Fall 2006 President's Letter

From Angelo Iafrate

The AAW’s Louisville Symposium is now a distant memory. Although a record crowd of 1,891 (members, youth participants and spouses) stretched our resources, we’re already hard at work incorporating your comments into an even better Symposium June 29–July 1, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. 
 
Can we do better? Will we do better? You betcha! You want proof? Visit us in Portland!

During the 2006 Symposium, there were many old friends to greet, new friends to meet. This event - more than any other - gives me the chance to reconnect with old friends, even if the meeting is as brief as a short conversation in the hallway on the way to another demonstration. 

During the opening remarks ceremony, we re-instituted the keynote speech. This year, Andrew Glasgow, executive director of the Furniture Society, delivered the address and challenged us to move forward in our craft while learning from the masters of the past. This point was made poignant by the showing of the Wood Turning Center’s inspiring film Connections. I’d like to thank Albert LeCoff and Andrew Glasgow for their contributions that helped make this symposium a success.

The trade show was particularly colorful this year with the addition of new tool and wood vendors along with all of the old standbys. Although my wallet was emptied in nanoseconds, I needed another full day at the symposium just for the trade show. See Alan Lacer’s trade show report on page 62 of the Fall AW.

(Letter continued)

Members brought more than 1,175 pieces for display in the Instant Gallery - our largest gallery ever. I can remember visiting the Instant Gallery at my first Symposium in Purchase, New York, in 1993. I was in awe of some of the work then, but in Louisville - wow! Quality was everywhere you turned. The cutting-edge techniques that were displayed in Purchase seemed to be everywhere in Louisville. What progress woodturners have made since that time. Be sure to feast your eyes on some of the pieces featured on pages 14 - 16 and on the AAW website.

Finally, our search for an AAW Executive Director has come to a close. The Executive Director search committee was charged with finding suitable candidates. We found several. We invited the top candidates to attend the 2006 symposium for a rigorous series of interviews with the board and its advisors, as well as to get acquainted with the AAW. Please join us in a warm welcome to Larry Sommer. Larry comes from a strong background of public service as well as experience with large exhibitions and shows. See page 10 of the Fall AW for details.

Angelo Iafrate
President AAW

08/23/06 note from Ed Davidson (webmaster): Angelo Iafrate was elected by the AAW Board as the new president, effective January 1, 2006.