Tis the season for hurricanes and politics and I'm trying to design and turn a Windbag. Any ideas? I know, I know, look at a mirror, Arch! Meanwhile I'll act the part and muse a little about AAW. zzzzzz!
I just got my AAW dues notice, $45.00 per year and a ballot with 'brag sheets' of the six candidates for the Board. I don't know any of the candidates, but their reasons for being on the board actually raises questions of why I should continue to belong.
The dues include seasonal issues of "American Woodturner", a very readable and informative magazine. Being an AAW member adds my personal support in advancing and perpetuating organized woodturning as a hobby, art and/or business. Also there is the camaraderie and friendships (and occasional turn-offs) engendered by turning clubs sponsored by AAW plus their sponsored regional symposia and the grand, but getting too expensive to attend, annual national conventions.
I can comfortably afford the dues and expenses, but in my particular situation I am questioning why I should. I wonder if others here have reasons of their own for speculating about beginning or continuing their membership. Of course, I realize that whether I continue as a member or not is unimportant in the scale of things. That said, here's some of my personal considerations for you to shoot down, agree with or add your own.
For me, as to pure woodturning there's not much new under the sun. I have made most all of the mistakes, enjoyed many minor successes and made a lot of good friends. Now days I mostly enjoy turning whenever and whatever I please, alone in my shop.
I am NOT antisocial, just that woodturning is not my whole life and at my age, (nearly 88, which means 'love and kisses' in Morse code, but not for me! 'G') groaning back and squeaky knees, I don't care to get out much anymore and I have no interest in the organized business of clubs. Been there, done that and I lost my 'hero worship & adulation' a long time ago. The internet supplies my limited needs for personal relationships and for 'keeping up' as much as I want to. The magazine is briefly scanned and continues to pile up. There is a whole lot of repetition in woodturning circles, using warmed over words and pictures. Some all too recognizable.
There are many reasons for organized woodturning to grow and advance, but why should it matter to me if there are many, few or no woodturners in the future and whether they are young or old or middle age or what they choose to design and turn, demonstrate and write about. If the endeavor is relevant on any level won't there be people who turn wood with or without AAW? I reckon less is less and more is more or is it the other way round? So what?
I'm often wrong. So what's your take on why you belong to AAW or not ...or don't you care? Anyway, this musing sure took care of the few (only 70) posts for today. :)
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter