Did you see our last poll? The question was “What Level Turner Are You?”
One person indicated that they make their living as a woodturner, one supplements their income with turning and one is a serious hobbyist that sells their items to pay for the materials. But as would be expected, six people (66%) said they are hobbyists and turn for fun.
Check out the current poll on the right hand side of the home page. This one is “What is your favorite finish”. Please vote!
Our featured demonstrator is Andy Firpo. Andy will be giving a presentation on shop safety. While this sounds like a dry subject, remember it is a subject we usually only want to talk about after the fact. When you look down and see blood all over that beautiful piece of spalted wood, it is too late to think about safety. We are all better off when we keep the subject of safety in the forefront.
Important – The following message was sent by the AAW
AAW’s Nominating Committee has done an excellent job of presenting six outstanding candidates for this year’s election of new board members. I encourage you to read their statements carefully, and if so motivated, contact them to ask questions about their views on AAW matters. Most importantly, remember to cast your votes using either the board election web page in the Members’ Area of the AAW website, or the ballot and envelope included in the August 2013 issue of American Woodturner. Voting must be completed (or ballot envelopes received) by October 18th. In addition to working to support your local chapter, voting for members of the Board of Directors is also a member’s responsibility, to determine the organization’s leadership. Please do take the time to evaluate our candidates and vote in support of your organization!
Important – This message is from AAW Safety Committee Chair Rob Wallace
As chair of the AAW’s Safety Committee, I continue to receive reports of woodturning-related accidents and injuries, which are of major concern to me. As we all know, most accidents are preventable. I hope that members and chapters will take on the task of aggressively promoting safe woodturning practices each and every time they work at the wood lathe. To that end, I encourage all chapter officers, along with their members, to support the appointment or election of a Safety Officer in their chapter whose responsibility it is to evaluate and identify safe (or more importantly, UNsafe) woodturning operations at their chapter meetings, as well as leading efforts for safety training and safety awareness in all members.
Finally, I hope that all AAW members will continue to support woodturning by welcoming potential new turners through personal mentoring. As the popularity of woodturning continues to grow, chapters and individual members should take an active, positive role in assisting newcomers through teaching, providing guidance and support as they get started, and inviting them to join your local chapters and the AAW. I can personally tell you that it is very gratifying to see the smile of success on the face of a new turner you have helped with woodturning!! You can make a huge difference in a new woodturner’s experience by helping develop skills while passing on the passion!!
Turn Safely,
Rob Wallace
Member of the Board of Directors
American Association of Woodturners
Note – This is an AAW Regional News message.
The Great Falls Woodturners invites you to join us at our 2013 Symposium featuring Mike Mahoney September 21 – 22, 2013.
Symposium Details and Contact Info
Where:
College of Great Falls, MSU
2100 16th Av S
Great Falls, MT 59405
When:
Saturday – September 21, 2013, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
To
Sunday – September 22, 2013, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Symposium Info Available at:
www.gfturners.org
Additional Info:
If you have any questions about our symposium please contact:
Barry Rockwell
Symposium Chairman
Great Falls Woodturners
barryrockwell@aol.com
Note – The following was sent as a Regional Chapter News from the AAW
If you are looking for a symposium in Montana… September is the month – We would love to have you come.
Featuring: Rex Burningham
When: September 28-29, 2013 (Saturday and Sunday)
Subject: Rex Burningham’s two day demonstration will introduce turners to “Carbide Tools, How to Select and Use Them” and “Wood Turned Wall Hangings” and “The Finer Points of Bowl Turning.”
Where: Roaring 20’s Auto Club clubhouse, 7400 Grand Avenue, Billings, Montana
Cost: $95.00 or…. $80.00 if paid before September 11
Registration form available at yellowstoneturners.org
Sessions:
Saturday, September 28
Sunday, September 29
The program would not be complete without lots of additional fun things going on, prizes … and a silent auction for you to bid on all kinds of shop and turning items… and wood.
Turners are learners,
Richard Vande Veegaete
drvan@bresnan.net
President, Yellowstone Woodturners
