Inspiration Like most of you, I am an experienced but “amateur” woodturner, having some technical skills but lacking in any formal artistic training. As a result, I often struggle to arrive at an elegant form, despite all of my woodshaving production efforts. I find that exposure to the work of the professionals among us is invaluable. Comparing even a simple bowl made by one of them to many of my one-off casual items continues to inspire me and help me “up my game.” The AAW print and online resources are a great resource for inspiration and technical help, and the ability to search by topic or author makes finding information easy. Just log in at woodturner. org and use the Explore! search tool, found under the “Resources” tab.
The AAW collection of wood exhibitions, curated by Tib Shaw, is an impressive tour de force, and this, along with other collections, can provide a wealth of ideas for woodturners of any skill level. These resources are all available on the AAW website, under “Resources” and “Galleries.”

Annual Symposium in Chattanooga

By the time you read this, most turners will be in mid-winter mode in their shops, but the AAW will be fully engaged in anticipation of our Annual International Symposium in Chattanooga (June 23-26).
The program will be excellent, and you can plan for most or all of the activities you have enjoyed in recent years. We expect a record turnout, and for the first time will be recording selected portions of the event for later broadcast. The city of Chattanooga has much to offer visitors, and we hope you will take the opportunity to spend a day or two in our host city
exploring. There are more details in this issue of the Journal and at woodturner.org. We do not know at this point where we will be in the pandemic, but rest assured, we will take all appropriate precautions to make the Symposium as safe as possible for all attendees. More information about this will be provided
as the date approaches.

Additional planning for 2022

Despite needing to cancel the in-person 2021 Symposium, and thanks to good fiscal management by the AAW staff and leadership, we finished the year in good financial shape. Our budget for 2022 anticipates a successful Chattanooga Symposium, as well as continuation of our online offerings. The Board has approved new investments in improving resources for our members and clubs. The Turners Without Borders Committee and the Long-Range Planning Committee have both made suggestions to the Board for initiatives that have the potential to increase membership and expand services to the broader woodturning world.

Board transitions

In December, we said goodbye with sincere thanks to departing Board members Joe Dickey, Andy Cole, and Molly Winton. They each have contributed to the success, and survival, of the AAW with their time and dedication, and we expect their involvement will continue in other venues. Our newest Board members—Chuck Lobaito (Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee), Sally Burnett (Chair of Turners Without Borders), Selection and Program Planning and appointed to fill the remainder of Molly Winton’s term through 2022)—are now fully on board and involved for what looks to be a remarkably busy year. Given publication deadlines, I am writing this a few days before Christmas, and I must now return to the shop to finish my gift-production operation. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday and that your woodturning endeavors are fun and rewarding.
Keep turning,

Mike Summerer
President, AAW Board of Directors

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