Best AAW Chapter Newsletter Contest

Judging of this year's best chapter newsletter contest was coordinated by Charlie Kay. Charlie says that he will be e-mailing critiques to the editors of each entry within the next week or so. Thanks to all who entered. And the winners are:

First Place
 Chapter: Central Indiana CICAAW Turnings
 Editor: James Purciful
 Website: http://www.cicaaw.org

Second Place
 Chapter: North Carolina Woodturners
 Editor: Barb Ward
 Website: http://www.ncwoodturners.com

Third Place
 Chapter: Ohio Valley Woodturners
 Editor: Nancy Ward
 Website: http://www.ovwg.org

Honorable mentions:
Minnesota Woodturners, Jeff Luedloff, editor
Gulf Coast Woodturners, Mack DeBose, editor

Best AAW Chapter Website Contest

Each chapter offered up a volunteer who helped in the evaluations of this year's best chapter website competition submissions - thanks to all of you who helped us make this happen. And the winners are:

First Place
 Chapter: Maine Woodturners
 Webmaster: Andy Hoyt
 Website: http://www.mainewoodturners.org

Second Place
 Chapter: North Carolina Woodturners Association
 Webmaster: Amy Crowder
 Website: http://www.ncwoodturners.com

Third Place
 Chapter: Chicago Woodturners
 Webmaster: Chuck Young
 Website: http://www.chicagowoodturners.com

Visit the winning websites to get some great ideas for improving your chapter’s website.

Best AAW Chapter Newsletter Contest

Please send contest questions to the AW Journal editor, Carl Voss: carlvoss@msn.com
Please put "2007 Newsletter Contest question" in subject line of your email.

A) Contest submissions
1) To minimize the task of reviewing newsletters, chapters must submit their newsletter for the competition through the mail. Email entries will not be accepted.
2) To enter, send three different issues of your Chapter's newsletters to the AAW office in St. Paul (see #3). The three different issues must be from the date range shown in "Eligibility" below. Include your chapter name, newsletter editor name and contact information.
3) To enter, send newsletters to this address:

   Mary Lacer
   AAW Assistant Director
   Entry for Newsletter Contest
   222 Landmark Center
   75 West Fifth St.
   St. Paul, MN 55102-1431

B) Evaluation Process
Three Chapter's will be chosen as winners (first, second, third) based on numerical ranking from the judging criteria listed below. The 1st place winner from the 2006 contest (Charles Kay) will coordinate judging for the 2007 contest.

C) Eligibility
1) Newsletters must be published between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007.
2) The Chapter must be an AAW Chapter.
3) Submissions must be postmarked by April 15, 2007.
4) The 1st place winner from the 2006 Chapter contest is not eligible for 2007 entry.

D) Prizes
1) Winners will be announced by June 1, 2007. Announcements will be made through:
- the AAW website
- the American Woodturner
- and recognized at the 2007 Symposium
2) Winning Chapters will receive an AAW plaque commemorating their achievement.

E) Judging Criteria
The judging criteria are listed below.
- Numerical values from 1-10 will be assigned to each category.
- Each category receives equal weight.
- An average of the category scores determines final ranking.
- The judge’s decision is final.

1) Layout/Graphic Design
- Visually appealing, easy to read
2) Up-to-date, Current Content
- New info easy to find.
3) Uniqueness/Personality
- Good blend of design with woodturning appeal.
4) Contribution to AAW
- The newsletter should reflect the AAW’s purpose to “promote education, information, and organization to those interested in turning wood.”
5) Content
- contains useful woodturning tech content
- contains useful woodturning news-related info
6) Writing skills
- clear, concise and easily understandable
- lively, well written and inviting

Best AAW Chapter Website Contest

Please send contest questions to the AAW webmaster, Ed Davidson: webmaster@woodturner.org
Please put "2007 Website Contest question" in subject line of your email.

A) Contest submissions:
1) Local Chapter webmasters must submit their site for the competition.
2) Each Chapter who submits a site must provide a reviewer volunteer who would evaluate web sites of up to ten other Chapters.
3) To enter, send an e-mail to: webmaster@woodturner.org

Please put "Entry for Website Contest" in the subject line of your email. Include your Chapter name, web master's name and contact info, and web site address, and the name of your Chapter's volunteer evaluator.
You will receive an email verification that the submission was received. If you do not receive the email verification, please re-send your initial email or send a query to the webmaster.

B) Evaluation Process
Three sites will be chosen as winners (first, second, third) based on numerical ranking from the judging criteria listed in section "E" (below). Judging will be done by volunteer reviewers assigned from Chapters per section "A2" (above).

C) Eligibility
1) Websites must be on line and available for viewing by April 15, 2007.
2) They must have a link to the AAW home page from their home page.
3) The Chapter must be registered with the AAW.
4) Submissions must be entered by April 15, 2007.
5) The 1st place winner from the 2006 Chapter contest is not eligible for 2007 entry.

D) Prizes:
1) Winners will be announced by June 1, 2007. They will be listed
- on the AAW website
- in the American Woodturner
- and recognized at the 2007 Symposium.
2) Winning Chapters will receive an AAW plaque commemorating their achievement.

E) Judging Criteria
The judging criteria are listed below.
- Numerical values from 1-10 will be assigned to each evaluation category.
- Each category gets equal weight.
- An average of the category scores determines final ranking.

Evaluation Categories:
1) Layout/Graphic Design
- visually appealing, easy to access
2) Ease of Navigation
- easy to traverse pages, intuitive menu, links work
3) Use of Technology
- appropriate use of scripting, styles, databases and search engines.
4) Up to Date / Current Content
- new info up front, archive material available
5) Content in website
- contains useful woodturning content
- contains useful woodturning news-related info
6) Uniqueness/Personality
- good blend of design with woodturning appeal
7) Contribution to AAW
- how does the site reflect back on AAW
8) Cross browser compatibility
- Will the site work with different browsers?
9) Security
- If product orders or password protected content
are pertinent, was the proper security in place?