September 2008 AAW Board LetterFrom Mary Lacer ... I am here at Landmark Center today preparing for a busy week as the Republican National Convention is virtually next door to our building. We are hoping that many of the 45,000 people in St. Paul this week will come by to visit. If it is any indication by the people who have stopped by so far today, I think it will be a very productive week. They are impressed with the gift shop and the exhibit currently on display, “Turned for Use II” which has traveled here from the symposium in Richmond. We need some help in growing the AAW membership. If you know anyone who is a turner and not a current member, please encourage them to join. If you are in a chapter that is not 100% AAW membership, encourage at least one individual who is not an AAW member to join the national organization. For reasons to join AAW see Tom Wirsing’s August message to the members for all the benefits AAW has to offer our members. |
We have been very pleased with the growth of attendance and sales in the AAW Gallery of Wood Art. When we moved to our current site in downtown St. Paul, we knew it would take a few years to get the word out that we were a new organization in downtown St. Paul with a gallery of woodturnings. We are encouraged with the growth and looking forward to increased numbers in the future. I want to encourage members to read about the 2009 AAW exhibit planned for the Albuquerque symposium, “Spirit of the Southwest.” All of the information is in the Fall issue of the journal on page 17 and on the website. The exhibit will open at the symposium and then travel to St. Paul for our Fall show. Get your creative juices flowing and see what you can turn out! We are also looking for other venues for the exhibit. If any of you know of another venue, please let me know. We are looking forward to good attendance in Albuquerque. New Mexico is rich in pottery because of the Pueblo Indians. It is a great way for woodturners to look at form. The mountains are beautiful and their cuisine has an amazing variety - it is a blend of several cultures. If you are able to take a little extra time, Santa Fe and Taos would be well worth visiting. New Mexico is one of my favorite parts of the country to visit. Just a reminder following John Hill’s email about the hurricane to remind chapter presidents or contacts to let me know if any of your members suffer a catastrophic uninsured loss during the storm. My contact information is listed below. Turn great pieces in your shop and work safe. Mary Lacer |
