One of the benefits of membership in the AAW for individuals and chapters is the Educational Opportunity Grant (EOG). The grants are up to $1,000 for individuals and $1,500 for chapters to cover the cost of expenses such as tuition, registration, demonstrators’ fees, travel, lodging, and meals. The intent of the grants is to provide educational opportunities that expand and enrich the entire woodturning community, provide ways that these skills may be shared with local chapters, seminars, schools, and friends, and create opportunities for members who would otherwise not be financially able.
Recently our friends in the Woodturners of Olympia (WOO) were awarded an EOG which was used to help the woodturning program at Olympia High School. The school’s shop had several lathes, but they were out of tune, the their tools and equipment were in need of repair and replacement. Members of WOO went in to the shop and tuned up the equipment and used the grant to purchase new tools, chucks and sharpening equipment. In addition, Chapter President Larry Miller volunteered a couple days a week to help mentor the students.
The shop instructor reports that the students work has improved greatly with the addition of the new tools, equipment and mentoring.
You can help too. Your membership in the AAW helps to continue this and other great programs to help bring our craft to new people.
