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Demonstrators for local clubs....a list maybe?

H

Hugh

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Location
Sonoma, CA
I am in charge of getting outside demonstrators for our local AAW club.
Does AAW have a list of people in the U.S. that want to do demonstrations? Maybe contact info? Are they willing to travel to do the demos? Maybe some updated schedule for these demonstrators?
It would be nice if we (the local clubs) had a clearing house for these demonstrators. Is this something that AAW might want to do to help the local clubs? I attended the club meeting in Phoenix and one of the questions asked by AAW was.....what we as clubs would like to have AAW do to help us. This would be a good thing I believe. What do I need to do to help it happen?
Thanks.
Hugh
 
Hugh,
The framework is in place to have such a directory.
The directory exists but not all demonstrators have created entries and it is a bit tedious to use.

Where you live may be an issue.

From the main menu I selected "AAW directories"
Then selected "find a demonstrator or teacher"

This yields a menu to search for demonstrators.
Selecting only united states in the country field finds 458
Adding "bowl" in the specialty field& " Florida" in the state finds 5.

Of the 5 one I have not seen demonstrate the other 4 have all demonstrated at the Florida symposium and numerous Florida chapters.
I can also easily list a half dozen demonstrators who live within an hours of me who have not listed themselves in the directory.

It would be easy to get a list of those who registered for your state and surrounding states.

Where do you live?

Al
 
Our program director has a long list of contacts in our part of Texas. Most demonstrators aren't interested in making long trips. Probably the best plan is to contact other local clubs to find out which of their members do demonstrations. Also, our program director makes contacts during the regional SWAT symposium.
 
HI Bill,
Thanks for the response.
I live in California - North Bay Area. We have a number of clubs in reasonable proximity and we (as a group of clubs) can get 4-8 days of work for a demonstrator. Jumping from club to club. We have had in the past some great demonstrators. I am thinking of getting some new people in is all.

It was just at the AAW Symposium that the question was asked of "What can AAW do for you?" And this was the question I came up with - a bit late for the meeting, but ....
When we get a demonstrator 4-8 days of work - our travel costs per club are cut way down. Usually around $100/club.

My thought was that a demonstrator may like to be on the list (and keep it somewhat up to date) as a way of getting work. One week on the road = two days of travel and 5 days of work at a rate of $600 - $1000/day. That could be a good week for most who wanted to work that hard. It would just be nice for the clubs to have one place to find these demonstrators along with what they do demonstrate, costs and contact info. I thought AAW was the perfect place for that to happen.
Thanks for your info.
Hugh
 
Hugh, I assumed that you meant demonstrators for regular monthly meetings. At least once a year we have one of the big name turners for a week of classes. This year it was Joe Ruminski. I think it was Mike Mahoney last year and John Jordan the year before that. We have had Trent Bosch a couple times, Andi Wolfe, Cindy Drozda, Stuart Batty, David Ellsworth, Richard Raffan, and many others.
 
Hugh,

The AAW symposium is a great place to make contacts. Even just scanning the list of demonstrators for the AAW, Utah, Oregon, Swat will generate a list of potential instructors. Similar to what Bill said, Our local clubs here use the Florida Symposium. About every year we get one of the demonstrators to stay over for a 3-4 day class and then one of the other chapters will take them for an all day demo and all day class. Big advantage for the clubs is that the travel costs get split with the Florida symposium paying about half.
In the past few years we have had Cindy Drozda, Al Stirt, David Ellsworth (2), Trent Bosch(2), Lyle Jamieson, Jimmy Clewes(2) for 3-4 day classes.

If you can put together a three day class, an evening or all day demo, and a solid lead into another club that will get a tentative commitment from most demonstrators.
The more organized you are the more receptive the demonstrators will be. Invite them to sell their their tools if appropriate. The top demonstrators get asked to more places than they can get to.

I favor 3-4 day workshops over 1 day workshops. Generally people learn 10 times more in 3 day workshop than they do in a 1 day. They come away with ingrained skills, know their classmates better. The end result is a huge jump in the level expertise in the local club as well as gaining 4-5 people who are at the level of skill and confidence to give effective club demos.

Some Californians who have been recent AAW demonstrators include John beaver, mike jackofsky, Jerry Kermode, mike Mahoney, Joshua Salesin, James santhon, merryll Saylan, Malcolm Tibbitts. Also Oregon and Washington are short flights for Christian Burchard, Dale Larson, Bill Moore , Bonnie Klein, Molly Winton, Ron Gerton.
Plus there are many more.

Have fun, al
 
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demonstrators for local clubs

Hugh said:
HI Bill,
Thanks for the response.
I live in California - North Bay Area. We have a number of clubs in reasonable proximity and we (as a group of clubs) can get 4-8 days of work for a demonstrator. Jumping from club to club. We have had in the past some great demonstrators. I am thinking of getting some new people in is all.

It was just at the AAW Symposium that the question was asked of "What can AAW do for you?" And this was the question I came up with - a bit late for the meeting, but ....
When we get a demonstrator 4-8 days of work - our travel costs per club are cut way down. Usually around $100/club.

My thought was that a demonstrator may like to be on the list (and keep it somewhat up to date) as a way of getting work. One week on the road = two days of travel and 5 days of work at a rate of $600 - $1000/day. That could be a good week for most who wanted to work that hard. It would just be nice for the clubs to have one place to find these demonstrators along with what they do demonstrate, costs and contact info. I thought AAW was the perfect place for that to happen.
Thanks for your info.
Hugh
Click to expand...

Hugh,

Though I am NOT local to California, I am willing to travel ... as soon as my radiation is done (mid September). I have demonstrated at several of the AAW national symposiums and can provide references from the likes of Betty Scarpino, Clay Foster, Jennifer Shirley, David Ellsworth and others if you need them. And yes, i would be available for a week or 2 stint doing various local chapters. Just let me know. I am in the AAW directory and we can exchange emails or you can call me directly.
 
We have had many of the same professional woodturners that you named. John Jordan had been out a couple of times, as has David Ellsworth and many others. We just need to branch out more so we do not see the same people every few years.

The start of this thread was to encourage AAW to be the center location where demonstrators could put their name in the hat and all the clubs would then have a good choice to choose from. We are not afraid to have people from the other side of the country,(or pond) as we have had Ray Key here and Gramme Priddle has been here a couple of times. When we spread the travel costs out over 4-6 clubs - the costs go down. I am just looking for some sort of clearing house of info. I think it would be helpful for us and many other clubs too.

As far as being organized.....we have had Dean Adkins for a teacher as to what we need to put together for when a demonstrator shows up. Dean is organized and has all the info a demonstrator needs as far as travel once they get here. Where they are going to be, who they would be staying with, along with all contact info, etc. The trips usually run very smoothly.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Dick - I am glad to hear you are doing better.

Hugh
 
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