demostrator's handout

[Charlie Knighton]

has it been decided if nonattendee's will be able to buy the demostrator handouts for the 2009 symposium???

if we are able, what is the procedure to buy the handouts

i understand that it is clearer to have made your own notes in the handout

 

[Michael Stafford]

If they are as bad as the handout booklet from last year I don't want to buy one. The booklet last year was poorly done except for a few exceptions.

 

[Clayton]

I could not disagree more about the book last year, Michael. For the first attempt and for a last minute idea, it was a great addition to the symposium. I have been to 8 symposiums and this was one of the best ideas to be added to the experience in years.

Just my humble opinion sir.
Clayton

 

[Michael Stafford]

Clayton, you should have seen the one from the NC Woodturning Symposium. Put the AAW handout book to shame. There was little information in the AAW handout regardless of when it was put together. It was a good idea but poorly executed.

 

[Bill Boehme]

I have been to numerous seminars, conferences, and symposia over the years (mostly work related stuff) and the handouts seem to have one thing in common -- the handout notes are somewhat useful for use as an outline to follow the key points being presented, but that is about the extent of it. I have never gleaned any useful information about sessions that I did not attend from the printed material by reading through the abstracts, PowerPoint charts, etc. The SWAT notes have been a bit hit or miss. It seems like on average the regional turners generally do a far better job than the national demonstrators.

 

[waltben]

Those complaining about the quality of the handout notes from last year should be talking to the folks selecting and managing demonstrators. All the handout book consisted of was what each demonstrator provided, and several didn't even give anything.

 

[hockenbery]

I've seen some drafts of the 2009 AAW Handout Book assembled and edited by AAW volunteer Sharon Bierman.
It looks at lot better than two I have seen: last years AAW book and the first NC book.

Both books were intended as a way to distribute the handouts prepared by the demonstrators. This was to save the demonstrators the expense of reproducing the handouts, bundle the handouts into a single package, and encourage all demonstrators to produce a handout.

As a general observation the NC book seemed to have a higher average quality to the handouts. I think that is the influenced by the "local" demonstrators spending more time on their respective Articles than the "national/International" demonstrators.
By the same token the AAW had more "Good" handouts and more "bad" handoouts simply because you have 60 contributors instead of a dozen.

Anyone with Ideas on how to make this a better book should volunteer to work on the 2010 book. Just contact the AAW publications committee.

Happy turning
Al

 

[Bill Boehme]

Anyone with Ideas on how to make this a better book should volunteer to work on the 2010 book.

Working on the next book really won't solve the underlying problem of demonstrators who are not willing to put forth a bit of effort. I'll volunteer if public floggings can be instituted as a tool to encourage participation. It's not really a new idea -- I think that it has been around for quite a few centuries.

 

[Gordon Seto]

Working on the next book really won't solve the underlying problem of demonstrators who are not willing to put forth a bit of effort.

The quality of handout can be one of the criteria for selecting the future demonstrators.

 

[John Jordan]

Working on the next book really won't solve the underlying problem of demonstrators who are not willing to put forth a bit of effort. I'll volunteer if public floggings can be instituted as a tool to encourage participation. It's not really a new idea -- I think that it has been around for quite a few centuries.

Possibly (some) of the demonstrators feel that a handout is not particularly appropriate or needed. Handouts may be useful and are often for resources, technical drawings etc, not necessarily for a recap of the entire demonstration. Some folks like to use them and pass them out, others don't. What's wrong with a pencil and paper?

To say that a demonstrator is not putting forth enough effort because they don't provide some kind of handout is not true. It takes a lot of effort to prepare for, travel to and do a demonstration for what is most certainly not a particularly profitable enterprise. In many cases they may be sharing things that have taken many years to learn and don't feel that it's incumbent on them to keep people from having to take notes.

The booklet is a fine idea, as it lets those that find handouts to be a useful part of their demonstration a good way to get them out, but don't expect everyone to use it the same way.

Personally, I'm glad to provide a basic outline, and photos of the type of work I'm demonstrating, but the "how-to" IS the demonstration.🙂

John

 

[Bill Boehme]

I understand your point, but consider what the conditions are like from the back of a large meeting room. Frequently, it is very difficult to see the small details of some things that are being demonstrated and that is where a handout with a few illustrations comes in very handy. I do agree that the notes are best when they provide mainly some details in a sketch or photo that makes it easier to see the details. I don't think that it is fair to the demonstrators to expect a free "how to" book from them. My previous comments were based on my perception of the SWAT handouts where less than half of the "national/international" turners/artists bothered to submit anything at all even though some sketches or illustrations would have definitely been helpful. Another useful purpose of the handout booklet is to give attendees an idea of which sessions would best meet their interests.

 

[John Jordan]

I understand your point, but consider what the conditions are like from the back of a large meeting room. Frequently, it is very difficult to see the small details of some things that are being demonstrated and that is where a handout with a few illustrations comes in very handy. I do agree that the notes are best when they provide mainly some details in a sketch or photo that makes it easier to see the details. I don't think that it is fair to the demonstrators to expect a free "how to" book from them. My previous comments were based on my perception of the SWAT handouts where less than half of the "national/international" turners/artists bothered to submit anything at all even though some sketches or illustrations would have definitely been helpful. Another useful purpose of the handout booklet is to give attendees an idea of which sessions would best meet their interests.

Bill, we would agree that it's in everyone's interest to get the most out of a demo, and there's no doubt that in some cases handouts would be most helpful. As far as being able to see, I would rather deal with that with better AV equipment etc. Good descriptions/outlines should always be available.

The handout booklets are a fairly new thing and there's reluctance on the part of some of us who demonstrate for various reasons. Probably the main objection from many is that it has come across as a bit of a demand or expectation after the fact. I know that's not the intent, but it can come across that way, particularly at the regional get togethers, and it comes along with being hit up for an auction piece, tools for the raffle etc. 🙄 It's not that I mind, or won't do these things, but feeling pressured to do it, well...........

I think with some communication and discussion, the handout/booklets can be a positive for all. Flogging is not likely to help-I know at least a couple that would enjoy it.😀

John

 

[Bill Boehme]

..... Flogging is not likely to help-I know at least a couple that would enjoy it.😀

John

Hmmmm .... now that IS a problem I had not counted on. 😛

 

[Pascal Oudet]

from the draft I've seen (and contributed to for my demos) I can tell you a lot of efforts have been put in the handout this year (Sharon did really a great job).
the question I still have is "if the handout is too detailed, would you consider not going to the demo because everything is in the book ???".
Pascal

 

[Charlie Knighton]

if the handout is too detailed, would you consider not going to the demo because everything is in the book ???".
Pascal

i was not planning on attending the Albuquerque symposium, i am planning to attend the NC Woodturning symposium (A British Invasion) in October. i did attend the Richmond symposium last summer. for me it is a matter of more bang for the buck and family matters. the national symposium was awesome, while i learn just as much from regional symposium. the regional symposium do not have the number and scope of coverage for the vendors or instant gallery. i will in the future go to an occasional national symposium, i will attend far more regional symposium.

i would like to buy the Albuquerque demonstrator handouts and also the cd of the instant gallery, maybe they can be bundled together. 😀

as far as the amount of detail, i still have "what do i do now" moments weather i have handouts or not

 

[Bill Boehme]

the question I still have is "if the handout is too detailed, would you consider not going to the demo because everything is in the book ???".
Pascal

I seriously doubt that scenario -- I think that a good handout serves to whet the appetites for more. Seeing and hearing always beats out just reading about something. While people might sometimes say that a particular movie was not as good as the book, I have never heard anyone say the same thing about a handout vs. demonstration. 😉

 

[Rob Wallace]

The "handout book" is really worth having.....

I'll have to say that this year's demonstrator's handout booklet (which, in actuality, is now also the actual PROGRAM booklet) is very well done indeed, and is worth having, even if you did not attend the 2009 Symposium. I seems that most demonstrators took their responsibility of submitting a 'quality' handout quite seriously this year. There are several who included step by step directions, sources for tools and supplies,, web sites for additional resouces, etc., photos of the presenters [good for people to associate a name and a face] as well as some brief biographical information about the presenters (for example, I didn't know Jacques Vesery was a submariner in the Navy, and worked as a forest ranger in New Jersey... hopefully not at the same time!).

The booklet (spiral bound) is very well edited with a lot of graphics and style elements that make it look very, very good! The credit for much of the editing and style layout in this 'handout book' is attributed to Sharon Bierman of Columbus, Ohio who must have spent long hours putting this together. Kudos, Ms. Bierman; it is a publication to be proud of!!

This reply allays some concerns about the quality of this year's publication compared with that of the one sold in Richmond last year, as noted earlier in this thread. The 2009 booklet is an order of magnitude better in quality and content, and is worth reading and saving. The AAW definitely got this one "right"....

I hope this helps those folks who were contemplating acquiring one of these booklets for future use. I don't know what it will sell for (it was provided to all registrants as part of the registration packet of information), but it does contain some valuable information and instructions for attempting to make some of the fantastic forms and do the techniques demonstrated here in Albuquerque (I've survived the first day of the symposium, and am looking forward to the next 1.5 days as well...!!!) I hope that future AAW Symposia will maintain the high standard set this year as to continuing to produce such a publication for the annual event!

More later!

Rob Wallace