JAPANESE DRY STONE WALLING WORKSHOP, Participants, actual and potential, greetings. Plan to arrive on or before Thursday, January 7 and register between 6:00 and 9:00 that evening at the Anacapa Brewing Company on Main Street in Ventura (see map) so that you don't miss the beginning of the workshop on Friday morning, January 8. (There are still five spaces available in this workshop.) Anyone planning to camp should go directly to the workshop site in Grant Park when they arrive. Someone will be there to help you set up. Anyone arriving too late on the 7th to register should go directly to the workshop site in Grant Park at 8:00 AM and register then. All Workshop participants should assemble at the workshop site in Grant Park before 9:00 AM Friday morning which is when the workshop will commence. Some cars will be leaving from the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Anyone arriving later on the 8th should go directly to the workshop site in Grant Park (see map) Workshop participants should bring safety glasses, gloves and proper footwear. You might also bring favorite hand tools (although a Trow & Holden representative with tools to purchase will be present.) Previous Januarys have been fair, but rain is a possibility so a poncho could be useful. It can get windy up on that hill so hoodies or scarves are recommended. Weather Forecast for Ventura from today until January 10th: Partly cloudy/partly sunny. Average low: 48F, Average high: 68F, 10% chance of rain on Saturday the 9th. Tomas' cell phone number is 505-603-6440. ARCHITECTURAL STONE CARVING WORKSHOP, Participants, actual and potential, greetings. Plan to arrive on Monday, January 11 and register that evening between 6:00 and 9:00 at AQUA, the lobby level bar/bistro so that you don't miss the beginning of the workshop on Tuesday morning, January 12. Anyone arriving too late to register on Monday evening should register Tuesday morning at 8:00 at Art City Studios (see map). (There are still two spaces available in this workshop) All Workshop participants should assemble at the workshop site at Art City Studios before 9:00 AM Tuesday morning which is when the workshop will commence. A copy of Colleen's synopsis of the workshop is available at the workshop page. Folks needing tools can order them from Trow and Holden Tool Co, 800-451-4349. Tell them you are taking the Stone Foundation's Stone Carving Workshop in Ventura and the tools will be sent to Art City and will be waiting for you there. You can buy stone for your carving at Art City when you arrive for the workshop. It would be best to do that on Monday afternoon or early on Tuesday morning before the workshop commences. STONEWORK SYMPOSIUM, REGISTRATION and the traditional ROCKNOCKER'S RENDEZVOUS Please arrange to arrive on Monday, January 18 and register that evening at the Anacapa Brewing Company between 6:00 and 9:00 on Main Street in Ventura so that you don't miss the beginning of the Symposium after lunch on Tuesday, January 19. The Anacapa Brewing Company is normally closed on Monday, but will open for us. Chili will be served and the special beer brewed by Anacapa for usÑRocknocker's AleÑwill be on tap. It is now too late to send in registration forms and feesÑthat can be done at registration on Monday evening. Symposium event schedules will be distributed at that time. The only activities scheduled for Tuesday Morning are Lithibolos (bowling with stone balls) at Mission Park (see map) and the preparation of the Wheelbarrow Steeplechase Course (volunteers needed.) Anyone arriving too late to register on Monday evening can do so at the Symposium venue, the Old Elks Lodge, at Main and Ash Streets between 12:00 and 1:30. A lunch will be provided between 12 and 1:30 at a modest price Symposium participants planning to camp should contact tomas@stonefoundation.org. The Symposium presentations will begin promptly at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon at the old Elks Lodge at the corner of Main and Ash Streets (see map). THE 10 MINUTE 'SHOW AND TELL' PRESENTATIONS, Symposium participants who plan to give brief presentations should prepare the images they intend to project either as a PowerPoint presentation or as an album of photo files and bring them on a CD. Please practice your presentations several times using a clock because the 10 minute time limit will be strictly enforced. If you intend to give a ten minute presentation of your portfolio or of a project you have undertaken (or anything else) please inform me of this - tomas@stonefoundation.org - even if you have already done so. SECOND LITHIC OLYMPIC GAMES Contests of skill, strength and judgment involving stone-related activities will take place most mornings. Symposium participants who wish to take part in the Olympic Games should review the events listed below and inform me (tomas@stonefoundation.org) which ones interest them. Dry Stone Walling Competition This was the only event with a cash prize at Stonework Symposium 2008 in Barre, Vermont. This year the competitors will be building sections of a circular planter wall, the first landscaping feature in what will be Ventura's Botanical Garden. It is probable therefore that the prize money will be donated from the community. We hope that at least a dozen of our best dry stone wallers will participate in this. Lithobolos (bowling with stone balls, an ancient form of bocce) Eyeballing Contests (judging angles, weight, distance, plumb) Levering (large stone moved by a two person team with pry bars.) Shot Put Stone Balancing (not really a contest) The Famous Wheelbarrow Steeplechase FINALLY, Biking. Ventura is a small coastal town, much of it flat. Biking is a good way to get around and a local bike shop is giving us a good deal-the cost for a week (bike, helmet, lock) is only 50 bucks. I'm getting one and I recommend you do too. Ventura Bike Depot (see map) (805) 652-1114.