- Frequently Asked Questions
The Carving Consoritum FAQ
What is: 1. The Carving Consortium
(the CC), 2. the CarvingConsortium
(Yahoo listserv), 3. the Carving Consortium
Forum?
1.
The Carving Consortium is the name of a group of soft
block carvers and printers who communicate with each
other and share their messages and their
art.2. The
CarvingConsortium is the name of our group using the
Yahoo list(serv) a service which allows us to easily
send an email message to all (close to 500) members
and receive (with your regular email) all the email
messages that other members send to the list.
3. The Carving
Consortium Forum is a web-based activity for sharing
communication with other group members; generally with
group members who share a common interest. The new
website for this purpose hasn't been set up yet, so
there is no URL address to provide as of 9/18/02.
Plans are in process to transfer our group
communications from the CarvingConsortium to the
Carving Consortium Forum. Progress and additional
information will be forthcoming in CarvingConsortium
list messages.
May
I join the Carving Consortium: what are the
requirements
to join? 
You may join if you have an
email address and send your name and street address to
Debbie Kiest: drysgoods@mac.comInformation about
registration to the Carving Consortium Forum will be
sent to you by return email.Members include men, women
and children and even a few couples. Children may join
but must have an adult member oversee their swap
commitments.
Why
is there a requirement to provide my street
address?
The Carving Consortium Forum
is a restricted forum. Providing your street address
shows us that you are serious and it allows us an
alternative way to reach you to reconfirm a swap
commitment, etc. A post office box address is fine.
Addresses are not shared for advertising purposes.
This requirement minimalizes spam and helps make your
CC experience more enjoyable.
How
do I join the Carving Consortium?
Send an email with your name,
street address and the email address you plan to use
to: unity@negia.net, additional information will be
provided.
What will it cost?
Membership and participation
is free. There is no requirement to
make a donation to our group. Donations help us pay
for the removal of advertisements at the CC forum and
they help other minor operating expenses. If you get
value from our group you may want to consider a small
donation. Members donations make lots of things work -
the donations help grease the wheels and keep things
spinning. I appreciate all donations. If you would
like to make a donation, email Linda at
unity@negia.net for her street address.
How
big is the CarvingConsortium list, how many
members?
The numbers of members change
from day to day; March - Sept 2002: 480-500 members.
What can I expect regarding
the quantity of messages on the Carving Consortium
Forum?
There is no email that comes
directly to your email box from the Carving Consortium
Forum.
What am I committed
to?
By
joining, you make a commitment to be part of our group
and in doing so we ask for your participation. We
encourage you to find ways to commit to being active
with your art. If you make a commitment (of any kind),
out of respect for yourself and the other artists -
please live up to it. You're encouraged to learn at
your own pace.
Can I join if I'm a
beginner?
Yes! Please do!
I'm new to carving, are there
online carving directions?
Yes!:
http://www.negia.net/~unity/newbie.html
I
need a little personal attention, is there a person
who can help me begin?
The Carving Companions is a
group of our members interested in giving some special
attention to new members who request it. Send an email
to: Trish Gerhardt at: pittepat@hotmail.com
Now
that I'm a CC member, I have questions about where to
begin, where to step in, what direction I will take
and how to get started. 
Trish Johnston,
tomandtrish@mindspring.com, our Newbie Greeter will be
emailing you usually within a week of your signup.
Please send Trish an email with beginning questions.
---
I
want to read the past messages from this group, I want
to access the archives at the CarvingConsortium Yahoo
list, how can I do that?
Send email to: Debbie Kiest:
drysgoods@mac.com
After I am approved, how can
I access the archives?
Past messages can be accessed
by CC members through Yahoo at the CarvingConsortium
archive:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CarvingConsortium/messages
---
How
do I find out more about carving products and
tools?
For a list of Carving
Products and other art products:http://www.negia.net/~unity/prod.html
What list rules and
guidelines do I need to know about? 
http://www.negia.net/~unity/jguides.html
(these will be updated to take the new forum format
into consideration)
Are
there other lists associated with the Carving
Consortium?
Yes, there are a few other
lists for specialty CC activities. At a future point,
a number of the following will be accessed at the CC
Forum.CCmeetings: a list where we
communicate plans for Carving Consortium
gatherings.Carvonia-Myrth: a list for
this fantasy project of the Carving Consortium,
contact Janice Bryant about this sub-group,
RubberRabbit@cox.net
How
can I find out about Carving Consortium Events,
Meetings, Conventions, etc? 
Karen McDermott, is our
Events Keeper. She can be reached at
billch@viconet.com
What is the advertising
policy? Can I advertise at the Carving Consortium
Forum?
http://www.negia.net/~unity/jadv.html
Is
there a RAK list?
Yes, send Nancy Douglas
douglas@citrus.ucr.edu an email to be placed on the
RAK list or to request the current RAK list. This RAK
list information is private information shared only
with other RAK list members for the purpose of sharing
art. The Carving Consortium RAK policy respects our
members and their art. The RAK sender must grant
permission before the RAK may be published in any form
or displayed at a website. This encourages the free
flow of RAK mailings. The RAK list is not used for
advertising purposes.
How
can I find out about CC swap information, who manages
the swap list?
All CC swaps are open to any
member to join; your participation is encouraged at
any and every level of expertise. The Swap List, (MSL)
and The Closed Swap List (CSL) will be updated by our
SwapKeeper: Stephanie Chao, SCHWAN272@aol.com.
Currently, The Swap List and the Closed Swap list are
sent to The Carving Consortium Forum on a weekly
basis. They are also sent through the
CarvingConsoritum Yahoo list.
Carving Consortium Projects:
where can I find out information about CC activities
other than swaps?
Projects announcements are
available at the Carving Consortium Forum.
When I'm away from home and
want to send carved art to our group, what's the
easiest way?
Email Darcy Philips,
swapmthing350@hotmail.com in advance and request her
mailing address. Darcy is our Road Rak Travel Agent,
she will upload your postcard to the Road RAK website
and announce it so we can all keep in touch. You can
view Road RAK's at
http://www.PictureTrail.com/CCRoadRAKs
Where can I find out about
the One Stamp Wonder (OSW) swaps?
For additional information
read about it here
and view the
images here:
http://www.ncws.com/btdart/ccOSW.htm or email the One Swap
Wonder hostess: Bev Dittberner, bannenvelope@ncws.com
What are some other ongoing
CC projects and activities?
Carve Mensis: Heather
Hackman, inkangst@sprint.caOne Stamp Wonder: Bev
Dittberner, bannenvelope@ncws.com;
http://www.ncws.com/btdart/OSW_3.htmRoad RAK: Darcy Philips,
Travel Agent;
swampthing350@hotmail.comArtfully Carved: Trish
Johnston & Linda Berman;
tomandtrish@mindspring.comTrading Cards: Tom Tadfore
Little; tom@telp.com
Where can I find out more
information about books on carving and
creativity?
Send email to Karen
McDermott, billch@viconet.com; also,
http://www.negia.net/~unity/mag&pubs.html
Where can I see members
carved images?
The ITECI website:
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/museum/316Also:
fantasy swaps displayed at Carvonia-Myrth:
http://www.nawr.com/myrth/Also: at CC members websites:
http://www.negia.net/~unity/websites.htmlAlso:
Links at Dean's Site:
http://www.rollingonone.com/cc/index.html
Please email me with information that needs to be included in this list.