16th Annual Eastern Conference

Featured Speakers

Our two featured speakers will be Scott Northcott, of Northcott Wood Turning, Walpole, NH. Scott will tell us of his life as a cottage industrialist and how he became the leading supplier of pegs to the timber frame industry while maintaining a remarkable lifestyle.

Besides having stretched a steel cable without permission between the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, High Wire Artist Philippe Petit writes, draws, performs close-up magic, practices lockpicking and 18th-century timber framing, plays chess, studies French wine and was recently sighted bullfighting in Peru. And, he has been arrested over 500 times . .. for street juggling. His lecture: Don't be afraid! will be about creativity, tenacity, motivation and the pursuit of excellence. Drawing from 35 years of experience on five continents, with the help of slides, demonstrations, sketches, true stories, even magic tricks, Keynote Speaker Philippe Petit is going to inspire even the most timid among us to tackle mighty new projects, to prove nothing is impossible!

Conference Seminars (Friday to Sunday)

As always we will have a full slate of activities and programs for both beginning and expert timber framers.

The Basic Track will include Grigg Mullen on timber sizing, John Miller with a new look at the uses of the steel square, Rudy Christian on layout systems, Mark Williams from Lee Valley Tools on sharpening and Donna Williams and Bob Smith on the life of the journeyman timber framer.

History buffs will enjoy Richard Casselman's stories and pictures of years as historic millwright at Upper Canada Village, Ian Ellison's tales of two Quebec barns, Lisa Sasser's visit to National Park Service Heritage Structures, and Alfredo Rico's tour of Montebello and the story of its construction in just 90 days.

Scott Landis, author of The Workshop Book, will explain his latest work with sustainable forestry in Honduras and the harvesting of timber knees. Ted Haendel will lead a three hour hands-on course on splicing double braid synthetic rope. Gordon MacDonald from Carpenter Oak & Woodland will talk about their burgeoning timber frame apprenticeshop in Scotland.

Engineers will enjoy the results of Rob Erikson's full-scale frame tests as well as the latest from Dr. Richard Schmidt's joinery testing; he will also lead a research forum to discuss the next steps which should be taken.

On the Design theme, John MacFarland will reprise and expand his popular talk at the last Western Conference on Design Principles, Ancient and Sacred, Chris Madigan will offer guidelines for estimating, and Doug Anderson and Abby Waldron will show us how to design our frames for the efficient use of panel enclosures.

Special Events

The fair will feature suppliers for the timber frame industry who will display their products and services and explain in detail how they're used. Meet those who support our craft in the field, including panel suppliers, tool vendors and wood brokers. Don't miss the Mixer Friday at 4:30 PM in the Trade Fair area. Trade Show contact: Jerry Rouleau at 603-643-5033.

Bring ten of your favorite slides related to your work in timber framing to share on Friday night. Everyone's work is welcome at this Conference highlight. Please put your name on each slide and be prepared to give a brief narrative to accompany their showing.

Please bring a unique item for the benefit Auction on Saturday night, which is an always entertaining part of the Guild's annual fundraising efforts. Feel free to send an item if you can't make the Conference in person. Auction contact: Sandy Bennett at 540-382-1102.

Here's you chance to air your good ideas or beefs about what the Guild should be doing. Saturday after the New Members' Lounge.

Specifically for those new to the Guild, this Saturday afternoon informal session will allow members to ask questions and meet the veterans.

Charlotte Cooper will once again bring her Summer Beam Books for one-stop shopping and browsing for all those hard-to-find titles on woodworking and timber framing. Open all weekend.

Bring your best trunnell and have it tested to breaking by Richard Schmidt and Scott Northcott. We'll find out which species and size is the strongest.

Room reservations: Lodging is not included in your conference fee and must be booked with the hotel directly. Call the hotel at 819-423-6341; be sure to mention you're with the Timber Framers Guild to get the special Conference rate. Rates are $165 Canadian (approximately $110 US) for a single or double occupancy Canadian Pacific room, $175 CAN ($117 US) single or double occupancy for a Deluxe room (better views) and $195 CAN ($130 US) for a single or double occupancy Premier Room (very spacious with the best views). A third person sharing is an additional $30 CAN per night. Children 18 years old and under and sharing their parent's accommodation are complimentary.

The hotel will add 7% GST and 7.5% PST plus a $4 CAN per room per day service charge. The GST and PST are rebatable on room charges for non-Canadians. If more than 75% of the conference registrants are non-Canadian (a likely occurrence), you will be able to immediately get the rebate at the hotel; otherwise an application procedure must be followed after the conference.

Alternative lodging: For those of you looking for cheaper lodgings in the area, consult www.bbcanada.com and search on "Montebello." You'll see 4 B&Bs: Jardins de Rêves, Le Clos des Cèdres, and Le Petit Chateau (all in Montebello) plus A L'Orée du Moulin (in Papineauville). The room rates range from $45 to $95.

Travel Arrangements: The hotel staff is cheerfully and fluently bi-lingual, and Ottawa is the preferred airport, logistically and ease-of-use wise. Camping, B&B, and motor camping resources are plentiful in the Montebello area. Information is available from the delightfully competent ladies at the Gare de Montebello, 819 423 5602. Region-wide tourist info is available from the Centrale de Reservations Petite-Nation 877 983 1717.

Border crossings for non-Canadians: Those driving to Montebello from the U.S. should remember to obtain Canadian currency before arriving at the hotel. We have been alerted that the immigration officials are also requiring picture identification or birth certificates for children traveling with a single parent, and a letter from the absent spouse showing permission to cross the border with the children.