Summer 2008 President's LetterFrom Angelo Iafrate... I would like to share some of the highlights of our Board meeting. At the February meeting, the Board approved the organization’s strategic plan for 2008–2010. The Board decided to publish a AAW 25th anniversary book and hired John Kelsey to manage the project. John has extensive publication experience with Fine Woodworking, Cambium Press, and now with Fox Chapel Publishing. In addition to his vast experience in publishing, John is also an accomplished woodturner (although he claims to have been distracted from woodturning by other demands of life). Please join me in giving John a warm woodturner welcome. We are confident John will produce a book worthy of the AAW’s silver anniversary. The Board also reviewed the journal and adopted a strategy to restructure current publication methods that we feel are impeding efforts to expand to six issues per year. We expect that new production processes will be in place next year. When six issues per year might be published is a decision to be resolved later. |
(Letter continued) Finally, the Board considered sharing the EOG (Educational Opportunity Grant) auction price of donated artwork with the artists. The question before the board was whether to allow the artists the option of receiving up to 50 percent of the retail price of the donated piece. According to current Internal Revenue Service regulations, an artists may claim only the value of materials (no labor) when valuing a contribution for tax purposes. The Board wrestled with this question during our November meeting in Chicago, and it was on the agenda again for the February meeting. We explored the pros and cons over the course of two days. Then, in a final vote, the motion to share auction proceeds with the artists passed. We have enjoyed 20 years of generosity from all our members who have donated wonderful work for previous EOG auctions. This is an opportunity for the AAW to give something back to future donors and to make donations of possibly even better work more palatable. And, it is a stepping stone towards Finally, many of you are aware of the perilous condition of Phil Brennion, an AAW past president, after back surgery last summer. If you are interested in making a contribution to assist with medical expenses not covered by insurance, see details at our website. Barry Schwaiger of WMH Tool Group has generously donated a Powermatic 3520B lathe that will be raffled in Phil’s benefit. You can purchase tickets for the lathe at the Richmond symposium or through the AAW website. Thanks in giving Phil a helping hand. Angelo Iafrate |
