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The American Association of Woodturners

August 2008 AAW Board Letter

From Tom Wirsing ...

Dear AAW Members,

It’s August already. Summer is drawing to a close. School will soon be back in session. The weather will turn cooler, and our focus will turn from outside activities to inside. Many of us will be spending much more time at our lathes over the coming months. And attendance at AAW Chapter meetings will increase with the change of seasons.

We are all AAW members. But with the coming of fall, our chapters will be visited by many new woodturners. When you meet a new woodturner, introduce them to the AAW. You owe it to them to encourage them to become AAW members. If you don’t, new woodturners may not realize the many benefits of membership. By not encouraging new woodturners to join, the result may be they do not get involved, may not learn as fast as they could, may not get “hooked” on woodturning, and may not become contributing members of your AAW chapter. What a lost opportunity that would be.

There are eight primary benefits of membership in the AAW. Following is a brief description of each benefit:

1) 300 AAW Chapters in North America and around the world
  • Great place to meet other woodturners, to share ideas, and to learn
  • Monthly meetings with demonstrations and many other activities

2) AAW Journal:  American Woodturner

  • The Journal of the American Association of Woodturners
  • High quality, full-color publication with a wealth of information for woodturners
  • Articles on all aspects of woodturning
  • Published quarterly

3) AAW Resource Directory

  • Lists all AAW members with contact information
  • Lists all local chapters, with addresses and meeting times
  • Information on Chapter Best Practices, the AAW Member Web Site, Star Chapters, 20th Anniversary Chapters, AAW bylaws, AAW Board of Directors, educational materials such as books and videos, lathe safety guidelines, and a host of other things
  • Published annually

 

4) AAW Symposium

  • World’s largest gathering of woodturners
  • Approximately 60 world-class demonstrators
  • Trade show with every major manufacturer of lathes, tools, and turning supplies and accessories in the world
  • Instant gallery with hundreds of the world’s best wood turnings
  • Youth Training Program, with lathe/equipment give-away's to participants
  • Banquet and auction of selected woodturnings from the Instant Gallery
  • Much, much more
  • 2009 Symposium in Albuquerque June 26-29, 2009

5) AAW Website

  • Great source of current information about the AAW
  • Contact information for every AAW member world-wide
  • Contact information for demonstrators
  • Guide to all local chapters, meeting times, locations, and contacts
  • Current events Gallery of current work
  • Membership information Much, much more

6) AAW Forum 

  • Interactive web site for AAW members
  • Interact with woodturners from around the world
  • Great source of current information
  • Post your questions, comments, information about your woodturnings, photos, etc.
  • Seek information about woodturning resources
  • Machinery, tools and supplies Wood Publications

7) Educational Opportunity Grants

  • Almost $100,000 in grants awarded this year
  • For  individuals, clubs, schools
  • For any qualifying educational opportunity

8) AAW Liability Insurance

  • Liability insurance for Chapter sanctioned events

Anyone who wishes to join the AAW may become a member simply by visiting the AAW web site.

To receive a presentation on the Value of AAW Membership, click on the following links. This presentation is available in both Microsoft PowerPoint (5.6MB) and Adobe Reader - pdf (1.6MB) file formats.

We urge you to download the presentation, present it at your next local chapter meeting and give copies to new and prospective members.

Thanks and good turning!
Tom Wirsing
Board Member