Spring 2006 President's Letter

From Angelo Iafrate

It is a bittersweet time for the AAW. At the same time we welcome new board members, we wish a fond farewell to our illustrious leader, Phil Brennion. Phil served on the board for four years - two as President - and provided strong and inspiring leadership through some challenging growth. Just as many of his ideas are coming to fruition, we bid him farewell and wish him the best of health.

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The AAW is turning TWENTY! As we begin a year of celebration, it's a perfect time to mark the progress of the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to grow our organization.

Membership: Our membership has grown from just 1,510 in the first year to nearly 12,000 woodturners on December 31.

Chapters: The chapter concept continues to be one of the AAW's best programs for education and mentoring. The AAW's first chapter - the North Coast Woodturners based in the Cleveland area - is celebrating its 20th annivsersary this year. We ended 2005 by approving the charter of our 252nd chapter, the Panhandle Area Turners Society of Amarillo, Texas.

Educational Opportunity Grants: Last year, the AAW collected more than $70,000 from our benefit auction held in Overland Park. These much-appreciated dollars will underwrite scholarships and grants to more than 40 individuals, chapters, and schools.

Bill Hunter (AAW Member #5) tells an interesting story about raising money for the first AAW scholarships. In the AAW's infancy, it took a lot of phone calls and arm-twisting by Bill and other founding board members to get this program off the ground.

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One of the first AAW scholarships went to a little-known Hawaiian woodturner named Michael Lee so he could attend his first formal turning class in Provo, Utah. Bill, whose work is featured on page 32 (of the Winter 2006 issue of AW), is gratified every time he sees Michael's work.

Is there a novice woodturner with Michael Lee's talent among the newest EOG winners? You bet! And I hope we're all around for another 20 years to watch woodturners emerge.

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Planning is in high gear to make this year's symposium, being held June 22 - 24 in Louisville, a new benchmark for AAW events. In addition to a fine lineup of demonstrators, attendees should make plans to take in three woodturning exhibits just a stone's throw from the Galt House Hotel and Suites. See page 41 (Winter 2006 AW issue) for more details on the exhibits and the autograph-signing opportunities at the museum open house.

Other exciting drawing cards of this year's event include a drawing for five Oneway 2436 lathes (see page 37), an expanded Youth Turning Room (see page 39), and our biggest trade show ever.

Thursday evening, we are planning a keynote speech by Andrew Glasgow, executive director of The Furniture Society, and a slide show on design by Giles Gilson. If you are not familiar with these names, plan to attend and expand your woodturning horizons.

Angelo Iafrate
President AAW

03/02/06 note from Ed Davidson (webmaster): Angelo Iafrate was elected by the AAW Board as the new president, effective January 1, 2006.