AAW Sympsoium - what makes it special

[hockenbery]

What will you see and do at the AAW that you probably can't any place else?
each of us will have different ideas.

We have great regional Symposium in central Florida that I have been fortunate to attend the past 7 years. I enjoy the intimacy and it's focus.

I also have had the pleasure of attending nearly twice as many AAW symposiums.

For AAW uniqueness, the first thing that comes to mind is the Trade Show and Instant Gallery.
They are both the largest in the world. I could spend all three days in them and not see everything. Every time i walk through the Instant gallery i see pieces I did not see before.

I enjoy the interactive aspects of certain AAW programs:

Panels discussions - I usually go to one or two of these almost as much to here what the audience has to say.

Intimate Gallery Critique- here is a chance to talk one on one or in a small group about your own work with an established turner. To me a more Pleasant experience than the Main instant gallery critique with big audiences.

I'm also drawn to all the choices of demonstrations. With so many to choose from there are a bunch of unusual ones that I may never see at the Florida Symposium.

I was wondering what other folks find at AAW they don't see elsewhere.
Al

 

[George Guadiane]

You really didn't leave much out!
Most of the things you named are the things I saw last year in Hartford.
There IS an electricity, a camaraderie that seemed to permeate the environment. I hope to find that again.
There is never enough time to meet with the people we interact with on line, there is just too much to do and not enough hours (and in my case stamina) in the day.

 

[john lucas]

I think it's meeting people. You have a wider selection of demonstrators of course. A much larger instant gallery and the showroom is spectacular and also a good place to meet some of the online people you talk to everyday.

 

[Donna Banfield]

Last year at Hartford was my first

and the entire experience was almost overwhelming! After the end of the first day (Friday), I got back to my hotel room, and called my husband. He claims that I babbled non-stop for almost 15 minutes before I inhaled 😛

The variety of rotations/demonstrations are outstanding. The Instant Gallery can be intimidating, but inspiring and a challenge to 'try that when I get home'. The Trade Show makes me wish that I bought a winning lottery ticket the week before. So many toys...errr tools that I need 😀

But most of all it's all the people that you meet. Woodturners are the best bunch of friends that I could have. We have differing opinions (sometimes strong) and beliefs (always strong), but the common denominator we all share is a love of woodturning, and that's all I need.

Am I going to St. Paul? Absolutely!