2006 Eastern Conference

Enjoy the fall colors and join us at the historic Hotel Roanoke in November for a packed schedule of events. Click here if you haven't yet booked your room.

Our 22nd Eastern Conference features a very full schedule, opening with an impressive line-up of Pre-Conference workshops and featuring speaker Sarah Susanka.

The Main Event

The main Conference begins on Friday morning, November 10th and runs until noon on Sunday, November 12th. Click here to read about details of the conference on a day-to-day basis. Here are some highlights:

Keynotes

Keynote Speakers for the main Conference include Sarah Susanka and Rudy Christian. Sarah Susanka is a cultural visionary leading a movement that is redefining the American home. Today, her “build better, not bigger” approach to residential architecture has been embraced by homeowners, architects and builders across the country and her Not So Big philosophy has sparked a national dialogue.

Everyone of us has heard, or more than likely at one time joked, about the "butt crack" drywaller or carpenter on some "union job" or other but how many of us have ever really considered where the carpenter or plasterer might belong in the rich historic pallet of the built environment that we have inherited from our forefathers? In Rudy's presentation he will look not only at how the "hand of the master" can be found when we unlock the time capsule of historic architecture, but also how it influenced the forms buildings and even cities took on when the skills of the builder were what powered the wheels of progress.

Presentations

Our popular Natural Building Track will return with all new presentations and will conclude with the Natural Building Forum, when you'll have a chance to ask questions of all these experts.

In addition we add a Shop Practices Track for both beginners and experienced timber framers. Will Beemer will give a synopsis and update on the Safe Work Practices training curriculum the Guild has developed, Dan Boyle will speak on Preservation and Repair Techniques of Historic Timber Frames, and Laura and Rick Brown will describe their work in Prague with the 14th Century Medieval Human Powered Crane.

Sponsors

We want to thank the following for their contributions to help make the Conference more affordable for all of you:

• Major Sponsor: HSB-CAD
• Sarah Susanka’s Keynote Sponsors:
  Blue Ridge Timberwrights
  Goshen Timber Frames
  Insulspan
  New Energy Works & Pioneer Millworks
  Lost Bent Woodworking & Design
  Trillium Dell Timberworks
• Trade Show Sponsors: Mafell North America
  True Panel Company
• Contributing Sponsor: Timber Home Living
• Summerbeam Bookstore sponsor: Duluth Timber
• Children's Workshop sponsor: Ancestral Wood Products

Please support our sponsors both during the conference and afterward, too.

Special Events

Dance to the Big Dog and Fat Cat’s 10-piece Swing Band! 8:30 - midnight, Friday, November 10. Sponsored by XTABI Engineering, Timber Works of Interest, Holder Brothers Timberframes, New Leaf Timber Frames, with additional support from Duluth Timbers, Springpoint, Inc., Blue Ridge Yurts and Maury River Mallets.

The Children's Discovery Workshop will return, and we are seeking volunteers to assist at this remarkable event.

We will also continue with our regular Conference features, including the Summerbeam Bookstore, the Slide Show, our Benefit Auction, the Trade Fair, and the annual Membership Meeting.

About Our Venue

The Hotel Roanoke was begun in 1882 and underwent a major restoration in the 1990s. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and retains its atmosphere as the centerpiece of the railroad boom that led to the development of the Roanoke Valley. Visit the hotel's website www.hotelroanoke.com.

Conference attendees must make their own reservations at the Hotel Roanoke 866-594-4722 or 540-985-5900 8am-5pm Monday - Friday. Be sure to mention the Timber Framers Guild to get the special rate of $115 per night, single or double (each additional person is $10/per night, plus tax). Rooms are not included in the Conference fee paid to the Guild. We recommend you make your reservation early to be sure of getting a room. This rate is only guaranteed until October 16th or until the block is sold out.

Online reservations may be made at http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/ personalized/roaswdt_tfg/index.jhtml.

Attractions on the Way

Roanoke is the furthest south we have ever ventured for an Eastern Conference, and is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. People traveling to the Roanoke Conference by car can see a range of interesting historic sites along the way in Virginia. Among the numerous colonial and historic sites are many interesting timber framed structures that are open to the public. Here are the names of sites and links to web pages that have been pointed out to me by members.

• Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville www.monticello.org/
• Poplar Forest, octagonal retreat designed by Thomas Jefferson in Bedford County near Lynchburg http://www.poplarforest.org/visi.html
• University of Virginia in Charlottesville www.virginia.edu
• Montpelier, home of James Madison in Orange www.montpelier.org
• Humpback Bridge in Covington: On the National Register of Historic Places, the wooden covered bridge was built in 1857, the fourth at that location. It is quite striking in its appearance: 100' span, 4' camber, wonderfully executed square rule framing with many tapered members. It is the only single span 100' wooden arched covered bridge in Virginia, possibly in the U.S. www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/faq-covbridge5.asp
• The Meems Bottom Bridge in Shenandoah County: the longest remaining covered bridge in Virginia, it is a single-span Burr arch truss bridge constructed in 1892-93. www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/faq-covbridge1.asp
• Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton hosted a TTRAG Conference a few years ago. www.frontiermuseum.org
• Chateau Morrisette Winery on the Blue Ridge Parkway with its fabulous timber frame built by Blue Ridge Timberwrights. Open to the public 7 days a week. Check their website for hours and directions. http://www.chateaumorrisette.com
Virginia Museum of Transportation (a short walk from the hotel) www.vmt.org

Directions

A map and directions will be sent with other conference materials upon receipt of your registration. For more information on the area, including maps and camping options, visit www.visitroanokeva.com.