Chapter News
Local chapter emails will continue to develop as a communication tool between AAW and it's local chapters. We welcome your suggestions. Click here to contact us. Please forward this to all of your chapter members so they are aware of some very timely news and announcements.
Please forward this email to your chapter membership to share the latest news with them. The chapter members who are not currently AAW members will be particularly interested in the ongoing drawings and the year-end Grand Prize Drawing.
The current issue of the American Woodturner is now available online...
AAW would like to invite you to log on to the members only area and enjoy the journal.
Year End Grand Prize Drawing - Could your chapter use a brand new lathe? What about if you got it for free? Totally free? You could be the lucky winner of a full size Jet or five Jet minis if one of your chapter members wins the year end lathe drawing.
In order for your chapter to be the winner, one of your chapter members who must also be an AAW member, will have their name selected at random in a drawing at the AAW office. The lucky member will win for themselves, a free Powermatic 3520B lathe delivered free to their door (or up to $500 shipping allowance for Canadian or international winners) and your chapter will get your choice of the JET lathes with the same delivery allowance.
The more of your chapter members that join or who are already AAW members, the better the chance that your chapter will be the winner. Encourage your members to be AAW members. They can see many of the other benefits of membership at this link and join for as little as $38 per year.
Monthly Drawing/Grand Drawing - You've probably seen the monthly drawings where we draw randomly from the member rosters. The prizes donated by many of our business members are listed on the AAW website. These will continue each month until further notice. The Grand Prize drawing will be held soon!!! There is a wonderful lathe, a Powermatic including delivery for the winner and a full size Jet for the winners club. The details are at the same location. Don't miss your chance at this great year end prize.
Demonstrators for the 25th Annual Symposium - If you are interested in being considered as a demonstrator at the 2011 AAW Symposium in St. Paul, there is an approaching deadline. You must apply via by the October 15th deadline. You can find the information on applying on the AAW website.
Internal Revenue Regulations on 501(c)(3)- There is a special, one time relief filing for 501(c)(3) corporations. If your chapter is in this category and you are not up on the latest regulations, you should immediately review the filing requirements. There may be changes that impact you and the deadline is October 15th.
Chapter Incorporation and Registration - Many chapters would benefit from reviewing how they operate the business of their chapter. Consider becoming a 501 C 3 nonprofit focused on the education of turning. Local Secretary of State Offices provide information and resources for starting your chapter as a business, online services for filing (including filing your annual registration), and name availability searches. Statues differ among states, but typically nonprofit incorporation would add a level of liability protection to individuals serving as officers of the club.
AAW By-Laws Committee - There is a special committee chartered by President Tom Wirsing to review and make proposals for the updating of the AAW By-Laws. These have been a work in progress for the past 25 years and need a look to see what changes are necessary for the organization. You can find out more about how to have input into the process by contacting the group.
Executive Director Search - There is a search for the Executive Director position of the AAW. You can find the job particulars at this link. If you are interested in the position or know of someone you think would be a good candidate for the job, please email Gina Goodenow.
Member Contacts - You are receiving this email because you are on file as the chapter contact. If you are not the appropriate person, we'd like to update our files so it reaches the proper person directly. Please contact Linda Ferber with any changes. Also, please put this suggestion in your change of officers check list so that it is taken care of promptly when the elections in your chapter make officer change
Beth Ireland's Turning Around America - Beth Ireland is embarking on a project to travel around America and teaching a student a day in the fundamentals of woodturning. You can find out more about this project by visiting her website.
Chapter Presidents Meeting - At the recent Hartford Symposium, there was a small turnout for the Chapter President's meeting. This was attributed to several reasons. It wasn't mentioned at the opening ceremonies where it would have been a reminder (or new information) for those attending. It could have been better publicized in the schedule to be more prominent. Both of those items will take place in future years. The third method is to solicit agenda items from the Presidents (or their designee) ahead of the Symposium and publish the agenda. That will allow the chapter president to be better prepared for the meeting. One step is the correction of the chapter contact files to help insure that the information gets to the right people in a timely fashion.
25th Anniversary Book - Woodturning Today - A Dramatic Evolution - The 25th Anniversary Book is available for pre-order now. You can save 20% by placing your order ahead of time. There are three different versions available for you to choose from. You can find all of the details at this link.
Turning 25 - A Celebration - The 25th Anniversary will have a special chapter exhibit. The rules are posted on the AAW website. Time has a nasty habit of running short for special projects within the chapters. Get your plans and efforts started early. Make the 25th something special for the AAW and your chapter.
As always, if you have something special that your chapter is involved with that you'd like featured here, please let me know. Questions or comments are also welcomed. Best, Kurt
Kurt Hertzog
Chair - Membership and Chapters
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