Hello All, I am starting this thread to tell everyone about a new development in the Turners Without Borders program (http://www.woodturner.org/twb/index.htm). TWB was set up last year after a request from the Board to make more of the fact that AAW has the highest international membership of any turning group in the world.
We are working closely with AAW volunteers who travel to countries that do not yet have a developed turning culture. As I write this, Avelino Samuel is travelling to Tanzania to represent AAW at the World Wood Day event there, demonstrating and teaching turning. We also want to support a program that has been developed in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake there.
AAW member Billy Griffin has been teaching turning to young Haitian students. Here is what he told me: "Wood itself is at a premium. 95% of their forests have been depleted and the wood we obtained came from old stumps. We have only one lathe for seven students. Of course none of the students had an inkling of what a lathe was until we removed it from the box and set it up. It was all a strange new experience for them, but every one of them was extremely excited to learn. Some of them picked up the mechanical skills of turning within a few days, and were off and running. Passersby often stop and watch the turners at work on the lathe."
We posted some photos of the students on the TWB website and a teacher showed it to them. Billy says that when they saw themselves on the Internet, they couldn't stop smiling for days.
Billy told us they have only a few tools and the one lathe. AAW is looking into finding them another lathe, and TWB has decided to set up a "Tool Bank" at the Tampa symposium (Betty Scarpino's idea - thanks Betty). We think that many turners have one or two tools that they don't use, so anyone who'd like to help can bring a few tools along. There will be a Tool Bank box at the AAW booth where everyone picks up their packages when they arrive. We know that the staff are overworked at that time, so if you can just ask where the Tool Bank box is and drop donations off, you will be helping a great cause. According to Billy, they particularly need a few 3/4" roughing gouges, 3/8" and 1/2" spindle gouges, 3/8" and 1/2" bowl gouges, 3/4" skews, square- and round-nose scrapers, and 1/8" and 1/16" parting tools. If their wish list was complete it would also include a chatter tool and some small hollowing tools. Billy explains that with 7 students working every hour they can get on the lathe, the tools do get used up. They also need sandpaper up to 350 grit. Any left over tools will stay in the Tool Bank for future aid programs.
We will be presenting a panel in Tampa where Billy will report on his experiences, Avelino will tell us about Tanzania, Su Jinling will talk about turning in China, and John Jordan will talk about teaching in Columbia. Please come along if you are interested. In the meantime, I will try to answer any questions on this Forum.
I've attached a few photos that will give you an idea of what deserving young people these are.
This is a great initiative, so thanks in anticipation! Terry
We are working closely with AAW volunteers who travel to countries that do not yet have a developed turning culture. As I write this, Avelino Samuel is travelling to Tanzania to represent AAW at the World Wood Day event there, demonstrating and teaching turning. We also want to support a program that has been developed in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake there.
AAW member Billy Griffin has been teaching turning to young Haitian students. Here is what he told me: "Wood itself is at a premium. 95% of their forests have been depleted and the wood we obtained came from old stumps. We have only one lathe for seven students. Of course none of the students had an inkling of what a lathe was until we removed it from the box and set it up. It was all a strange new experience for them, but every one of them was extremely excited to learn. Some of them picked up the mechanical skills of turning within a few days, and were off and running. Passersby often stop and watch the turners at work on the lathe."
We posted some photos of the students on the TWB website and a teacher showed it to them. Billy says that when they saw themselves on the Internet, they couldn't stop smiling for days.
Billy told us they have only a few tools and the one lathe. AAW is looking into finding them another lathe, and TWB has decided to set up a "Tool Bank" at the Tampa symposium (Betty Scarpino's idea - thanks Betty). We think that many turners have one or two tools that they don't use, so anyone who'd like to help can bring a few tools along. There will be a Tool Bank box at the AAW booth where everyone picks up their packages when they arrive. We know that the staff are overworked at that time, so if you can just ask where the Tool Bank box is and drop donations off, you will be helping a great cause. According to Billy, they particularly need a few 3/4" roughing gouges, 3/8" and 1/2" spindle gouges, 3/8" and 1/2" bowl gouges, 3/4" skews, square- and round-nose scrapers, and 1/8" and 1/16" parting tools. If their wish list was complete it would also include a chatter tool and some small hollowing tools. Billy explains that with 7 students working every hour they can get on the lathe, the tools do get used up. They also need sandpaper up to 350 grit. Any left over tools will stay in the Tool Bank for future aid programs.
We will be presenting a panel in Tampa where Billy will report on his experiences, Avelino will tell us about Tanzania, Su Jinling will talk about turning in China, and John Jordan will talk about teaching in Columbia. Please come along if you are interested. In the meantime, I will try to answer any questions on this Forum.
I've attached a few photos that will give you an idea of what deserving young people these are.
This is a great initiative, so thanks in anticipation! Terry
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