2004 Western Conference

April 15 - 18, 2004, Stanley Hotel
Estes Park, Colorado

Join us for the 18th Annual Western Conference at a grand historic hotel in the spectacular Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Conference Agenda

This will be the first time we've held a Conference in Colorado, and we will be featuring many local members and experts from the region talking about the unique issues and projects in the Intermountain West and the Front Range of the Rockies. Other highlights of the Conference include a Natural Building Track and a Basic Timber Framing Track, which will give those new to the craft (as well as those needing a refresher) a wide variety of skills-related knowledge.

Our Venue: The Historic Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel first opened in 1909 as the first hotel in the U.S. lit solely by electricity. It was built by F.O. Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame (there's an original Stanley Steamer steam car in the lobby). But its latest claim to fame was that Stephen King wrote The Shining while staying amidst the Victorian splendor.

The beautiful old grand hotel is in Estes Park, Colorado, just six miles from Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a virtual tour at www.stanleyhotel.com.

The Main Event: Schedule

The main Conference begins with breakfast on Friday morning (April 16th) and runs until noon on Sunday, April 18th, with many wonderful featured presentations. In the Basic Timber Framing Track, topics include site safety, sharpening saws, wood behavior, and beam sizing. In the Natural Building Track, topics include straw/clay and other natural wall enclosure systems. Click here to see a full schedule of presenters and their topics.

Other Attractions

Throughout the Conference will be our usual attractions, including:

• Trade Fair: Featuring 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. The Timber Frame Business Council (TFBC) organizes the Trade Fair. If you wish to exhibit, contact TFBC Executive Director Nancy Wilkins at 888-560-9251, or nancy@timberframe.org.


• Bookstore: 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.
  
• Wood ID Challenge: Learn practical and effective ways to isolate key species based on conditions found in the field. 34 samples will be available all weekend for your examination with clues, reference guides, and some personal help to help you identify them. Winners will be drawn from completed entries. This recent addition to our regular Conference program just keeps getting better under the direction of new Board member Rick Collins from Trillium Dell Timberworks in Knoxville, IL.


• Project Expo: You are proud of your work. The Conference Project Expo presents an opportunity for our geographically extensive community to focus attention on a collection of fine projects. Through it we see the richness of the work we do, whether it is a first-time simple frame, a Korean teahouse, a covered bridge, or a complicated mansion. You as a presenter have an opportunity to show your peers the work of your hands and your recent mark upon the timber framing landscape. The Project Expo is not a juried show, but does provide Conference attendees with the opportunity to vote for a favorite design project, which receives the People's Choice Award. All entrants receive an honorary gift; the winner of the People's Choice receives a prize. Entries are usually presented through display boards (8 1/2" x 11" up to 30" x 40"), but other forms of presentations, such as photo albums, models, sculpture, are also welcome. Include a brief description and your name. Details on how to enter the Design Expo will be included with Conference Registration Confirmation, on the website, or from Susan Norlander at susan@tfguild.org, 888-453-0879/603-835-2077.