The Tennessee Association of Woodturners is presenting its 32nd Woodturning Symposium on January 24th and 25th, 2020 at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Franklin, Tennessee. The 2020 Symposium features these leading woodturners and turning artisans: Cindy Drozda, Eric Lofstrom, Mark St. Leger and Derek Weidman. In addition to 16 woodturning rotations each day there will be a large vendor area, a gallery of wood turned art will be on display throughout the symposium and a Saturday Night Auction and Banquet. Early registration is open through December 31st.
Seven AAW chapters in Florida come together to present the Florida Woodturning Symposium from February 7th to 9th, 2020 at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center. Nationally known demonstrators include Nick Agar, J. Paul Fennell, Judy Ditmer and Keith Gotschall. There will also be hands-on workshops led by Dixie Biggs, Rudy Lopez and others. The symposium features a large trade show, auction and raffle.
The Alaska Woodturners Association is presenting their 2020 Woodturning Symposium on April 4th and 5th, 2020 at Glass, Sash & Door Supply in Anchorage. Featured turners are Sam Angelo and Stuart Batty along with local turners Jeff Trotter and Dave Staeheli. In addition, Sam and Stuart will be conducting two to three day hands-on classes following the symposium. The symposium will also feature an instant gallery.
One of the biggest events on the annual SPSW calendar is our annual holiday dinner. This is a potluck event and the food is always great. Each year we purchase gift certificates or high-quality turning tools from the many vendors that support all of us through the year. We also will be buying about 70 excellent bowl blanks and other wood. All of this will be given away to members attending this event. Our goal is for each active member attending the dinner to go home with at least a piece of wood to turn. 
Kathleen Duncan is a Vancouver Washington woodturner, who also serves as the AAW Secretary. During her presentation she’ll discuss thin-walled turning; form, design and layout for pierced pieces; and demonstrate piercing and texturing.
The AAW has put out a call for entries for the 2020 AAW Symposium Themed Member Exhibition. The symposium is being held in Louisville, Kentucky and the exhibition theme is Step up to the Plate. There are two different options for this theme: baseball or horses. Baseball and woodturning go way back and are closely linked, so the theme for 2020 will be baseball related, but don’t feel constrained. Along with being America’s pastime, baseball also contributed many expressions to our language, including “Step up to the plate,” which has been defined as a willingness to take responsibility for something, to rise to the occasion, to accept a challenge. For many of us, finding the best in each piece of wood, each new project, is a chance to rise to a challenge. The phrase also could be a jumping-off point for a narrative work about a personal or societal challenge. Step up to the Plate was also the theme for the 2006 AAW member exhibit. Sometimes a theme is so good we just need to see a replay.