in your contact information.

Kim Winchester
Membership Chairperson c) Library Report: by Paul Kitchener ‘Due to Covid 19 the Library has been closed for the last year and again this year until further notice.’

d) “Canadian Leathercraft” Newsletter: by Barbara Chynoweth, Editor
In 2021 we are changing the number of issues for the Canadian Leathercraft to 3 issues a year.
The “Canadian Leathercrafter”, the Newsletter of CSCL, features our Guild’s news and events, how -to projects, and even some tips and ideas from CSCL’s past. Most issues have articles either from one of our Branches, or our Members-at-Large. As always, these contributions are welcomed.

The Spring 2019 issue covered the 69th Annual CSCL Convention hosted by the Norland Branch.
In the Summer and Fall 2019 we had a CSCL Library Review Quiz, A Summer Study of Acorns, we visited an article From the Vault and showed a Baseball Glove Pattern
The Winter 2019-20 we were please to announce own Jim Wilkes receiving a Medal of Appreciation that he was presented for his services to The International Internet Leathercrafters' Guild, Inc., we had a pattern for a Native Medicine Bag a pattern for a Puzzle Pouch. CSCL loses a Life Member - Loreen
Manuel, A Blast from the Past.
Spring 2020 Sadly we announced Our 2020 CSCL 70th Convention postponed to 2021, Baby Moccasin pattern, Meet Lester Pinter a new FCSCL, Summer School Door Prize – Sponsored by the MAL, London,
Ont.
Summer 2020 We had instructions on making a Hinged Box with Lauch Harrison
Fall and Winter 2020 – Get ready for Christmas – Make a Poinsettia pin – Make a Dove to hang in your
Christmas Tree - Here are some patters from the “Make It with Leather” November 1983 – Leather
Resources – How to make a Key Fob - Leather & Tin Foil Icicles & Hearts

I am always looking for articles and ideas for the Newsletter.

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Chynoweth, Editor

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e) Council of Fellows Report- Sean Dalgetty, FCSCL
The Fellows of the Society met twice this past year, both meetings were held virtually on a ZOOM call. The first meeting was to set up the parameters for the First Virtual Annual Competition and the second meeting to judge the entries. The Members of the Society were able to send photographs (via email) of their work into the website, from the emails, the photos were uploaded to google albums. The
Virtual Judges – Lauch, Sean, Betsy, Kim & Karen were tasked to set up their own personal scoring systems and arrive at a score from 0 – 5 on each entry. The scores were averaged and sorted this gave an order of highest score to lowest.
Not being able to see, hold and understand the construction of the physical entry proved difficult and future virtual competitions will include an explanation of the work or techniques used.
We had 26 entries from 8 Members, 3 General Members and 5 Fellows, from those entries 13 were awarded Craft Certificates and 12 were Awarded Salon Certificates. The Judges were able to award
Best General Members Piece and Best Fellows Piece along with the other awards and they are as follows:

Irva Ford Award for Best Moulding -Tammy Paddon for Zippered Molded Eye Glasses Case
Robert Muma Award for Best Tooling or Colouring - Gregory Belenky for Abduction of Proserpine
Best Hard Sculpture Award - Kim Winchester for Growling Bear
Woodstock Heritage Award - Sean Dalgetty for Veg Tanned Purse
Best General Member Piece - Gregory Belenky for Abduction of Proserpine
Best Fellow Piece - Eugene Pik for Red Oxford Shoes
Best in Show - Eugene Pik for Red Oxford Shoes
Yours Truly;
Lauch Harrison
Secretary of the Council Fellows of the CSCL f) Workshop Report - Lauch Harrison FCSCL, Jim Wilkes ACSCL
CSCL Workshop Report for the Virtual 70th Annual 2021
The Committee presented one workshop in the Norland School Hall Community Centre. Using this workshop space allowed our presentation to be done at minimal cost. Thanks to the dedicated
Norland Executive for their support and co-operation.
Lester and I went up on a beautiful Saturday in October, to present a sharpening workshop. I brought a handout on sharpening the usual tools head knife, French edger, Round edger, Shears etc.
The workshop attendees set about tuning up their tools consuming sandpaper all participants got two sheets of abrasive paper to take home. Lester did some work on some braiding a mystery braid bracelet. The workshop cost $10.
I donated a French Edger to raffle off.
Our Workshops drew 8 participants.
Please consider some projects and send your ideas to the committee, we will then put some programming together and make a workshop.

g) Web Administrator Report: by Eugene Pik, ECO, FCSCL https://canadianleathercraft.org/ is working well.
The newsletters are posted regularly on both the website and the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CanadianLeathercraft h) Privacy Officers Report: by Lauch Harrison
Nothing new to report for this year.

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i) Treasurer’s Report: by Della Chynoweth
See pages 6-9.

Branch Reports for 2019-2021:
Hamilton Branch - Respectfully Branch President Sean Dalgetty, FCSCL
For the past two years, Hamilton Leather Guild has been able to gather intermittently when the isolation rules were loosened to allow our twice a month meetings on the second & fourth Wednesday (evening) of each month. Our memberships have risen to 8 people. We have our meetings in the home of Colin and Tammy Paddon. The Paddon’s have been members for some years now and have opened up the basement workroom that is a super work area. Our last meeting was nine months ago and we've been raring to go on various projects: thong and lace making, whip making, moulded form purse, wallet construction and projects for some of the new members
Lauch Harrison, FCSCL

Mississauga Branch – Respectfully submitted by Jim Wilkes
From September 2019 to April 2020
September – started to make a quick change purse
October – Finished off the quick change purse
November – made Christmas Tags
December – Workshop to make Sheepskin Mitts
January – Discussed what projects for the Annual
February – Discussed Workshops for the year
March to April – no meeting due to COVID
From September 2020 to April 2021 - no meeting due to COVID

Norland Branch - Respectfully submitted by Tracey Howard
May we worked on projects that we had not completed. June we had a BBQ hosted by Barbara and
Della. In September and October we worked on projects. In November Lauch and Lester came for a
Workshop. We do not have a meeting in December. January and February we worked on making a one-piece wallet. Norland Leather Club did not have any meetings after this due to the fact that The Norland
School Hall Community Centre where we have our meetings is shut down due to Covid-19.

Members-At-Large (MAL) REPORT- Respectfully submitted Lauren Malec, MAL Representative
Seventy years already! Heureux anniversaire à tous!
CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT featured the MAL CSCL Library Review for a fifth consecutive summer except with a twist. How well did you score on this book quiz?
At the Thorndale Fall Fair, Community Centre, one MAL (2006) demonstrated her fish leather acorns alongside a past member’s molded leather goats display. Local news reported, in late February, that this building succumbed to an overnight fire; their city intends to rebuild for Fall 2020.
This year two Woodstock Branch (inaugurated at the 18th Annual) pioneering members passed away. A Craftsman Award winner and their first branch President, Beula Reynolds was in her 98th year (CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT, Summer-Fall 2019). Loreen Manuel, their first branch Vice President, and benefactor of the CSCL Fund - Teaching in Leathercraft was 97. Their untiring commitment to leathercraft resonates beyond today.
Executive Council Meetings were attended by the MAL Representative, notably March and April newly held via ZOOM video conferencing service.
In light of the 27% MAL membership attrition this year, rest assured that a solid CSCL foundation already exists.

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Buildup leathercraft: slip a cutting mat under your computer keyboard!
Respectfully submitted, Lauren Malec, MAL Representative “Together Apart – 70 plus ONE!“
At the May 2020 Executive Meeting, a motion was carried for the MAL Representative to fill the position as Executive Council ‘Backup Secretary’ of the meeting minutes which are held via Zoom.
Since September’s notice of the newly formed Ongoing List of Interesting Leathercraft Websites by the Executive Council, three contributing MAL were featured in CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT, Fall 2020.
Craft Ontario, formerly Ontario Craft Council, surpassed their fundraising goal in a November online auction, For the Love of Craft, where one MAL had generously donated 13 handmade leather boxes.
MAL, Honorary Life Member, Dorothy McPherson passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021.
Dorothy, an international folk artisan/writer, joined CSCL in 1990, tirelessly promoting leathercraft over the years: Craft Ontario liaison, Editor/Contributing Writer, Workshop Instructor and co-founder CSCL
London Jewellery Award. We remember her fondly in the upcoming CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT periodical.
Via email, we caught up with MAL, Honorary Life Member, Madeleine Mitchell, and learn about her New Cell Phone Leather Case, a custom project featured in CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT with photos.
Sustaining Member and MAL, Sea Leather Wear, shipped suede and glazed, carp and salmon skins from Alberta to the Executive Council – an initiation of hope and expectation that all in-person meetings will begin again in our new membership year.
“Per ardua ad astra.”
Respectfully submitted, Lauren Malec, MAL Representative

Financial Review Report
Due to COVID 19 these Financial Statements have not been reviewed.

New Business:
1. A 15-minute presentation was made by Sustaining Member, Stanley Major of Sea Leather Wear, on the characteristics, sizes and uses of carp and salmon skins. Perch and seabass are also available from an existing stock they market.
2. Motion by Lauch to accept Branch Reports as amended. Seconded by Kim. Carried.
3. Lauren requested a motion be made for more transparency by the Executive Council to better inform all members about the cost/alternatives/incident reports of the insurance policy. Motion by Lauch to immediately send a copy of the Insurance Policy to all Branch Presidents. Seconded by Kim. Carried.

Adjournment:
(11:26 a.m.)

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The Canadian Society for Creative
Leathercraft
Operating Account
April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020
2020 2019

Income
Membership Dues 1,200.00 1,265.00
Donations 80.00
Estate of Bill Whittingham 1,800.00 74.75
Interest/Adv in Bulletin 12.07 9.00
Annual Meeting 2,055.50 0.00
Total Income $5,147.57 $1,348.75

Expenses
Membership, Postage and Stationery 0.00 38.82
Annual Meeting 2,844.34 941.63
Awards 0.00 370.00
Web Charges 0.00 34.00
Shows and Workshops 0.00 0.00
Dues and Membership (OCC Awards Donation) 0.00 0.00
Mileage 0.00 0.00
Indemnity Insurance 1036.80 1036.80
Bank Charges 72.50 90.90
Total Expenses $3,953.64 $2,512.15

Income Over Expenses $1,193.93 -$1,163.40

Ledger Balance (Beginning of Year) 7,524.31 8,687.71
Net change over year $1,193.93 -$1,163.40

Ledger Balance End of Year $8,718.24 $7,524.31

CIBC Term Deposit 5,261.65 5,230.10
GIC 2,000.00 2,000.00
Cash in Bank 8,718.24 7,524.31

Total Funds $15,979.89 $14,754.41

Bank Account Reconciliation
Balance on Bank Statement March 31 8,718.24 8,561.11
Less Outstanding Cheques 0.00 -1,036.80
Plus Outstanding Deposits 0.00 0.00

Ledger Balance March 31 $8,718.24 $7,524.31

Respectfully Submitted Della Chynoweth

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The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft

Awards and Endowments

April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020
2020 2019

Michigan Soft Leather 759.05 759.05

Betty Heacock 1,721.14 1,721.14

London Jewellery Award 60.00 60.00

MSCL Award 100.00 100.00

Woodstock Award 1,219.14 1,219.14

Manuel 1,287.52 1,287.52

Al Foss Award/Workshop 350.00 350.00

Jack Meharg Award 500.00 500.00

Bruce White Award 450.00 450.00

Total Awards 6,446.85 6,446.85

Total Funds Available 14,754.41 14,663.30

General Funds Available $8,307.56 $8,216.45

Respectfully Submitted Della Chynoweth

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The Canadian Society for Creative
Leathercraft
Operating Account
April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021
2021 2020

Income
Membership Dues 1,080.00 1,200.00
Donations 40.00 80.00
Estate of Bill Whittingham 0.00 1,800.00
Interest/Adv In Bulletin 26.00 12.07
Annual Meeting 10.00 2,055.50
Total Income $1,156.00 $5,147.57

Expenses
Membership, Postage and Stationery 0.00 0.00
Annual Meeting 0.00 2,844.34
Awards 0.00 0.00
Web Charges 85.00 0.00
Shows and Workshops 0.00 0.00
Dues and Membership (OCC Awards Donation) 0.00 0.00
Mileage 0.00 0.00
Indemnity Insurance 972.00 1036.80
Bank Charges 42.00 72.50
Total Expenses $1,099.00 $3,953.64

Income Over Expenses $57.00 $1,193.93

Ledger Balance (Beginning of Year) 8,718.24 7,524.31
Net change over year $57.00 $1,193.93

Ledger Balance End of Year $8,775.24 $8,718.24

CIBC Term Deposit 5,330.05 5,261.65
GIC 2,000.00 2,000.00
Cash in Bank 8,775.24 8,718.24

Total Funds $16,105.29 $15,979.89

Bank Account Reconciliation
Balance on Bank Statement
March 31 8,775.24 8,718.24
Less Outstanding Cheques 0.00 0.00
Plus Outstanding Deposits 0.00 0.00

Ledger Balance March 31 $8,775.24 $8,718.24

Respectfully Submitted Della Chynoweth

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The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft

Awards and Endowments
April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021
2021 2020

Michigan Soft Leather Award 759.05 759.05

Betty Heacock Award 1,721.14 1,721.14

London Jewellery Award 60.00 60.00

MSCL Award 100.00 100.00

Woodstock Award 1,219.14 1,219.14

Manuel Endowment 1,287.52 1,287.52

Al Foss Award/Workshop 350.00 350.00

Jack Meharg Award 500.00 500.00

Bruce White Award 450.00 450.00

Total Awards/Endowment 6,446.85 6,446.85

Total Funds Available 16,105.29 15,975.89

General Funds Available $9,658.44 $9,529.04

Respectfully Submitted Della Chynoweth

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The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft

Your Executive for 2021 - 2023

Executive
Past President Jim Wilkes [telephone number removed]
President Lauch Harrison [telephone number removed]
1st Vice President Jim Wilkes [telephone number removed]
Secretary Lauren Malec
Treasurer Della Chynoweth [telephone number removed]

Branch Presidents
Hamilton Sean Dalgetty [telephone number removed]
Mississauga Jim Wilkes [telephone number removed]
Norland Tracey Howard [telephone number removed]
MAL Appointee Lauren Malec

Ex-Officio
Chairman – Council of Fellows Sean Dalgetty [telephone number removed]
Teaching Standards Lauch Harrison [telephone number removed]
Editor – Canadian Leathercraft Barbara Chynoweth [telephone number removed]
Membership Kim Winchester
Librarian Paul Kitchener [telephone number removed]
Privacy Officer Lauch Harrison [telephone number removed]
Electronic Communications Officer Eugene Pik

Special Committees
Workshops Lauch Harrison, Jim Wilkes