Two weeks ago I listened in on the AAW’s webinar discussion addressing the advantages of doing “remote demonstrations” at chapter meetings. For the past 2 years several AAW Chapters have been using internet technology that allows a person in their own shop to beam 2-way audio/visual feed to a regular chapter meeting. All the chapters that have used this method report great success! Members like it, world class demonstrators are available, and the club avoids the high cost of travel expenses. Importantly, this technology also allows people to view the demonstration from their home! This additional benefit makes this seem like a viable solution in this time of mandatory social distancing.
Our April 16th Meeting: We held a board meeting using the Zoom program just to test the ease of using this program. It worked very well! The board voted to try presenting a remote demonstration at our next meeting. So I called Lyle Jamieson, who is well known for his hollowing system, and invited him to present on hollowing at the upcoming April 16th SPSW Meeting. Lyle has accepted and will be our speaker at this month’s meeting. Lyle will be demonstrating from his own shop in Michigan and each of us can see it from our own homes!
We will be sending directions by e-mail to all current members, for whom we have email addresses, on how to log into the meeting from your house. This e-mail will answer a lot of the questions I know you will have about how to download the app and participate in the meeting. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can fully participate with any of them. It helps if the device you use to view the demo has both video and audio capability. This is exciting!
The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain (AWGB) have undertaken a new initiative in memory of Ray Key, the founding Chairman of the AWGB in. He was awarded life membership in the AWGB in 1997 and appointed President in 1998. Ray was also made a Life Member of The American Association of Woodturners also in 2001, the first non-American so honored.
Looking for another way to share images of your work? AAW members can share images of their work on the new AAW website. These images are viewable by the general public and are displayed at random. 
January 16th Meeting Demonstration: Dave Best, Jeff Marshall and John Howard spent a wonderful week at Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, Tennessee taking a class from Avelino Samuel. Avelino is renowned for turning beautiful urns and bowls featuring spiral carved and textured enhancements and delicate finials. Jeff, Dave, and John will present a step-by-step process showing how you could add similar enhancements to your work. The presentation will feature initial shape and design, layout, carving, adding texture, and finishing.