Bob Rosand

[Mike Cunningham]

Most if not all of you are familiar with Bob Rosand, a very gifted woodturner, instructor, writer and good all around person. Bob is also a close personal friend of mine and gave me permission to make this post. Due to the removal of the AAW Logo from the cover of the journal and the apparent reason for that removal (He says that he was told that it was deemed to be phallic as well as pornographic), as well as other concerns (such as Alan Lacer former AAW president being prohibited to run for the BOD), he has resigned as a contributing editor. This is a man who is well respected in the AAW, the woodturning community as a whole, as well as by all who know him. A former member of the AAW board of directors (6 years) as well as contributing editor, resigning that position because of what is occurring. As I've mentioned before, members need to contact the AAW BOD with their thoughts.

If you go to Wood Central you'll find a post by Bob in a thread where he addresses the phallic issue as well as others. He also mentioned that he'd be happy to answer any questions via email.

Mike Cunningham

 

[GA Darling]

Who says the AAW logo is a phallic as well as pornographic symbol? I would think thoes that are not members of the AAW have no say in what our logo looks like. I would simply chose to ignore them and continue on my way down the path i am following. In simple terms, they can kiss my ***.

 

[george morris]

Sad

It is a sad day when the AAW magazine losses a fine turner,writer as Bob Rosand. There seams to be a very large issue with the Magazine. Time for the board to look into this and respond to the membership!! George Morris

 

[Clemens]

Something's amiss

Few have given as much over so long a period as Bob Rossand. Unwelcome changes are taking place. Certainly the board needs to look into this and make their findings known to the membership.
Dale

 

[Steve Worcester]

... as well as other concerns (such as Alan Lacer former AAW president being prohibited to run for the BOD), he has resigned as a contributing editor. .....
Mike Cunningham

Well, let me say this about that. I very much respect Bob and what he has done, but being on the board would also means Alan would have a say about his wife, the current director, Mary, and what she does, since the board determines who is the director. In most businesses, and it is a business, that would not happen either. Perhaps there is a nepotism clause?

 

[Jake Debski]

Far more details need to be revealed before making a judgment, but Bob Rosand's action is very troubling. Bob has been a very good and generous friend to our local AAW Chapter. I find him a straight-up honest man that possess superb judgment. If he is so concerned about this Logo affair as to resign his contributing editorship, there is most definitely a problem within the Organization.

 

[Jerry Hall]

I don't monitor the forums for a day and look what happens

Is this silly season? Is this real? I fully expect by the first of the week that AAW leadership will (must) step up and put this issue to rest and the superbly designed logo back on the journal. This can't be allowed to fester.

Re Alan: Does your suggested reasoning, Steve, mean that all elected officials should resign if their spouse is employed by the organization they represent? Let the election process for the board member debate any concern on conflict of interest, not prejudge and preclude a good candidate. His relationship should be fully disclosed in the candidates statement, and his proposed philosophy for dealing with conflicts. This is not rocket science.

It is kind of fun in a bizarre way....but it is time to quickly nail it and call it done for the sake of the organization. If there is truth to this story we will, are, going to become a laughingstock. It only takes one urban-myth (or not) like this to really damage a wonderful organization. Someone with some common sense must write an open letter with the facts of the case and fix this. The letter should be sent to all turning forums because of the harm discussion of this issue and the uncertainty re the facts is doing.

Is there a re-call process within the AAW for elected officials? (Just in case....)

Hoping this thread dies soon,

Jerry

 

[turner23]

Please forgive my ignorance, I don't log in very often, but are we talking about the AAW logo that is shown below? If this is not the logo in question, please ignore my rant...

If this is the logo, I'd like to ask the overly-conservative ***** who was responsible for the ban just how he can mis-construe a turning gouge and wood shaving as a phallic symbol???? Again, I haven't been a member of this community for long, but this has been the logo for as long as I can remember, and this guy just now decides he has a problem with it???

This must be a joke!

 

[Goldenturner]

I hate to see things like this take place.
I would say Bob should stand up and voice it out and see what happens.
Look at the logo.It looks like what? Come on.... There are so many more things to worry about, was legal action required or someone trying to be PC?

 

[MichaelMouse]

If this is the logo, I'd like to ask the overly-conservative ***** who was responsible for the ban just how he can mis-construe a turning gouge and wood shaving as a phallic symbol????

Will the real bigot please stand up?

Think he just did.

 

[Joe Greiner]

Please forgive my ignorance, I don't log in very often, but are we talking about the AAW logo that is shown below? If this is not the logo in question, please ignore my rant...

If this is the logo, I'd like to ask the overly-conservative ***** who was responsible for the ban just how he can mis-construe a turning gouge and wood shaving as a phallic symbol???? Again, I haven't been a member of this community for long, but this has been the logo for as long as I can remember, and this guy just now decides he has a problem with it???

This must be a joke!

Not exactly. The uproar seems to have arisen from a minor change in the cover art.

In previous covers, the two lines "American" and "Woodturner" were offset, so that the central device (only) of the logo was placed between the "W" and the "A." The offset is now reduced and the central device of the logo is now absent. I see no significant change in the typography of the lettering.

The complete logo is still on the inside masthead.

Remaining remarks deleted.

 

[cagey50]

I wonder if with the change in the cover the logo was forgotten/overlooked by the printers. Why would they leave it on the interior if there were a problem with its interpretation?
I still wonder why there has been no response from the board?????

 

[Jerry Hall]

Jean, Thank you! Issue closed, please...

In case you missed the following from Jean LeGwin, Publication Chair, in another thread, see below. I for one consider the logo issue closed, and hope it will be so.

Jerry
______________________________________________________
All,

I returned last evening from a weekend away to find the posts on the redesign of the journals front cover. I am appalled at the nature of the discussion. I don’t know who started the rumor that suggested the graphic was removed for reasons other than a design change. I will state categorically that the graphic (it is NOT the logo) was removed in an attempt to give a fresh look to the cover. Period. The position of the gouge graphic was limiting in developing a new and more up-to-date look for the cover. Betty was simply putting her stamp on the journal. Redesign of the look and feel, both interior and covers, is typically done when a new editor takes charge. She discussed her concerns about the dated look of the graphic and her wish to give the cover a more streamlined and contemporary look with me and I feel the result has achieved those ends. The fact that there was no comment about its removal after the first issue was mailed indicated that it was not an earth-shattering change and was not even noticed by most readers.

The logo is displayed on the contents page in a very prominent position, and proudly so. I’m concerned that whoever started the rumor that the graphics’ removal from the cover is based on some more prurient reason may be interested in causing a riff in the organization, discredit Betty’s editorship, or perhaps just see how gullible some people can be. Whatever the motive, I find it disheartening that so many have chosen to believe the rumor and spread it without attempting to ask the editor. I hope this nonsense can be put to rest for once and for all.

Respectfully,
Jean LeGwin
Publication Chair

 

[Frank F]

If this is the logo, I'd like to ask the overly-conservative ***** who was responsible for the ban just how he can mis-construe a turning gouge and wood shaving as a phallic symbol????......!

IF the story is true, how do you know the offended party was conservative and male? Neither gender or politcal group has a monopoly on stupidity or ideology run a muck.

NOTE TO STEVE W.: Does the noun above modified by "overly-conservative" violate our "Rules on Uncivil Behavoir"?

 

[KurtB]

Uncivil Behavior

The offending word has been corrected throughout the thread. Thank you for your post.