AAW Board Message

Note – The following message is from AAW Board Member Tom Wirsing

tom wirsingThe AAW; It’s a Family

I’ve often heard it said that the AAW is like a big family.

I began turning wood at the age of about 13 in my father’s basement workshop. And I turned wood off and on over the next 40 years, but my skills did not improve much. Then someone told me about the AAW chapter in Denver. I joined, and it didn’t take long before members of the chapter were showing me all kinds of things I had never imagined. They welcomed me into their family, and they treated me like a long-lost cousin. I was in heaven. I soon joined the AAW and discovered that there was an even bigger family, a huge family with many thousands of members around the world, and like the members of the Denver chapter, everyone treated me like family. Again I found myself in heaven and I found that Saint Peter had welcomed thousands like me to enter the pearly gates of woodturning.

Since joining the AAW, I’ve served as a chapter president, as a member of the AAW Board of Directors, and two years as president of the AAW. I’ve found that the more I contribute to the woodturning family, the closer my relationship becomes. And now I count my AAW family among my closest friends.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is the opportunity to visit members of the family in many places in the USA and around the world. I’ve visited chapters from Connecticut to California. I’ve demonstrated at symposiums from Utah to Australia. I’ve stayed in the homes of friends from such far-flung places as Ireland and South Africa. And I’ve been treated like a member of the family everywhere I’ve been. The AAW is truly a wonderful family.

It surprises me how many woodturners are not AAW members. They lose so much by not joining the family. I encourage all of you to invite anyone you know who enjoys turning wood but is not an AAW member to join. Explain to them what they are missing by not joining the family. And when they join, I promise they will be glad they did.

With warm regards,

–Tom Wirsing

AAW / Message

Upcoming Woodturning Events

segmented woodturners logoSegmented Woodturners Symposium

The landmark 1st Segmenting Symposium in November 2008 was a resounding success. From that humble beginning of approximately 100 attendees, segmentedwoodturners.org was born. As a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, the club – with members from around the world – has become the driving force in segmented woodturning.

The 3rd Segmented Symposium is being held on October 18-21, 2012 at the Horizon Resort and Casino in Stateline (Lake Tahoe) Nevada.

Now is your opportunity to be a part of another great event dedicated solely to segmenting, set among the splendor that is Lake Tahoe. Join us for three days of “Reaching for the Sky”. Featured demonstrators include: John Beaver, Andy Chen, Dennis Daudelin, Ray Feltz, Lloyd Johnson, Bill Kandler, Dennis Keeling, Craig Kirks, Phil Miller, Michael Mode, Dave Peck, Jim Rodgers, Mike Shuler, and Malcolm Tibbetts

TAW Symposium

The Tennessee Association of Woodturners (TAW) will be presenting their 25th Anniversary Symposium on Friday, January 25th and Saturday, January 26th, 2013. The Symposium will be held at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, 700 Cool Springs Boulevard in Franklin, TN. The Franklin Marriott is our new location for the 2013 Symposium.

The 2013 Symposium features some of the world’s leading woodturners including: Dixie Biggs, Jimmy Clewes, John Jordan, John Lucas and Mike Mahoney.

There will be commemorative memento giveaways to attendees of the Saturday banquet including a brand new Powermatic 3520b.

alaska woodturners logoAWA Symposium

The Alaska Woodturners Association is presenting their 2013 Woodturning Symposium on January 26th and 27th. The Symposium will be held at Hardware Specialties, Inc, 424 W. 54th Ave. in Anchorage.

Featured Turners are Glenn Lucas and Mike Hosaluk.

florida woodturners logoFWS Symposium

The Florida Woodturning Symposium (FWS) is the largest woodturning event in Florida and is held each year at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center. A self contained, wooded campus where you are immersed in nothing but woodturning for 2 1/2 days. This is one of the best ways to take the next step in your woodturning. The next symposium will be held February 1-3, 2013.

The Florida Woodturning Symposium began in December 2001 through the efforts of three Florida Chapters of the American Association of Woodturners. Attendance has grown each year thanks to the high quality of our demonstrators and our Hands-on-Workshops.

A large trade show offers the woodturning “goodies” you’ve been looking for, both new woodturning tools and a great selection of wood for the woodturner. In addition the FWS features a great auction and raffle and the chance to win an Education Grant to one of the great national Craft Schools or a one-on-one workshop with a talented Florida woodturning teacher.

The FWS’s mission is to promote the art of woodturning through the annual symposium and other events.

demonstrator / symposiums / woodturning events

Threaded Pewter Collar

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The Northeast Florida Woodturners Association (Jaxturners) have posted the video of their February 2012 meeting demonstration on YouTube. In this video Keith Larrett demonstrates casting, turning, threading and texturing a pewter collar in a hollow form.

You can watch parts 2 & 3 of this demo and their other videos on the Jaxturners YouTube Channel.

demonstrator / techniques / video

August Membership Meeting

Larry MillerLarry has 50 years of woodturning, having started in high school. There was, however, a 35 year layoff while finishing college, getting married, working as a computing manager in higher education, oil, and aerospace, and “in cooperation with his wife”, raising his two sons. stacked boxesWhen his wife bought him a small lathe in 1995 he once again picked up the craft. He now owns 5 lathes and not only makes what he likes to call “Functional Art”, but also teaches woodturning to all ages, including home schooled kids. He mentors other woodturners and is president of the Woodturners of Olympia. He has been actively involved in the youth program for the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) for 6 years and is now a candidate for the 2013 AAW board of directors.

stacked boxesThis month he will be demonstrating “Making a Threaded Stacked Box.” In this demonstration he’ll be showing how to make a stacked box with threading using the Klein threading jig. He’ll also discuss other options for threading and considerations for box design and sizing.

demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques

Another Reminder

You may have seen this video already, but it is a good reminder to practice safety whenever turning, especially green wood.

safety / video

2012 AAW Board Elections

AAW members, the annual board elections are underway. It looks like all of the candidates are well qualified and would be a great addition to the board. You can read about the candidates here.

Larry MillerOne of the candidates is Larry Miller. Larry is the founder, and currently president of the Woodturners of Olympia. Larry is also a member of the SPSW, has been a demonstrator at our meetings and is the scheduled demonstrator at this month’s meeting. Larry would be a great asset on the AAW board, and we may be biased, but we think that Larry deserves your vote for the board. You can visit Larry’s website at woodturnerlarry.com.

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