Murray Hinter spearheaded the project and did a great job with his committee. The committee cut the blanks for everyone and chose a variety of patterns so we would have a wide range of ornaments at all different ability ranges. We held several carving sessions throughout the year including some for finishing. Some were finished with paints but Murray held several finishing sessions using shoe polish and waxes which produced very soft finishes and very lifelike facial colors.
The beneficiary was the Little Lions Waldorf Children's Center. They were starting a project to develop a children's nature trail system around Thunder Bay. We thought it was a good match with our club. The final name of the project is Big Boreal Adventure.
The final ornament count was just over 280 - many members carved several. Tree #1 was 50 ornamnents - a full nativity including the creche & animals. Tree #2 was a collection of just over125 ornaments. Tree #3 was a collection of just over 75 ornaments. Each prize included the tree as well as decorations.
We surprised everyone by selling just shy of 10,000 tickets and raising $16,000 for the Little Lions. Way to go everyone involved! The 3 winners were thrilled with their trees. The big winners were the kids who will have a new nature trail scheduled to start in April 2010. The trail consists of about 20 nature points of interest with a rubbing plate at each site. The kids get a passport to do all the rubbings.
Many thanks to all those who sold tickets and to the many businesses around town that supported us either by donating products or allowing us to sell tickets, including Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Vanderwees Nursery, Intercity Shopping Center, Canadian Tire, Hymers & Murillo Fall Fairs, Valhalla Inn and Quality Market.
These are a few pictures of the final trees and a few closeups of some ornaments.
