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why should club members join the AAW

john lucas

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
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I found Bill and others questions on why join the AAW quite interesting and helpful. We need to think like the other people think. Many turners are just hobbyists in the truest sense of the word. Nothing wrong with that at all.
I am getting ready to put together the next newsletter for the club and was going to put a copy of the membership application in with the newsletter. So here's my question to you. Why should the average club member also join the AAW. Most will never to a symposium or apply for an EOG grant. So what other reasond can I give them?
 
Here's two

John,

Within the paramaters you describe I can give you two reasons "I" would join. The Journal even with the problems we seem to have each quarter with hit and miss delivery and the yearly AAW resource Directory. Maybe not enough for everyone to lay out the dues but enough for me. I am just a hobby turner but I still need info and ideas.
 
When my magazine does arrive I find a great deal of information in it, ideas for turning with some pretty good pictures and directions on how to duplicate different projects. There are helpful articles from experienced turners that are informative. I sometimes may disagree with an article, then a few months later go back and read it again, only to find I have grown in experience enough to realize, the author may not have been nearly as out of line as I first thought. The AAW is our only national organization. I feel the money I spend for dues is more than compensated for in the run of a year. I would be happy to spend a little more for postage to help the membership get their mags before they hit the news stand. It only makes sense, we as members should be first inline for the coveted publication each quarter. I also enjoy the website and look forward each day to see what is going on here. If there were no AAW I personally would the poorer for it.

Jim
 
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Insurance....

No small benefit is the insurance that an AAW member enjoys...

I still don't understand what Bill was saying about flat VS round boards though...

Don't forget the free sharpening CD for 2006 members. That's probably worth the price of admission right there.

I still think the Journal is worth it, late or not. I've not even received one yet, having joined for 2006.

Also, the dues for this organization actually help with a great deal of things. Would this organization even exist for us without them? Would the Forum exist without the organization?

While I'm sure there are plenty of problems in an organization of this size, there is also a great deal of power and influence, as well as fellowship that go along with that.

Or maybe I should reconsider my membership if there's no benefit to being a member of the AAW.....
 
underdog said:
No small benefit is the insurance that an AAW member enjoys...

I still don't understand what Bill was saying about flat VS round boards though...
Click to expand...

Hi Jim

The insurance for turners is a great benefit, and all by itself is worth more than the price of membership. Now just so I am clear, there are two types of insurance available to members. The first is sort of a blanket thing that says if you are a member of the AAW and you are demonstrating at an AAW event, you are covered for certain situations that could arise. I am not familiar with all the specifics off the top of my head, but it is worthwhile for most people.

The second is a fairly recent insurance opportunity for turners to purchase liability, fire, theft, etc insurance. There are many woodworkers and woodturners out in the world who have no insurance at all on their shop or their activities - working without a net as the saying goes. This is the insurance to which I was referring when I said that they made a difference between round and flat boards. I don't just turn, I build furniture, and I pay a very hefty premuim to an insurance company for the privilege. So I got all excited about the possibility of being able to buy that insurance through the AAW and possibly reduce my premiums. Not a chance. As soon as I mentioned that I also built furniture, the lady at the insurance company told me that they could not offer me a policy. When I asked why, she said that woodworking shops were different than turner's shops because of - get this - sawdust, finishes, and the possibility of fire! 😱 😱 😱 This type of reasoning is beyond me, but I am not an actuary. Oh yeah, someone could get hurt using a piece of my furniture, while I guess there is not much chance of someone getting hurt with a turning. Right.

So, I have to keep my own insurance, and that affects the other insurance I mentioned for demonstrating. There is a section in my policy that says I am covered for working off site - i.e. out of my shop at some other location. Demonstrating fits that description. I am covered for theft, liability if someone gets hurt, and damage of various sorts. And if I need it, then there is the filling out of papers, and that one line that says, "is there any other insurance policy in effect that would cover this?" Translated, each company will then start off by telling me that it is the other company's responsibility to pay for whatever needs paid. So two policies could actually be a liability (so to speak).

Again, for most people, this makes a lot of sense and is a good value. For me, it isn't, and for very specific reasons. As I wrote in my other thread, this isn't a gripe, just an observation of what I am or am not getting. If I am going to gripe about something, I have no problems saying so. 😉

Bill
 
This is a question of great interest to me. The demographics of local clubs have changed dramatically in my 15 years as an AAW member. The vast majority of turners today are casual hobbyists who enjoy turning but have no interest in showing/selling their work or improving their skills beyond a basic capability. The benefits I derive from the AAW (friendships across the country, insurance for my shop, Journal, directory contacts, and annual symposium) won't be of the same value to the casual turner.

What value does the AAW membership provide the casual hobbyists?

Many of the AAW benefits such as chapter insurance, lathe purchases, and support for regional symposiums are distributed to the Local chapters rather than individual members. Local chapters with 30% AAW membership receive the same AAW benefits as those requiring 100% AAW membership. While local AAW chapters are supposed to be an affiliation of AAW members, there is no carrot or stick for the local chapters to enforce the AAW membership requirement.

The bottom line is that joining the AAW is a personal decision and enforcing AAW membership is a local club decision.

Happy Turning,
Al
 
I actually didn't join AAW for several years, feeling that it wasn't "needed" until I began showing at club events. I joined out of necessity at that point. More recently, I've actually become VP of my local club. At that point, the resource guide kicks in in my seeking demonstrators for club functions.

As a hobbyist who's become a bit more, I see two values for the beginner. The first is, of course, the magazine but the second, which I now feel is even more valuable, is that the existence of AAW and it's sponsorship of an extensive network of clubs has and is providing a network of experience, support, and popularization of our chosen hobby which we likely would not otherwise experience.

Ya gotta figure that the opportunity to easilly tap into other's experience, the availability and variety of tools and equipment that can now be purchased, the growing recognition of turning as both a craft and an art, are all advantages that make this a more inviting, less expensive, and more exciting hobby. Without AAW, I truly feel that this fertile environment would not have developed to such an extent.

If this is the case, as I believe it is, then to join AAW as a hobbyist is acknowledging, supporting, and participating in an organization that is making that very hobby more accessable and enjoyable, and it is joining and engaging with a large community of similar turners.

How's that?

Dietrich
 
Well said Deitrick. Thanks everyone for this advice. It makes my job or submitting this to the club easier. Obviously I'm preaching to the chior here but I know I asked myself the same question on years where the $40 is hard to come by.
I have met some really fun people through the AAW both online and by traveling. One good way to meet people if you are lucky enough to get to travel is to simply take your Directory with you and call someone. You never know who you'll meet. I did this in Atlanta once and met several wonderful people over the course of Christmas holidays.
 
john lucas said:
Well said Deitrick. Thanks everyone for this advice. It makes my job or submitting this to the club easier. Obviously I'm preaching to the chior here but I know I asked myself the same question on years where the $40 is hard to come by.
I have met some really fun people through the AAW both online and by traveling. One good way to meet people if you are lucky enough to get to travel is to simply take your Directory with you and call someone. You never know who you'll meet. I did this in Atlanta once and met several wonderful people over the course of Christmas holidays.
Click to expand...

Hey John,

You get up Jersey-ways, the shops open, the wood's wet, the beer's cold, and I'm in the book.

Mark
 
I am a new turner this year. After I found the AAW, I immediately joined, because it was a national group which supported local clubs and held the annual symposiums. I also found the forums to be very helpful. Every hobby group needs a national focal point for the variety of interests and talents of members. The late arrival of the journal, which I have certainly complained about, is a small problem. One that needs to be solved by the AAW national office. All in all I am impressed by the organization and all the work that goes into making it happen. Thanks to those who make it happen!

Ron Wilson
 
The turner who joins a local club demonstrates a desire to interact with outher turners and to learn and grow skills by the act of joining. The support that the AAW gives to local clubs can only be possable if turners support the AAW. It is a two way street. The value of the jounal and the directory justifies AAW membership, but to my way of thinking club members should join the AAW to do their part to keep the whole thing going. I encourage every member of our club to join the AAW. About 75% of our members are AAW members.
 
I am a newcomer to turning. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii. Although we have an excellant turners club here, as shown in this latest AAW magazine, I travel a lot and have no hope of making meetings so I have not even tried to join. You folks have become my surrogate "local club" and with just the information I have gathered by "lurking" about the forums and galleries and asking a few questions I feel I have easily covered the cost of the membership, not to mention the magazines which are excellent sources of information and inspiration, and the resource guide which is terrific since I tend to buy most of my stuff mailorder. Those reasons by themselves warranted the membership for me as a self taught hobbiest.

Having had some time now to explore the AAW's resources, I would still have joined even if I were a member of the local club. From what I have experienced of AAW it is a great additional resource that would complement the resources of a local club very nicely.

If your local members can swing the $40 for the membership I personally think it would be well worth it for them.
 
underdog said:
Don't forget the free sharpening CD for 2006 members. That's probably worth the price of admission right there.
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity, how does one get this CD? I just signed up for a 2 year membership via the website, and didn't get the CD with my materials.

-Joe
 
The details are on the AAW home page. If I remember right the CD will not be available til sometime in 2006. February I think.
 
Wouldn't you know ....

Wouldn't you know it -- I bought the sharpening CD just before they announced that it would be included with next year's membership.

Dietrich, you took the words out of my mouth about the benefits of AAW membership.

Bill
 
Jeff Jilg said:
...and you can bet good money that I will not be posting the shipment date for the CD & Resource Directory.
Click to expand...

Awww Jeff - how long would it of been before someone found out the printer had the presort codes fouled up if you had not given us the ship date???? 🙄 You know we have to receive this information now so we can keep a check on these sort codes!!! 😉

Wilford
 
I'm almost hoping we do find there is an error with some of the 3 digit postal codes on the AW Journal distribution. We have a call in to the printer to look into that. But we also know that some of the post codes are correct and that it just takes 3-4 weeks to get delivered. We have a limited office staff and some folks have been calling in to get their "replacement" journal before the 4 week expected delivery date. I would request that folks try and be patient so that our office staff can work on other stuff. Currently they are in a peak effort to process the annual membership renewals.

It's a good thing there is a lot of interest in the AAW publications, since they are one of the primary benefits of our membership. Personally I didn't use the Resource Directory very much until I became webmaster. It is pretty handy to carry around to look up people and other information when you are travelling. A lot of time is invested in the Resource Directory each year, so it's good to hear that people are using it.
 
club too far and cost of printing journal

I haven't turned a thing yet but very, very interested and in fact have all the stuff I need to get started. I would love to join the local club but it is too far away and I would probably miss more than I would be able to attend. How does AAW help me then? What if the price of dues was reduced some to save? The journal could be posted on line only to members. That would permit you to lower the cost. We could always opt to order a hard copy if we wanted one and pay for it then. Can one order the journal if not a member? How many members really use the insurance available through AAW anyway?
 
gary7 said:
The journal could be posted on line only to members. That would permit you to lower the cost. We could always opt to order a hard copy if we wanted one and pay for it then. Can one order the journal if not a member? How many members really use the insurance available through AAW anyway?
Click to expand...

Gary,

I suspect that with printing costs being what they are for a magazine like the Journal, if you tried to order 1-by-1 you'd be paying more than a year's membership fee for each issue. You can, however, buy the Journal at many news stands, and I know that the Woodcraft stores sell them.

Annual dues go for far more than the Journal. This free (no-ads) website with all its content is underwritten as well as part of the costs of the annual symposium. Portions of the outreach programs like the EOG (grants) are just a few of the activities funded by dues. It's easy, however, to focus on the Journal as the only tangible "benefit" many members see because that's about all that's crossing their front porch, and at a perceived $10 a pop, it seems like a rather expensive magazine.

In the context of national organizations with as active a program as the AAW, I'm surprised the dues are as low as they are.

[shut up, Mandell, you'll give'em ideas! 😱 ]

[okay, I'll go back in the corner now 🙄 ]
 
Gary,

Most clubs welcome visitors. All the clubs I have had the pleasure of associating with have welcomed visitors. Most clubs have a few members who drive an hour or more.

Even though it is a long drive, a one time visit would be worth your drive.
There may be members close to you.

I suggest you call the contact person. They can tell you what demonstrations and club activiies might appeal to beginners in general and you in particular. they may be able to put you in contact with nearby turners and let you know of classes that may be available.

Happy Turning,
Al
 
Jeff Jilg said:
It's a good thing there is a lot of interest in the AAW publications, since they are one of the primary benefits of our membership. Personally I didn't use the Resource Directory very much until I became webmaster. It is pretty handy to carry around to look up people and other information when you are travelling. A lot of time is invested in the Resource Directory each year, so it's good to hear that people are using it.
Click to expand...


As newsletter editor, I'm constantly using an old one given to me by our president. I'm calling folks to ask questions about an entry in the instant gallery, or conferring with the demonstrator about their subject, meeting times etc... I'm looking forward to getting a current copy...
 
That's an interesting comment Jim. It sounds like a standard usage paradigm. I'll bet most of the newsletter editors and chapter presidents use the Resource Directory.

Our new software project which is just now getting implemented, will have all of that information available online. And it will be current. Since the current Resource Directory is paper it is only current the moment it gets printed.

With the supplemental online version, the information will be as current as a member wants - since each person will be responsible for maintaining their address. Some folks will still physically mail in their address changes, phone changes, etc. In that case the AAW office staff will type in their change for them.

I think that people who feel at ease using a computer will have no problem using the new online features.
 
Jeff,

Is that online Resource going to be restricted to members only via password? I know I don't want all of my address information open to non-members and spam capture software. If it is not going to be restricted are we going to have an opt out option before it is posted online?

Wilford
 
Wilford Bickel said:
Jeff,

Is that online Resource going to be restricted to members only via password? I know I don't want all of my address information open to non-members and spam capture software. If it is not going to be restricted are we going to have an opt out option before it is posted online?

Wilford
Click to expand...


Ditto 😉
 
I'll echo Wilford and Mark as well. This E-version of the resource directory should not be accessable to non members any more than the current print edition is.
 
Is the magazine only available in the USA? I for one have never seen a copy let alone read one. I have checked several news stands in Eastern Canada and they all say the same thing. They have never heard tell of the publication. Perhaps in Canada you have to join the association to obtain a copy but it would be nice to see a copy before laying out the bucks. Anyone have any answers, thanks in advance?
 
Oh NO!!! You guys discovered a major flaw in our design!!! Oh NO....now what will we do???? 😱

In reality:
Access will be password protected. Each member gets to select if they want to share any info at all. If a member decides to share info, the individual gets to select which info is shared. Ditto with email IDs.

And since this is software it will recognize when you renew (or not). Folks who don't renew will have the option to renew at any time. But at any point someone is a non-member, their access will be denied. Which is just another way of saying this is a benefit for members.

Currently any vendor can select to join the AAW and many do. We will be restricting how many individuals are shown for a specific query - to avoid data mining by vendors. (but they always just look thru the physical copy).

Bruce - the Resource Directory is only physically mailed to members once a year. It is part of the membership benefits and is not a separately purchasable product.
 
When the software gets deployed in the next quarter I'll write up the whole thing including FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions and answers). And I'll run the whole thing past you guys to get more questions and answers so that it is complete.

In the next week or so I should know whether it will be done in time to handle the 2006 online symposium registrations. If it isn't ready I'll clean up the existing database and activate the old (existing) software).
 
decided to join

Drove the 60 miles to our local AAW chapter in central IL. Now I am a member. I was so impressed by the work the guys brought in for "show n tell". Also impressed at the willingness of the guys to share with a complete stranger (me) and with each other about how to do things etc. I am confident that I will benefit as a member. Thank you AAW
 
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