2005 Western Conference

April 15 - 17, 2005, The Resort at the Mountain
Welches, Oregon

Join us for the 19th Annual Western Conference featuring keynote addresses by Tedd Benson, Sim Van der Ryn, and David Eisenberg, and special tours, including one of a timber frame house incorporating the principles of feng shui, timber harvesting, passive solar design, and all natural building materials. The spectacular setting will be a premier resort in the western highlands of Mt. Hood, just an hour east of Portland.

The Main Event: Schedule

The main Conference begins with breakfast on Friday morning (April 15) and runs until noon on Sunday, April 17, with many wonderful featured presentations, including three Keynotes by distinguished professionals: Tedd Benson, Sim Van der Ryn, and David Eisenberg.

Read about the Keynote Speakers.
See the full schedule of presenters and their topics.

Thursday Free Tour

Forest Grove Lumber in McMinnville, Oregon will host a free tour of their facility on Thursday, which includes a look at their new Radio Frequency Vacuum kilns. Lunch and bus transportation from the Resort at the Mountain are provided at no charge, but you must pre-register. Come see the latest technology for producing dry and stable timber.

Friday Half-Day Workshop:
10 Ways to Increase Your Profit and Cash

In this interactive session, Barbara Carper (CPA, Business Resource Services) will tap into the value of our network to discover what tried-and-true ideas have led to success among our fellow timber framers. Special emphasis will be in increasing productivity, managing cash flow and controlling expenses. Bring your best ideas and we'll distill out the most useful from the group. Free to Timber Frame Business Council Members, $100 fee for others. Advance registration required.

Freuhauf House Tour

The recently built 6,000 sq. ft. home of Heiner and Sheron Freuhauf is located in nearby Corbett, Oregon, and serves as an acupuncture clinic, teaching facility and conference center. Guild members Lon Tyler and Kevin Mattson worked on the timber frame, which is just one interesting part of this remarkable house. Thanks to Lon, Katy Langstaff of Sustainable Systems Design in Portland, and Chris Dancey of Nature First Building Systems (and Natural Building Track Coordinator), we will have access to the house for a tour on Saturday.

A partial list of properties incorporated in the Freuhauf House include feng shui, sacred geometry, Chinese 5-element theory, sustainable biodynamic timber harvesting, horse logging, non-toxic materials, passive solar design, and natural building materials. Of primary interest are the first story leichtlehmbau walls –woodchip and clay infill, upper floors feature iso-floc blown in cellulose and the roof insulation is icynene. The entire house has exterior lime plaster and interior clay plaster.

The tour will include a lunch presentation by Heiner Freuhauf on the features and philosphy of the house and open access to the house and grounds. Lon Tyler and Katy Langstaff will also be on hand to answer questions. The house was featured in the City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development Natural Building Tour in 2003.

A separate registration fee of $25 is required for the tour, which includes bus transportation from the Resort and back and a box lunch. The bus will depart the Resort about 10:15 AM on Saturday and return around 3:00 PM. Space is limited to the first 50 registrants. Before registering, please consult the schedule for potential conflicts with other presentations you may want to see back at the resort during that time slot.

The Jugglemaniac Returns!

Since 1987, audiences on three continents have applauded the hilarity and dexterity of Rhys Thomas. He took no prisoners at our Western Conference at Salishan four years ago. He returns Saturday night for our pre-Auction entertainment.

Combining the quick wit of stand-up comedy with the dexterous feats of the circus, Rhys creates amazing performances. In other words, Rhys Thomas has “JuggleMania.” So, wash your mouse after enjoying his site at www.jugglemania.com, drink lots of fluids, and enjoy the show on Saturday night.

Other Attractions

Throughout the Conference will be our usual attractions, including:

• Trade Fair Mixer, Reception & Slide Show: Bring ten of your favorite slides (or better yet, send a CD in advance with electronic images) 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 your show. Further details will be included in your Registration Confirmation package. Joel McCarty, 603-835-2077 joel@tfguild.org coordinates the show.
• Trade Fair: Featuring suppliers for the timber frame industry who will display their products and services and explain in detail how they are 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 5:00 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 Scout Wilkins at 888-560-9251, or info@timberframe.org.
• The TFG Benefit Auction is a major fundraiser of the year and made successful through our members’ generous and creative contributions of goods and services. Our three-tiered auction format gives plenty of space for the generous contributions of our members and plenty of opportunity for everyone to have a good time. Whether your donation is big or small, heavy or light, edible or wearable, serious or silly it helps your Guild. Thank you!


• 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.
  
• Project Expo: This gives timber framers the opportunity to show a recent project of which he/she is proud. Conference attendees are encouraged to vote for a favorite project, which will receive the Peoples’ Choice Award. Entries are usually presented on display boards, but other forms of display are welcome. Watch for the Project Expo entry form included with your conference confirmation packet. This will include information on how to reserve a piece of foam core so that you are not juggling that with your airline luggage.

If you cannot attend the Conference but would like to participate in either the auction or project expo, or if you have other questions about them, please contact Susan Norlander (susan@tfguild.org or 603-835-2077).

Registration Information

Full Conference fees include all seminars Main Conference fees include all seminars Friday through Sunday and meals and breaks from breakfast on Friday through mid-morning break on Sunday, but no lodging. Commuter rates include breaks, lunch and dinner on the day attending (no breakfast). Those attending the Pre-Conference Workshops pay a separate fee. The $50 early registration discount does not apply to commuters or the Pre-Conference Workshops. Rates include gratuity and tax. Register online or via the Registration Form.

Room reservations are not included in your conference fee and must be booked with the hotel directly at 800-669-7666 or 503-622-3101; be sure to mention you're with the Timber Framers Guild to get the special conference rate of $99 for single or double occupancy. We strongly recommend that you make your reservations as soon as possible as room availability is limited.

Our Venue: The Resort at the Mountain

The Resort has a spectacular setting in the Salmon River Valley surrounded by the foothills of the Mt. Hood National Forest; it offers a 27 hole golf course and features 160 luxurious lodging rooms. The “Wee Burn Stream Restoration Project” has increased native Coho and Steelhead populations in the stream and ponds on the course.

The Resort Rates are $99 per night, single or double occupancy. Each additional adult in the room is $20 per night, but children under 18 in the same room as their parents stay free. There is an extra 7% county room tax. Please make your reservations early to be sure of getting a room; call 800-669-7666 or 503-622-3101. Be sure to mention the Timber Framers Guild to get the special rate.

Directions

Visit theresort.com/directions.html.

Shuttle service is available from the Portland Airport from Luxury Accommodations (800-831-RIDE) at reasonable rates.

For those looking to share rides to the Conference or share a room, please visit the Conference Board.