Each month, one of the nine current members of the AAW Board of Directors, or the Executive Director, prepares a message for the membership, sharing news, reports from meetings, current events and personal views. See below to read Dale Larson's March 2010 message from the Board.
The Board just returned from our trip to Hartford to plan and set up the Hartford symposium. The Hartford Convention Center is nice. All the demonstration rooms are on one floor except for two large rooms directly across the courtyard in the hotel. We have a great lineup of demonstrators and exhibitions. The Vendor show has a few booths left to fill but should be bigger than the Albuquerque show. Binh Pho is working on having a great Silent/Live auction. We had a meeting with the local members that will be helping us set up and run the symposium. There is no way the AAW could hold the AAW Annual Symposiums without a great deal of support from the local members and chapters. In 2007 I saw the Portland symposium from the local side, now I am seeing what it takes to make it go from the AAW side.
If you would like to help volunteer at the symposium with hands-on in the youth room where we need 12 volunteers per class or as a demonstrator room assistant where we need about 15 volunteers per rotation please contact Linda Ferber at linda@woodturner.org and ask to be put on the volunteer list. These and several other volunteer jobs can be done by non-local members. Helping out in the youth room will have the reward of bringing smiles to the faces of future woodturners. And I want to thank all the vendors who donate tools and supplies to the youth room and make the youth program possible for AAW. Please volunteer to help out.
Starting with Portland we have had a Spouse Craft Room. Each year it has gotten bigger and better. At Albuquerque Carol Ellis did a great job. If you or your spouse have an idea or would like to give a demonstration in the Craft Room at Hartford please contact Lynda Zibbideo at czippy158@com.net. This is a way for spouses to show and share their art work. We are planning on having an area in the Instant Gallery for non-turned art work related to the Craft room.
AAW will be sending out to the chapters in the Northeast area a DVD promoting the Hartford symposium. It has the demonstrators and programs that will be at Hartford. Ed Davidson has posted it on our website. This will give you a preview and hopefully convince you to come. Our recently completed survey showed that half of our members have been to one or more symposiums; and another 40% intend on coming. We move the symposium around the country in a five-year cycle so that each AAW member can drive to the site when it is in their area.
Earlier this year Kurt Hertzog, Ed Davidson, Jeff Brown and I had a discussion on possibly forming a chapter for penturners similiar to what Malcolm Tibbetts and the segmenters set up for their group. There will be a program Friday night at the symposium during Special Interest Night with Barry Gross and Kurt Hertzog. If you are interested, we would welcome you to attend.
AAW is a growing organization. Each year we review and sign contracts related to running AAW and the symposium. We are fortunate to have one AAW member who volunteers his legal services. We are looking to spread our work out. If you are an AAW member and happen to be a lawyer, would you consider volunteering some time to AAW. If you are interested please contact me or Mary Lacer our Executive Director to let us know your area of expertise.
Our new vendor and merchant supporters of AAW discount program, available exclusively to AAW members, is up and running. Log onto the Members Area to learn more. AAW members have exclusive access to discounts from many suppliers and manufacturers of woodturning related parts, tools, machinery and materials. Participating merchants are listed, after you have logged in select from the menu on the left Discounts from Supporters of AAW. The vendor discount information and codes are displayed - check back often - this information will be updated frequently. If you are a merchant, and would like to participate, please click here.
The local chapter liability insurance carried by AAW is very expensive and valuable benefit to the local chapters. We are asking the local chapter boards for consideration of a donation of $75 (or $1/member for smaller chapters). If your chapter can particapte with a contribution to AAW to help defray the cost of the liability insurance program it would provide assistance to the entire organization.
Plans are well under way for 24th AAW annual symposium.
See you in Hartford
Dale Larson, Board Member
American Association of Woodturners