SPSW Membership Report

SPSW Membership Chairman Jarred Hoffpauir provides this report on new members:

New members in June are as follows

  • Brian Bassett from Puyallup
  • Lisle Young from Buckley
  • Greg Dunn from Gig Harbor
  • Jim Powers from Gig Harbor

Additionally in July Mr. Larry Rydberg is officially the first person to pay his 2012 dues!

New members from June are as follows

  • Jeff Richardson from Buckley
  • Rick Billings from Federal Way
  • Ron Woszczak from Lakebay

Also from June is a returning member Robert Miller from Lakewood.

As of July, 2011 there are 176 paid members in the SPSW.

Membership

The Unseen Pleasures of Turning

visually imparied experiencing woodturningYesterday’s post was about a woodturner who lost most of her vision but was able to adapt her tools and processes to allow her to continue turning.

Coincidently, the AAW website has a feature on how the 25th Anniversary Symposium included the first showing of woodturnings to visually impaired people. Andi Wolfe, one of the turners involved with the showing commented “It was the most amazing experience for me to watch how these individuals explored each piece with their hands.”

This is another great example of how woodturners are willing to share. I highly recommend this article.

AAW / symposiums

Overcoming Challenges

medeleine sabo
Madeleine Sabo
One of the ways that SPSW members give back is by supporting the Blinded Veterans Association. This organization provides scholarships for children of blinded veterans.

The SPSW also has members that have vision limitations or are legally blind.

The current issue of the American Woodturner, the publication of the American Association of Woodturners has an article about how a professional woodturner dealt with the loss of her sight and continues to turn wood on her lathe.

Madeleine Sabo was already an accomplished artist when she and her husband started turning in 2002. They were selling their work less than a year later. Madeleine has been featured in Country and New Mexico magazines and was President of the Mountaintop Turners chapter of the AAW.

In 2008 Madeleine contracted a MRSA bacteria that resulted in detached retinas and the loss of hearing in her right ear. Her eyesight is now limited to slight black and white vision with some color perception in the periphery of her left eye. This did not stop Madeleine’s desire to turn wood.

With the help of her husband, she has modified her tools and techniques. She only uses three tools – a bowl gouge, skew and parting tool. The skew has been modified to help her line up the tool in the correct position, she has a modified toolrest with stops on each end, and has modified the stand she uses to help her see the edges.

This is a very positive article and shows that determination and desire can help overcome limitations.

AAW / woodturner profile

AAW Elections

If you are a member of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW), you are encouraged to vote in the current board of directors election. There are six candidates for the three positions being elected. The candidates are (i = incumbent):

  • Dale Larson from Oregon (i)
  • John Morand from Ontario
  • Paul Omilon from Saskatchewan
  • Binh Pho from Illinois (i)
  • Greg Smith from Michigan
  • Cassandra Speier from Tennessee (i)

Information about each candidate is available on the AAW election website. Voting is now open and you must vote by October 21st. You should have received a ballot with your current issue of American Woodturner or you can vote online at woodturner.org.

AAW

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Washington Woodturners are having their annual picnic in place of the August membership meeting. They are, however, turning tops for the Bellingham Parks Kid’s Festival on August 6th.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners are also having their annual picnic in place of the August membership meeting. The picnic will be held on August 6th.

The Seattle Woodturners meeting on August 11th will be a mini-symposium with Les Dawson (ornaments), Hal Johnson (bowl coring system) and David Lippincott demonstrating. The chapter is also having their annual BBQ picnic on August 20th.

The Cascade Woodturners meet on August 18th with a demonstration of sculptured vessels by Graeme Priddle followed by hands on workshops.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners have no meeting in August, but will meet again on September 1st.

woodturning events

Want to Turn Better?

Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher. – proverb

turn betterIt’s all about skills transfer

This article came out of a chat at a recent SPSW board meeting – we were talking about the various ways that being in the club has helped all of us be better turners. Mostly this is what we learn from other members – or what we learn by teaching. Here’s a brief look at some of the ways being in the club can help YOU turn better!

1 – Sawdust Sessions

SPSW is very fortunate to have use of Nancy Sweazey’s shop for the monthly Sawdust Sessions. Every third Saturday these sessions run from 9am to midafternoon – a great place to get hands-on help in a friendly, open atmosphere where everyone there is focused on better turning. If you’ve not been to Nancy’s shop, ask Jim Cotter or Pat for a map at the next meeting..

turn better2 – Club mentors

The club has a tremendous wealth of woodturning experience, from world-class/professional turners to right new stars with a passion for the craft – and everything in between. Eleven of the best skilled in our club have volunteered to help anyone who asks. Pictures on this page are a few of our mentors in action – if you don’t recognize them, ask at the next meeting!

3 – Teach something yourself

The best way I know to “put some polish” on one of your own skills is to teach it to somebody else. When they ask “Why?” you have to stop and think about it instead of just doing it that way – a great chance to learn something yourself! And we always need demonstrators for the mini symposiums…

Better turning is just that easy!

Try any or all of these options – I guarantee you’ll see a difference, the very next time you turn on your lathe!

– Andy Firpo, SPSW Board Member

members / woodturning events