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 <http://www.woodturner.org/org/mbrship/> , 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 <http://www.trentbosch.com/> , www.trentbosch.com
	$100 gift certificate toward abrasives supplies from The Sanding Glove <http://www.thesandingglove.com/> ,
	A Teknatool Nova G3 chuck with No. 2 jaws and insert, provided by Craft Supplies USA. <http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/>
	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. <http://www.bowlmakerinc.com/>
	$100 gift certificate from Thompson Lathe Tools <http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/> .
	$100 gift certificate from Hunter Tool Systems <http://www.hunterwoodturningtool.com/> .

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 <http://www.powermatic.com/> 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 <http://www.jettools.com/us/manufacturing/en/home.html> . 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 <mailto:inquiries@woodturner.org> , 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  <http://woodturner.org/member/MemberLogOn.asp> .

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 <http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/chapter_contests_2010.htm> .

 

 

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 <mailto:linda@woodturner.org> 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. <http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/practices/> 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 <mailto:danluttrell@verizon.net> 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. <http://www.woodturner.org/org/mbrship/>  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. <http://www.woodturner.org/org/mbrship/>  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 <http://woodturner.org/member/discount/merchant/>  

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 <http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2010/> . If you are willing  to volunteer, contact Linda Ferber <mailto:linda@woodturner.org> .  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. <http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2010/Maple/pub/>

 

 

 

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 <mailto:kurth@woodturner.org> , AAW Board Chair,  Chapters and Membership  

 

Email: inquiries@woodturner.org <mailto:inquires@woodturner.org?subject=AAW logo contest>  

Website links  
 

Woodturner.org <http://www.woodturner.org>  

	AAW Annual  Symposium <http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2010/> <http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2010/>  <http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2010/>
	AAW  Membership online <http://www.woodturner.org/member/MemberLogOn.asp>  <http://www.woodturner.org/member/MemberLogOn.asp>
	AAW Shopping  Cart <http://www.woodturner.org/shop/Products.asp>  <http://www.woodturner.org/shop/Products.asp>
	Gallery of Wood  Art <http://www.galleryofwoodart.org/>  <http://www.galleryofwoodart.org/> <http://www.galleryofwoodart.org/>