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who's going to Albuquerque?

Count me in!

Bob:

I'll be there! I'm planning on enjoying the whole Symposium - Really enjoyed the past 4 AAW Symposia, and I expect that this one will be no different!

I will be a demo assistant, will help with the EOG Auction as a 'spotter', and plan on sampling the range of local beers around ABQ. (I'll post my annual pre-Symposium 'Beer Snob' review of available local beers as the date approaches.). Still deciding which piece (or pieces) to show at the Instant Gallery - I have a month-long gallery exhibition opening in late July in Iowa City, and probably will bring a piece or two from this body of work.

On my 'Trade Show' list this year is a Baxter threading jig (Bestwood Tools), and probably a couple handles from Dave Peebles or Trent Bosch, as well as a usual haul of wood/blanks, etc.

Can you tell I'm looking forward to being there? Hope to meet many of you in Albuquerque!

Rob Wallace
 
I plan to be there. I attended the first 6 AAW symposiums, starting at Lexington Ky in 1987. Been to a few since. Demo'd at a few.

We'll go a couple of days early to visit Santa Fe and Taos. Lots of high end galleries there. A full days drive from where I live in Az.

Wally
 
Veteran of many trade shows, but this will be my first for woodturning. At the urging of a fellow club member who is unable to go this time, I've offered to be a volunteer.

Not to hijack this thread, but can anyone advise what to expect? Is there a process to align tasks to the volunteer's experience or abilities? Is it done in advance or following check-in upon arrival? IOW, I haven't yet found anything on the site to set some expectations, so I'm hoping someone who's volunteered in the past (or coordinating currently) might be able to offer some insight.
 
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Rick M said:
Not to hijack this thread, but can anyone advise what to expect? Is there a process to align tasks to the volunteer's experience or abilities? Is it done in advance or following check-in upon arrival? IOW, I haven't yet found anything on the site to set some expectations, so I'm hoping some who's volunteered in the past (or coordinating currently) might be able to offer some insight.
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Rick:

Have a read of some of the advice posted HERE.

I'm not sure I would advise being a demo assistant at your first symposium - you will probably want the flexibility to move around and do what you want to do. Also, seeing how a symposium works will enable you to make more efficient use of your time if you do choose to volunteer to be an assistant at future symposia. If you do choose to volunteer, there is a training session for demonstrator assistants in advance of the first rotations. You'll be contacted by one of the volunteer coordinators to be sure you can attend this session. If you are a good woodturning teacher, volunteers are sought to help in the youth turning room. To be a demo assistant, specific turning skills are not really needed, however a good idea of what the demonstrator will be doing, and how to assist him/her would be very helpful.

My advice for your first symposium: In addition to attending the rotations that you think will improve your turning technique the most, be sure to visit the Instant Gallery (program at least 2-3 hours for this, at a MINIMUM, and look at everything carefully - make notes and sketches if you feel the need to "capture the inspiration"!) and spend time in the Trade Show (be sure to check your wallet frequently and keep track of how much you spend - this is one of my biggest "flaws" - I like too much stuff!)

The link to the 2009 AAW Symposium page can be found HERE , and more specifically, you can have a look at the grid of demonstrators and their topics by going HERE and downloading the extensive table showing days and times for each rotation. A handy, printable "Take-along" schedule can be downloaded and printed from HERE.

The list of Trade Show VENDORS can be found HERE.

You also can have a look at many images from previous AAW Symposia from the AAW's web site to get an idea of what to expect. Have a look HERE for images from the 2008 Symposium in Richmond, VA

I hope this information can give you some insight into what to expect at the end of June in Albuquerque!

Rob Wallace
 
I hadn't yet discovered the Symposium Tips or 2008 Photo/Video galleries, so thanks for the reply and links, Rob. I'm also pretty certain the other links will help more new members like me, who could benefit from the input of past attendees.

Upon it's arrival a few days ago, I began studying the list of demonstrators and topics in the 2009 Symposium article in the Spring AW magazine. Until then, as a newcomer to turning I had checked out the links on the Symposium web page, but due to lack of familiarity with many of the demonstrators, had been having trouble planning my own preliminary schedule.

Hopefully, the demonstration assistant positions are already allocated and they'll have an opening that just needs to be filled a short time with someone who can point, smile, and offer simple feedback. I otherwise plan to spend every possible moment at a demonstration, Instant Gallery, or in the trade show area; absorb everything to the point of saturation; and wind up exhausted but incredibly inspired, and probably the proud owner of a few new "essentials". 😀
 
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demostraters assistant

Rick,

at richmond the demo assistant responiblities were simplified. at richmond, we did not have be the camera man. the camera man was a different job all together. the demo assistant reported about 1/2 hour before rotation, met the demostrater, ask him if any special assistant was needed, got water or soft drink for demostrater, passed out and collected examples during demo, and swept up shavings at end of demo.

i was only put on the spot once on a pepper mill rotation when the demostrater was having trouble ajusting the tool rest on a stubby lathe. i had no clue! 😱 i asked the viewers and thank you whoever someone knew and volunteered the information.

i volunteered for one rotation per day and they give you a tee shirt to wear. i did not want to wear the same shirt for 3 days so i only put the tee shirt on during the rotation. you can specfie which rotation to help out on, but with only one assistant per rotation, its best to just let the coordinator decide. i helped on rotations that i may not have chosen, but was very happy with the information gained and the little that was required of me.

it was my 1st national symposium, an enjoyable and learning experience. i would recommend it. 😀
 
We are heading out a few days early. Our fist was Greensboro.

Hope to see Canyon de Chelly in nearby Arizona and maybe Bandelier on the way to Albuqueruqe.

I recommend Carlsbad caverns for a side trip. Spend 2 nights to up your odds of seeing the Bat flight. The rangers sent us away the first night we were there due to lightning. The bats still fly you just can't sit and watch them.

Seeing millions of animals at once is a rare spectacle. The caverns are dramatic too. We also saw lots of prong horns along the way.

Whether this is your first or one of many you'll have a great time.

see you in Albuquerque,
Al
 
This is my 6th AAW Symposium in a row. The 2009 Symposium will mark my 6th year in a row as videoographer. My first Symposium was 2000 in Charlotte, where it became very obvious what a valuable tool video is for the audience and the demonstrator. It was shortly after the 2000 Symposium that we were able to institute a video set up for our local club, and we have now progressed to a digital projector and screen.
 
Of course I am going. Looking forward to Rob's beer report.

I also need people to shoot photos for my website as we post jillions of photos of the gallery and such. Any volunteers?

Here is years past
http://www.turningwood.com/AAW2008/aaw08main.htm
 
I'll be there. Driving out from Illinois, then heading to Colorado for a photo excursion to Great Sand Dunes, then east to Dodge City and maybe north to Minneapolis for a few days before returning to Illinois.
 
Soo Sad, Not able to go

I'm bummed but my workload (and budget) won't allow me to attend this year.

Don't be afraid to be a demo assistant. I went to my first symposium last year in Richmond and was a Demo assistant for Richard Raffan and Jacque Vesery. Mostly my job was to hand things when asked, pass out examples and keep the area clean. Both demonstrators were fun to work with and the demands were light. As a bonus you get to sit right up front.

I'm planning on next year and 2011 in Minneapolis will be a sure thing.

I may have to send some $$$$ along with Rob Wallace for a couple nice blanks.
 
My first symposium was in San Antonio. I fondly remember going to the John Jordan demo where he didn't have a camera man, where I volunteered and got an up close and personal view of the demo. Awesome.
 
I'll be there. Lucky for me, it's very close this time around. I only have to drive 3 hours and I can stay with family as well.

Does anyone know the protocol for bringing a guest? Do you have to be an AAW member to attend? I'm staying with my cousin, and her husband is very interested in turning (might even buy equipment there). If he can attend, how much would he pay?

Thanks for any answers.
 
Charles,

A number of symposium events are open to and usually promoted to the public in local media.

Gallery shows in the Brazos : Spriit of the south west, Spindles, Gary Knox Bennet
Instant Gallery
Trade show

You could spend the entire symposium in the galleries and trade show and not see everything. I would urge anybody in driving range who can't make the symposium to make a day trip for the public events. Friday and Saturday would be best as things close a bit earlier on Sunday.

A registration is required to attend demonstrations. You must be and AAW to register Single day registrations is $145.
full registration on line is $270 for members and is available until 14 June

If you have a niece or nephew 10-17 you can register them free and they can take classes.



regards,
Al
 
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Coming Up From Texas

Definitely going to be there. Will be the auction spotter in the American flag shirt with the wood hat, again. Always fun working with John Hill.

Had a bit of a fly thrown in the oinment recently though. I have some dear friends who live there who I was going to stay with. Well, on Easter Sunday they were called to a church in Pensicola, Florida for him to be the new Children's Minister. They report on June 1st. Oh well, now I am hotel looking.

I do plan to go early and go up and ride either the Durango-Silverton or the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Plan to ride one before the symposium and the other afterwards. Also will try to wet a fly or two somewhere during the trip. Want to check out a diner I saw on "Diner's, Drive-Ins, and Dives" as well.

I have tried at each of the last 5 symposiums I have attended to do something in the area before and after the symposium. Last year involved two seperate trips to DC to walk around the monuments.

See y'all there.

Clayton
 
I was really looking forward to being there, as ABQ is my old hometown and I have family there, but budget constraints prevail, so I'll not be able to attend. 🙁

Clayton said:
...Want to check out a diner I saw on "Diner's, Drive-Ins, and Dives" as well...
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That wouldn't happen to be the K&I Diner, would it? 😉

http://albuquerque.citysearch.com/profile/6926868/albuquerque_nm/k_i_diner.html

It's a rough-looking place in an ugly industrial/rural part of town that serves a signature dish (the Travis) that's a Tex-Mex burrito buried in chili, french fries and cheese. It's a coronary on a plate, but worth waiting in line for, as evidenced daily by the packed lunchtime crowds. They sell it in 1/4, 1/2, and full size. Last I was there, if you could eat a full Travis you got free pie for dessert. (A 1/2 Travis just about kills me.) 😀
 
Carpool from DFW?

Anyone interested in riding with me, and maybe doing some of the driving? I've got a LARGE SUV if anyone wants to bring stuff, and could be talked into pulling a trailer too. I'll probably just fly if I don't get any response to this. I tend to make pretty good time, but it is 600 miles, so that's a solid day each way. (Probably drive out Thursday, Fri/Sat at the show, leave early Sunday for return.)

Reply by email, groover@technopatents.com, thanks.
 
Last minute change....

Count me out. I was definitely IN until the 20% off Powermatic sale. I need to nurse my new 3520b instead and save up for next year's symposium. It's amazing how much more stuff I have to upgrade now due to the bigger swing and spindle size change.

Anybody in the DFW area with space might want to contact the Dallas Area Woodturners group. They need someone to cart their Club entry to NM.
 
Mark Wollschlager said:
Just candid stuff of the overall or something in particular?
I usually try to get as many shots of the IG as I can.

Mark.
Click to expand...

Everything and anything.
IG, Vendors, Demos, Candids...
 
First AAW Symposium

I have been turning a couple of years and this is my first national symposium. I was fortunate to be able to use frequent flyer miles for the airfare for my wife and I and for the hotel in Albuquerque. I lived on the road about 48 weeks a year for seven years so still have a few frequent flyer and hotel points to use now that I am retired. We will be staying in Las Vegas for a couple of days enroute.
 
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