Thanks for the positive comments, y'all.
PeteC - I followed a ring just as I would for an unbacked bow.  The ERC has drifting heartwood that varied a bit from tip to tip.
Timo - The ERC grows everywhere here in VA.  This stave came from my backyard.  It was a double branch tree that had really clean wood in between the two trunks.  This stave had zero knots on the back, and only a few little knots on the belly side.
...Tom