Beginners articles or questions

[Garmar]

"Were I the editor of AW, I would be soliciting beginners articles that focus on turning skill development as the major focus of the articles."

I'm going to try this ONE MORE TIME!!! The above quote is from Rob Wallace's post replying to one of my earlier posts. As I have repeatedly stated, I agree with Rob's reply. Now anyone who wants to reply to this, please read the earlier posts. Make an effort to try and understand what Rob is stating in his post. I AGREE with his suggestions.

 

[Garmar]

Steve, your reply to David seems, how can I put this - not helpful and sarcastic. Better watch it, I was censured for being sarcastic.😀 😀

 

[Ron Sardo]

How about this

On the hme page tab banner, right under the AAW title, the one that starts with "HOME" and ends in "Resources", how about adding another tab called "Projects".

Have that link to a page with links for projects of all levels (or just beginners).

Ron,

Unfortunately, the website was not designed with CSS features optimized, so to make the change you're suggesting would require every page that contains the AAW header (over 2,000 pages) to be manually changed. Also, there are security issues with allowing non-AAW employee's access to the server. Sorry...

If you'd like to discuss what can be done to improve site design and navigability, feel free to send me an email or give me a call.

Yes I misspelled the word HOME. But a new tab there would be enough. Or maybe a link in this forum's "My Settings" bar.

This forum does use a CSS Style Sheet. The website uses a common mast head for all it's pages <!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/masthead1.lbi" --> it may not be as difficult as you think

If you want someone to volunteer to put some order to that page, give me temporary access and I'll do it.

If you'd like to discuss what can be done to improve site design and navigability, feel free to send me an email or give me a call.

Surprising how different your tone is here compared to the PM you sent me. The head honchos on this forum and Association ask "How can we make this better" and when I answer and volunteer my services I get "Don't think that's going to happen." IMO this sounds like AAW is only planing on appeasing us and plan on changing nothing.

Shame on me for thinking changes were really intended.

 

[Steve Worcester]

Steve, your reply to David seems, how can I put this - not helpful and sarcastic. Better watch it, I was censured for being sarcastic.😀 😀

Not the intent, I was serious. Can you censor the censors?

 

[Steve Worcester]

Surprising how different your tone is here compared to the PM you sent me. The head honchos on this forum and Association ask "How can we make this better" and when I answer and volunteer my services I get "Don't think that's going to happen." IMO this sounds like AAW is only planing on appeasing us and plan on changing nothing.

Shame on me for thinking changes were really intended.

OK, let me say this.. Ed "owns" the AAW website, Steve (and crew) "own" the forums. I don't recall that response, not that it couldn't happen (and I did search through emails). But the forums are rather flexible, but we aren't programmers, just woodturning fiends. I think both sites have come a hell of a long way in the last couple years and improved dramatically. If you want to change one or the other, or have suggestions, send them, I look into all possibilities.

 

[Ron Sardo]

I don't recall that response, not that it couldn't happen (and I did search through emails).

search again, remember I said it was a PM

 

[Garmar]

Steve, didn't you see the smilies?? I do sarcastic too...

 

[Dave Roller]

So.... Why should I renew my subscription to AW? Many on this thread have said that I can find better instruction elsewhere. In fact, some seem to be encouraging me to go elsewhere. I can tell you without a doubt that AW is absolutely no source for inspirition or design.

Again, would someone give me the benefits of an AW subscription? I've been a woodworker for 40 years and a woodturner for 3 years. And I think AW needs me more than I need them.

Finally, Garmar makes some good points. And someone should be paying attention.

 

[Steve Worcester]

So.... Why should I renew my subscription to AW? Many on this thread have said that I can find better instruction elsewhere. In fact, some seem to be encouraging me to go elsewhere. I can tell you without a doubt that AW is absolutely no source for inspirition or design.

Again, would someone give me the benefits of an AW subscription? I've been a woodworker for 40 years and a woodturner for 3 years. And I think AW needs me more than I need them.

Finally, Garmar makes some good points. And someone should be paying attention.

If you are an AAW member, you get the magazine and the other benefits, discounts to the symposium, access to grants, the members only area, and the magazine as well as discounts to insurance, and others that escape me now.

If it is only the magazine, and you don't like it. It is like any other magazine. Go to ones that work for what you want and away from what you don't. Others will always point you in all directions, choose the one right for you.

 

[john lucas]

I don't see how you can say AW is not source of design. I'm sorry that sounded a little harsh and it wasn't meant to be. Quite often just the back cover is fabulous. There are turned pieces throughout the magazine. I find it very resourceful from a design and idea point of view. Even what I consider beginning article projects have good design.
By the way I was sent a brief preview of an article coming out shortly that will be perfect for beginners. It will be a good read. The AAW is listening. There will also be photos from the instant gallery. That should be a wonderful source for design inspiration.

 

[Jake Debski]

So.... Why should I renew my subscription to AW? Many on this thread have said that I can find better instruction elsewhere. In fact, some seem to be encouraging me to go elsewhere. I can tell you without a doubt that AW is absolutely no source for inspirition or design.

Again, would someone give me the benefits of an AW subscription? I've been a woodworker for 40 years and a woodturner for 3 years. And I think AW needs me more than I need them.

Finally, Garmar makes some good points. And someone should be paying attention.

The AAW Journal, is a superb source for Inspiration and design. As for the the other benefits, it requires looking to see what might be advantageous to you personally. The Chapter support alone is worth the price of admission as far as I'm concerned. Please don't take this as a criticism, but I've worked all my life for what I have, not many "free lunches along the way. So the AAW Journal is frosting on the cake of what I get for my dues.🙂

 

[James Smith]

Inspiration perspective

Personally I think inspiration is realtive to the individual. As a biginner I am inspired by the small successes I can incrementally achieve. I am also even more inspired by the seemly magical talent I have witnessed in my short membership in the association.

If someone is in front of inovation I suppose inspirational levels would diminish, but the ability to insipre others would become it's own inspiration. Perhaps if someone is not being inspired, they have already achieved levels that can only be used to inspire others. For this reason, losing any member would be a loss even if inspiration falls off. Use the gift to take us all to a higher level.

There are not only great works displayed on this site, but a world of links to private sites that could take a lifetime to visit. Thanks to all for the work you are providing to fuel my growing passion.

 

[Dave Roller]

Thanks to those who have replied to my post. My question was a rhetorical one, and some have replied with benefits of an AAW magazine subscription and others have mentioned benefits of membership which may be more valuable to me down the road.

But it is a question that I think board members should be asking themselves. I believe that when we suggest that people go elsewhere for help that a problem may be forming. Should the organization be renamed? AAAW--American Association of Accompolished Woodturners?

The website is an excellent source for sharing information, although I think the How-to threads are sparse, considering the number of readers/members. Maybe that's because so many are unfamiiar with how to get a how-to question up on the board. But, if anyone asks a question anywhere on the forum, he will be flooded with information! Indeed, I don't know how we relatively new woodturners could possibly express our gratitude for the help we recieve here.

I've been a reader of FW for 40 years and I always turn first to the feature where oldtimers share their methods of work with, well, oldtimers and beginners.

For design and inspiration I have gone to sites portraying Greek and Roman pottery and to art books I have around the house. And, I do remember an excellent article in AAW magazine re design.

Finally, when I reread my post, I agree that I was harsh.