Best AAW Chapter Newsletter Contest

Judging of this year's best chapter newsletter contest was made by AAW Board members Jean LeGwin and Larry Genender - After much deliberation and consideration, we have chosen the following as the winners for the best AAW newsletter contest for 2008:

First Place:
 Chapter: Montgomery County Woodturners (MD)
 Editor: Bert Bleckwenn
 http://montgomerycountywoodturners.org/

Second Place:
 Chapter: Chicago Woodturners (IL)
 Editor: Paul Shotola
 http://www.chicagowoodturners.com/

Third Place:
 Chapter: Apple Ridge Woodturners (GA)
 Editor: Bob Gearing
 http://www.appleridgewoodturners.org

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: Mid Columbia Woodturners (WA)
 webmaster: David Biancosino
 http://mcwoodturners.org/

Second Place:
 Chapter: Montgomery Co Woodturners (MD)
 webmaster: Doug Pearson
 http://montgomerycountywoodturners.org

Third Place:
 Chapter: Woodturners Club of Pueblo (CO)
 Webmaster: Daniel Miller
 http://www.woodartbydan.com/puebloturners/

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 Chapters and Membership Chairman, Larry Genender: larry_g@woodturner.org.
Please put "2008 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 Chapters will be chosen as winners (first, second, third) based on numerical ranking from the judging criteria listed below. Judging for the 2008 contest will be done by Jean LeGwin, Publications Chairwoman of the AAW Board, assisted by Larry Genender.

C) Eligibility
1) Newsletters must be published between April 1, 2007 and March 15, 2008.
2) The Chapter must be an AAW Chapter.
3) Submissions must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.

D) Prizes
1) Winners will be announced by June 1, 2008. Announcements will be made through:
- the AAW website
- the American Woodturner
- and recognized at the 2008 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 "2008 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 will evaluate the websites of up to ten other Chapter entries.
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 item "A2" (above).

C) Eligibility
1) Websites must be on line and available for viewing by March 15, 2008.
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 March 15, 2008.

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 2008 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?