From: "Tom Wirsing - AAW Board Member" <tom.wirsing@mesanetworks.net>
To: <lmkizer@verizon.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:51 AM
Subject: Benefits of AAW membership
Hello Mike,
Please forward this message to your chapter members.
It's August already. Summer is drawing to a close. School will soon be
back in session. The weather will turn cooler, and our focus will turn
from outside activities to inside. Many of us will be spending much more
time at our lathes over the coming months and attendance at AAW Chapter
meetings will increase with the change of seasons.
All AAW members know what they like best about their membership but some
chapter members may not yet be AAW members and may wonder what benefits
await them when they do join the AAW. If someone does not join AAW, the
result may be they do not get as involved, may not learn as fast as they
could, may not get "hooked" on woodturning, and may not become
contributing members of your AAW chapter. What a lost opportunity that
would be.
There are eight primary benefits of membership in the AAW. Following is a
brief description of each benefit:
· 300 AAW Chapters in North America and around the world which are
a great place to meet other woodturners, to share ideas, and to learn.
They have monthly meetings with demonstrations and many other activities
· AAW Journal: American Woodturner is The Journal of the American
Association of Woodturners with high quality, full-color publication with
a wealth of information for woodturners with articles on all aspects of
woodturning and is published quarterly
· AAW Resource Guide: Lists all AAW members with contact
information and lists all local chapters, with addresses and meeting times
as well as information on Chapter Best Practices, the AAW Member Web Site,
Star Chapters, 20th Anniversary Chapters, AAW bylaws, AAW Board of
Directors, educational materials such as books and videos, lathe safety
guidelines, and a host of other things and is published annually
· AAW Symposium: World's largest gathering of woodturners with
approximately 60 world-class demonstrators, a trade show with every major
manufacturer of lathes, tools, and turning supplies and accessories in the
world, an instant gallery with hundreds of the world's best wood turnings,
a Youth Training Program, with lathe/equipment give-aways to participants,
a banquet and auction of selected woodturnings from the Instant Gallery
and much, much more. The 2009 Symposium in Albuquerque June 26-29, 2009
current information about the AAW and contains contact information for
every AAW member world-wide, contact information for demonstrators, a
guide to all local chapters, meeting times, locations, and contacts. It
has current events, a gallery of current work, membership information, and
much, much more.
AAW members where you can interact with woodturners from around the world.
It is a great source of current information where you can post your
questions, comments, information about your woodturnings, photos, etc. and
seek information about woodturning resources
· Machinery, tools and supplies
· Wood
· Publications
· Educational Opportunity Grants: Almost $100,000 in grants given
away this year for individuals, clubs, schools. They are for any
qualifying educational opportunity. See the AAW web site for details
· AAW Liability Insurance: Liability insurance for Chapter
sanctioned events. See the AAW web site for details
Anyone who wishes to join the AAW may become a member simply by visiting
To see a presentation on the Value of Membership in the AAW, You can view
either of two versions. One is in Microsoft PowerPoint format at
The other is in PDF Adobe Reader format at
Please use whichever you prefer.
Thanks and good turning!
Tom Wirsing - AAW Board Member