United Pipe Clubs of America Greater Kansas City Pipe Club

GKCPC Carving Contest Raffle Tickets

Dan Coomer — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:26:25 GMT

2013 Carving Contest Raffle & Prizes

We are pleased to announce that the raffle tickets for the 2013 Carving Contest are now on sale. The tickets are $25 a piece or 5 for $100.

2012 Winning Pipes & Case

The purpose of this contest is to raise the awareness of the quality of work that American carvers are doing. Many of the carvers who enter this contest will tell you the publicity they get from the contest has brought them a substantial increase in sales of their pipes.

We have a number of wonderful prizes in this raffle. One winner will receive a life-time subscription to the flagship publication of the pipe world, Pipes & Tobaccos magazine.

Also four other lucky raffle entrants will each win a $500 gift certificate to Iwan Ries & Company of Chicago. These certificates can be redeemed either in person or on-line.

And then of course the luckiest pipe smoker who enters the raffle will win the entire seven day set of winning pipes mounted in a wonderful case.

If you would like to order tickets on line you can go to the club website (www.gkcpipeclub.com) and go through the pipe show registration process or you can go straight to the ticket purchasing page by clicking on the photo below.

2011 Winning Pipes & Case

There are four steps to this process:

1) Enter your email address and a security code
2) Enter your contact info
3) Tell us how many tickets you want.
4) Use PayPal or a credit card to pay for the tickets.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN!!!!!!!!

Dan Coomer, Treasurer

GKCPC

GKCPC 2013 Pipe Show Poster

Dan Coomer — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:21:44 GMT

Father the Flame - Pipe Smoking Documentary

Dan Coomer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:23:13 GMT

At the link below there is a trailer for pipe documentary titled "Father the Flame". Sadly, the documentary was never completed (lack of funds), but the trailer is really good. We really need to figure out a way to get the ball rolling on this again.

http://dapperism.com/father-the-flame-documentary-preview/

I got a hold of the man behind this project, Chad Terpstra, and he said:

"I just posted an update on the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/FatherTheFlame

We're working on a short film from the footage we got at Lee's place up north. Also creating a treatment and working on our plan of attack for the feature version. Lots of work to do so we're just taking it one step at a time. We are also going to be at the Chicagoland pipe show this May. Will we see you there? "

Looks like I am going to Chicago.

KC Pipe Show Poster

Dan Coomer — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:49:28 GMT

GKCPC 2013 Pipe Show Online Registration

Dan Coomer — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:31:20 GMT

The online registration for the GKCPC 2013 Pipes & Tobacco Show is now available. You can sign up for:

Tables                                                 -               $100 each (5 for $400) The tables are 6 feet in length.
Electrical Hookup for Table                   -               $25
Friday Registration Buffet             -                $20
Saturday Banquet w/ Greg Pease   -              $50
Pipe Smoking Contest                         -                 $25
Carving Contest Entry Fee                   -                $20   (This is only if you are submitting a pipe for the contest)
Grand Raffle Tickets                            -               5 for $20/ 10 for $40/ 15 for $60/ 20 for $80/ 25 for $100
Carving Contest Raffle                         -               1 for $25/ 2 for $50/ 3 for $75/ 5 for $100/ 10 for $200

You can pay for your registration by PayPal, credit card (through Paypal), you can send us a check made out to GKCPC.

Don't forget to call the DoubleTree Hotel for room reservations. We have a special room rate of $95 for our guests. Just call (913) 451-6100 and say you want a room and that you want the rate for the Greater Kansas City Pipe Club. It is very important that you register for the GKCPC block. We have had to guarantee a number of room nights to get this facility

If you have any problem with the registration process please email me at dcoomer@smithandloveless.com or admin@gkcpipeclub.com.

Dan Coomer, Treasurer
GKCPC

Greater Kansas City Pipe Club November 2012 Newsletter

Mike "Doc" Garr — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:02:04 GMT

Click on link below:

GKCPC November 2012 Newsletter.pdf

American Carvers Pipe Making Competition

Dan Coomer — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Greetings fellow pipe makers. I am pleased to announce the shape for the 2013 carving contest. This year it is the Dublin Family. The family concept worked very well last year with the bulldog and we will try the family approach again this year.

Shape: This family includes the traditional English Dublin shape as well as the Zulu, Yachtsman, Cutty and Belge, plus free-form interpretations of those shapes. Although pipe shapes in general are difficult to describe in words, the Dublin/Zulu/Yachtsman/Cutty/Belge group is distinctive and easy to recognize on sight. The primary characteristic is a gracefully forward tilted bowl that, for the most part, tapers downward from rim to heel (in the opposite direction of a volcano). The overall look and feel of the pipe will be what the judges use to determine if it is part of the group. Beyond that, anything goes: bent, straight, panel, plain/adorned shank/stem, smooth, rusticated, sandblasted, color(s), etc. Raw creativity will also be a factor. Finally, keep in mind that every detail counts. This applies to the entire pipe; the bowl, the stem, the execution, the aesthetics, everything counts.

Size: The selected pipes must fit in a custom made case that will, of necessity, be made ahead of time. Variation in size is expected, but unusually large or small pipes (or long, like churchwardens) are at risk of elimination if they will not fit in the case.

Eligible Carvers: If you make pipes, either professionally or as an amateur, and live in North America, you are eligible. Citizens of North America who don’t live in North America are not eligible. You do not have to attend the show to enter. Entry is limited to one pipe per carver.

Additional Recognition: This year, “Honorable Mention” will be available, at the judge’s discretion, for pipes that don’t make the set.

Registration: The gkcpipeclub.com website will be updated soon to allow you to register. There will be an entry fee of $20.00.

Judging: The pipes will be judged at the Kansas City Pipe & Tobacco Show, DoubleTree Hotel, Overland Park, KS. June 22^nd& 23^rd, 2013. The judging will be on Friday night, June 21^st.

Newcomers to the carving contest, please read!

By entering the contest, you are NOT donating your pipe. All non-winning pipes will either be returned directly to you after the contest, or, if you prefer, offered for sale at the show, at a price that you set. If it sells, we send you the money.

If your pipe is chosen for the winning 7 day set, it is the same as being sold. The winning pipe makers will equally divide the proceeds of a raffle that awards the set as the grand prize. Last year, that amount was $4,900.00 ($700 for each carver).

Everyone that participates in the contest will have a picture of their pipe published in a photo spread in Pipes and tobaccos magazine along with their name/contact info/web address (space allowing). Thank you Chuck Stanion! If you don’t subscribe, please do. He is supporting us in a big way. The least we can do is subscribe to the magazine. Ask your customers to support you, and the magazine, by subscribing.

I strongly recommend that you pick up the Fall 2012 issue of Pipes and tobaccos magazine and read the article about the contest. The interview with the judges (Greg Pease, Tad Gage & George Dibos) will give you excellent insight into what the judges are looking for and what they consider important .

This contest came to be in an effort to support and promote American Carvers. It is working, just ask the carvers who have participated in the first three. We all win, some get money, some get new customers, some stretch and make a pipe beyond their previous abilities, but we all win. We are showcasing American Pipe Maker’s talents and the world is noticing. Each year the caliber of pipe needed to be included in the set goes up. This is a friendly competition within our small community with the common goal of supporting and promoting all of us. Welcome to the contest and thank you for your participation.

Please pass this invitation on to other pipe makers who you feel would enjoy participating in the contest. As always, if you have questions or comments, please contact me.

Quinton Wells

Quinton@gkcpipeclub.com

Cell 816-223-9506

August Newsletter

Dan Coomer — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:48:38 GMT

Here is our latest newsletter which is chock full of goodies. We have a reprint of Tad Gage's legendary article "Mysterious Barlings" that he was gracious enough to bring up to date. There is also a major tobacco announcement from McClelland tobacco and a phenomenal article on making a replacement stem for a Dunhill by George Dibos. And much more.GKCPC August 2012 Newsletter.pdf

GKCPC Pipe Show - 2012

Dan Coomer — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:46:19 GMT

Attached is a link to a pretty good report on the recent GKCPC Pipe Show.

There are a ton of photos over at the website (www.gkcpipeclub.com).

GKCPC June 2012 Abridged Newsletter.pdf

GKCPC Pipe Show

Dan Coomer — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 18:15:48 GMT

If you would like to get some info on the recently concluded pipe show in Kansas City go to www.gkcpipeclub.com. The home page has quite a bit of info with pictures.

Pipe Show

Dan Coomer — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:07:42 GMT

Well, we just have three days to go. Club members are in a frenzy tying up loose details. Fred Hanna is our guest speaker so we are expecting the Banquet to just a wonderful event. We will have the two most recent "Doctor of Pipes" electees, Mike McNiel and Tad Gage, as well as two past recipients of the award, Mary McNeil and the aforementioned Fred Hanna.

Really excited to see what the carvers will come up with for their entries into the carvers contest.I have seen a few of the entries and they are spectacular.

Now if the weather would just cooperate by cooling off.

May 2012 Newsletter

Dan Coomer — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:33:39 GMT

Another great meeting. We had Cam Schutte gave us a great presentation on his world class collection of Comoy's. He had several "one-of-a-kind" items that only a serious collector could have. He even had a copy of the 1909 Comoy's catalogue.

Naturally lots of reports on the Chicago show. Turns out the club had 25 of its members in attendance. Our blue shirts with the gold insignias seemed to be everywhere. At the Cigar Dinner we even got a further treat. Our very own Mike McNiel was inducted as a Doctor of Pipes by the CPCC.

We have another story on the Emperor Leopaldo saga. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Lots of photos of the meeting and Chicago.

GKCPC News May 2012-2.pdf

April 2012 Newsletter

Dan Coomer — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:15:30 GMT

Here's our newsletter for April. Lots of good stuff. Our program at the April meeting revolved around Mike Sull's collection of non-briar, non-meeer pipes. Heck of a collection and quite an enjoyable program. An article on the history of meerschaum. We also had an article on the Rams Head Studio which makes really nice pewter and silver jewelry to include some nice tampers. You might want to give them a look at www.ramsheadstudio.com. We also included an article from them on Clay Pipes. We also included another of John Seiler's Emperor Leopaldo stories. This one features Nick Reardon. We also wrote about pipesmokerunleashed.com and the wonderful software that really helps a collector keep records on his pipes and tobaccos.

April Newsletter.pdf

FaceBook & the GKCPC

Dan Coomer — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:11:35 GMT

Guys, we need everyone who has a FaceBook account to go to our FaceBook presence (www,facebook.com/gkcpipeclub) and "like" us. As we approach our Pipe Show we want to get the word out to everyone all the neat things what will be going on. The show is going to be a sell-out and one thing we need is for people to know is if they want a table they really need to register for it.

An interesting story we heard at our last meeting was from a former member who now lives in Denver. He said the Denver Pipe Club has over 100 members and all the recruiting was done through FaceBook. This is a very powerful tool that is very good at reaching younger pipe smokers, but isn't limited to that. You would be surprised at how many older folks are into this social media stuff. They may be using it to keep in touch with their family that is now extended across the U.S., but they have no problem in using this tool for other things.

GKCPC 2012 Pipe Show - DoubleTree Hotel Sold Out

Dan Coomer — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:20:16 GMT

The DoubleTree hotel is sold out for the week end of the pipe show. This just sucks but when you have a monster convention in town the same week as your event it can happen. We knew the hotel would sell out, but had hoped people coming to the show would reserve a room early on.

Anyway, we have a very good backup plan for those that want to come to the show and need a room. The Hawthorne Suites is 3/4's of a mile west of the DoubleTree on the same street. Its has excellent rooms and amenities. To reserve a room call them at (913) 344-8100 and say you want a room in the GKCPC block. They have reserved a block of rooms for us that have king size beds. There is a shuttle running back and forth and GKCPC members will be available to take you back or pick you up as needed.

Fred Hanna's New Book

Dan Coomer — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:41:30 GMT

As they say, timing is everything. Just 6+ weeks before the Chicago Show and 13+ weeks before the GKCPC show Fred Hanna has released his new book, "The Perfect Smoke". The book is being published by the NASPC Press for $25 for U.S. residents. Just sent a PayPal to bill @naspc.org to order your copy. The book will be released in late April, but is available for pre-order.

Fred is the scheduled guest speaker at the annual banquet at the GKCPC Pipe Show.

2012 ChicagoLand Pipe Show Tobacco Throw Down

Dan Coomer — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:06:31 GMT

The CPCC capitalizing on the success of the 2011 Balkan Sobranie Throw Down at their 2011 pipe show by coming back with a new challenge. This time the "throw down" tobacco will be John Cotton Nos. 1 and 2 Medium. The contestants this year are Steven Books of the House of Calabash, Dick Silverman of Chief Catoonah, and Leonard Wortzel of Lane Limited. The judges will be Russ Ouillette (last year's winner), Neil Roan, and Marty Pulvers.

For more info go to http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2012/3/13/2012-throwdown-aims-to-reincarnate-john-cottons-nos-12-mediu.html

With the Chicago Show having this event and Kansas City having its Carvers Contest it will be interesting to see if other show develop a hook that will captivate the pipe smoking community.

St. Louis Pipe Show Video

Dan Coomer — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:23:47 GMT

Below is a link to a video report done by HEC-TV in St. Louis on the recent Pipe Show sponsored by the St. Louis Pipe Club. It's about 4.5 minutes long. The camera work is clear, but not very good. The voice over reporter knows nothing about pipes so he kind of gushes at times. Having said all that it is tremendous coverage of the show.

http://bit.ly/zRKzSo

IPSD Pipe Smoking Contest Results

Dan Coomer — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:36:27 GMT

On February 25th we hosted our International Pipe Smoking Day pipe smoking contest. Lyn Beyer of Cigar & Tabac put up the prizes for the contest. In addition, Mike and Mary McNiel of McClelland Tobacco put up some wonderful tins of tobacco.

Despite beating the drums, holding this on a Saturday, and mentioning it at the last two club meetings the turn out for the contest was rather light. We did end up with five contestants who are all members of the club.

Clockwise From Lower Left: Brad Forster, Doug Scheffner, Bill Miller, David Scheffner, and Tom Whitlow.

The goal here was to make the contest fun and non-intimidating. The contestants could use their own pipe and for the first five minutes they could re-light their pipe as often as they liked with whatever they liked. After that five minute period they could re-light their pipe just one more time, but it had to be with a supplied match. The second match, if used, had to be used in the second five minutes of the contest.

The entry fee was a mere $10 and whether you used our pipe or you own you got to keep the pipe given to you for the contest.

With these rules all the contestants were able to last at least 30 minutes. After that thing went quick. By the forty minute mark we were done. The contest winner was David Scheffner who received a unsmoked, hand made, H. Worobiec estate pipe valued at $100.

Lyn Beyer with winner David Scheffner holding the 1st place prize!

GKCPC 2012 Pipe Carvers Contest Announcement

Dan Coomer — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:28:49 GMT

Greater Kansas City Pipe & Tobacco Show
2012 Pipe Carving Contest
Sponsored by Pipes & Tobaccos Magazine
and SmokingPipes.com

The Greater Kansas City Pipe Club is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual American Carvers Pipe Carving Contest. The judging will be held at the Kansas City Pipe Show, June 23rd & 24th, 2012. We are going to assemble a seven day set from the entries and raffle it at the end of the show.

The goal of the pipe carving contest is to support and promote American carvers. We generated a lot of interest among the carvers as well as the pipe buying public with the contests in 2010 & 2011. Pictures of all the pipes entered into the contests have been featured in Pipes and tobaccos magazine.

Smokingpipes.com has agreed to help sponsor the carvers contest and is supplying the gift certificates in the drawing. We are adding additional prizes to the drawing this year, so each ticket you buy will have 4 chances to win instead of just one.

The prizes will be:

- 7 day set, “Bulldog Family”, mounted in a custom display case made by Anthony Harris of acmepipes.com.

- $ 750.00 Gift certificate to Smokingpipes.com towards the purchase of a new pipe.

- $ 500.00 Gift certificate for an “Instant Cellar”, tobaccos of your choice from Smokingpipes.com

- The first and only Lifetime subscription to Pipes and tobaccos magazine. (Lifetime of the magazine, or the winner, whichever comes first).

Ticket Sales: Tickets for the contest are now available.

The prices are:

$25.00 Each or 5/$100. We reserve the right to limit how many tickets you can buy as there are only 400 tickets available. At least 150 tickets will be reserved for sale at the Kansas City show. The tickets will be available from the club table at the St. Louis Pipe Show (Feb 18th), the Chicago Pipe Show (May 5th & 6th) and the Kansas City Pipe Show (June 23rd & 24th). Tickets are also available from the club directly. Go to www.gkcpipeclub.com under the 2012 Show Information tab click on Register Now, and then on Raffle Tickets.

PLEASE NOTE: All proceeds of the raffle go to the carvers and the cost of the custom case. The Greater Kansas City Pipe Club does not keep any of the proceeds.

Shape: The shape selected for this year is “Bulldog Family”. This includes all the traditional Bulldog shapes as well as free form interpretations of the shape. Although difficult to spell out in words, the easiest way to say it is “if it reminds the judges of a bulldog” then it counts. This leave’s a lot of room for interpretation by the carvers. The pipe may be straight or bent. The pipe can be paneled. Rings are optional. The color, finish and all other details are up to the carver. Remember, it is not just the shape but also the execution that the judges will be looking at. Details count.

Size: Please remember that we are trying to assemble a 7 day set with a display case made ahead of time. We can allow for some variation in size, but very small or very large pipes may be difficult to fit in the case.

Eligible Carvers: If you carve pipes and live in North America, you are eligible. You do not have to attend the show to enter. Entry is limited to one pipe per carver.