AAW News - Monthly contest and more...

Written by William C Hall Thursday, 11 March 2010 15:26

Chapter News

Local chapter emails will continue to develop as a communication tool between AAW and it's local chapters. We welcome your suggestions. Click here to contact us. Please forward this to all of your chapter members so they are aware of some very timely news and announcements.

Past American Woodturners issues now available on the web- As of today, in addition to receiving all 6 issues of the American Woodturners each year, you can read the Journal in a true "magazine format" on your computer anytime you wish. As an additional member benefit, you will receive not only the current issue but all 95 back issues of the AAW Journal all the way back to 1986. Go to the AAW Website, log in to the Members Area, select "Online Journals", and see for yourself. You're going to be amazed at what you see!

 

Monthly membership drawings - Every month, we will randomly draw names from our membership database and award prizes. The prizes have been generously donated by our corporate sponsors and supporters. There will be details in the upcoming journal. The March drawing prizes are:

• A portable carving stand plus a three-DVD set, Decorative Utility Bowls, Sculpting Wood: Beyond the Lathe, and Vessels of Illusion, provided by Trent Bosch, www.trentbosch.com

• $100 gift certificate toward abrasives supplies from The Sanding Glove,
• A Teknatool Nova G3 chuck with No. 2 jaws and insert, provided by Craft Supplies USA.

   

• A five-DVD set, From the Tree to the Table, Bowl Basics, Mike Mahoney on the McNaughton Center Saver, Hollow Forms and Urns with Mike Mahoney, and Making Heirlooms, provided by Mike Mahoney.

   

• $100 gift certificate from Thompson Lathe Tools.

   

• $100 gift certificate from Hunter Tool Systems.

   

Details for the upcoming drawings will be in the journal and on the website.

 

Year End Lathe Drawing- I'm sure you've heard about the year-end drawing but let me remind the members and chapters. We will draw one lucky name from the membership database and that member will win: a Powermatic 3520B lathe with free shipping in the continental US (Up to $500 shipping allowance for Canadian or international winners). The winning member would name their chapter and that chapter would receive a choice of either one Jet 1624 full size lathe or 5 Jet Mini Lathes. These would have the same free shipping or international shipping allowance as for the winning member.

25th Anniversary Logo Contest - help us celebrate AAW's upcoming 25th anniversary. To mark this important milestone, a special 25th Anniversary logo will be created. A member-wide contest is being held for design submissions. The most appealing, appropriate, and eye catching design will be selected by a special committee. All AAW members are welcome to submit their idea(s) for the 25th anniversary logo. Anything from a sketch to a well-crafted design will be considered. Please submit your image as a JPG. AAW reserves the right to modify any submitted design and will prepare the final artwork. The winning logo will be used on symposium T-shirts, in the Demonstration Handbook, on the website as well as the AAW 25th Anniversary Book. The deadline to submit your logo ideas has been extended to March 18th, 2010. All entries are to be submitted to the AAW office, either by letter or email, by that date. Please include your name, mailing address, email address and membership number. Mail submissions to: American Association of Woodturners, 222 Landmark Center, 75 5th St W, St. Paul, MN 55102-7704

 

 

Membership Survey results - thanks to everyone who participated. The Fall 2009 membership survey has recently been completed, and the results are available for members to view in the members area through this link .

In addition to the statistical information shown, there were literally hundreds of written comments and suggestions provided by survey takers. Over the coming weeks and months, the survey committee, AAW Board of Directors and Executive Director will be reviewing these written comments with the aim of establishing plans, or reaffirming actions already underway, that will provide the best possible mix of value, benefits and communication for our members

 

Website and Newsletter Challenge - Every year, all of the chapters are eligible to enter their website and/or their newsletter into the annual competition. The deadlines for entering are rapidly approaching. The closing date for applications is April 1, 2010. Winners will be announced in mid-May on AAW's website and at the symposium banquet in Hartford. The American Woodturner will feature an article about this years contest. Rules and guidelines may be found on the AAW website.

Email Newsletters to AAW Office in St. Paul - speaking of newsletters, we'd love to have a copy of your chapter newsletter. If you have it electronically, email it to Linda Ferber or mail it to the office. We do read and circulate the newsletters. It is a great way for you to keep us informed of special events at your chapter and the sharing of ideas among the chapters.

Best Practices on Website- Dan Luttrell and his team have been working on best practices and have a great resource available for the chapters and membership. While there is a depth of material available, there are many topics that are wide open. If you, or your chapter would like to share your information on those open topics or any item of interest to other chapters, contact Dan and let us all benefit from your methods.

Electronic Membership - Going Green!- the AAW has created a new level of membership that is available next time you renew your membership. It is all electronic. No bunches of paperwork, no mailing of Journals. As green as we can! With all of the back Journals being available on line as well as going forward, we believe more members will want to consider this in the future. This $38. membership provides a major cost savings to anyone wishing full membership, and preferring to view the journal on-line in a "virtual" magazine format. It should also be especially attractive to AAW members who reside outside North America, who can now read the journal instantly online, avoiding postal costs and delays. The $38 per year membership is available to all new and renewing members worldwide from now going forward. The reduced price reflects the savings from printing and shipping costs. Of course you may renew at the regular current rates as you have in the past and receive both the electronic delivery and the printed Journal delivered to your door. Remember, the tree not wasted on paper is potentially available for turning bowls. You can find more about this new feature in the upcoming journal or on the website at www.woodturner.org

 

AAW Liability Insurance - by now, all of the chapters should have received your 2010 insurance certificate. They were mailed to the local chapter president listed with AAW. If you haven't, please make sure to contact the office promptly. This insurance allows many of our chapters to operate without added cost and helps you secure meeting locations. Often chapters ask how they can help the AAW with this ongoing cost. Some of the larger chapters donate $75 while the smaller chapters pitch in $1 per member. While no contribution is required, donations are graciously accepted.

 

Star Chapters - when 100% of the chapter members are AAW members, it is a Star Chapter. If your chapter is a Star Chapter, congratulations! Please make sure that you let the AAW office know when you send in your chapter roster. The Star Chapters will receive special recognition at the Hartford Symposium. Our newest Star Chapter is the Lancaster Area Woodturners.

 

Video's Coming Soon - watch for video on the AAW website. There is a team working on how-to roll out links, indexing, and content on the site to share among the membership. More details to follow.

 

 

Vendor and Supporters of AAW Discounts - 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

Symposium news - don't forget to get your plans made for the Hartford Symposium. Time is running short. You can find all of the details on our website. If you are willing to volunteer, contact Linda Ferber. Help is needed with everything from packet stuffing to room assistants. There is always a job available for a willing volunteer.

Maple Medley Exhibit Entries - thanks to all those who entered the 2010 symposium special exhibit, Maple Medley - An Acer Showcase. To view a complete photo gallery of all the work that was entered into this juried show, click on this link.

 

 

 

As I said in my introduction letter that was emailed a couple of weeks ago, I am here to be your chapter contact, helper, sounding board, problem solver, and whereever else I can assist members. If I can help, I will. If I can't, I'll do my best to point you to the place where help is available.

Thank you, Kurt

 

Kurt Hertzog, AAW Board Chair, Chapters and Membership

 

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