AAW renewal question

I took a year off from membership a while back for pretty much the same reasons. We didn't have a club here for the longest time but a year or so ago one formed so I had to re-up. Part of the by-laws.

I previously was a member mostly for the magazine. Back in '97 when I first got into turning they were close to the only thing available. Now there's a number of good magazines. Not that I subscribe to them. After I read them I never want to throw them away, but I also rarely go back and reread them so they're just more clutter.

I guess if you're planning on hitting the symposium when it comes around to the west coast you might recoup the cost of membership w/the registration discount. Or part of it at least. Otherwise I'd say take your $45 and print up new business cards.

...Kevin

Time to start (if it does not exist) the MAW (or perhaps Association de Tornero de Mexico - ATM) - dues 45 pesos a year...headquarters, your house, Baja.

Make up a nice Aztec-ish logo and print new business cards. ;-)

Warning - my Spanish language skills are non-existent.

I will renew this year again. I haven't renewed my subscription to Fine Woodworking. I don't belong to the AAW for the magazine, or for that matter suscribe to any turning magazine because of what is in them. Heck, I learn more from the turning forums than I do from the magazines. I support them because they support the art of turning. For a lot of beginners, it is one of the best places to learn, and the list of clubs alone is worth any costs associated with the magazines. If you have ever seen the kids program at the AAW, that alone is worth it. Supposedly they are going to orient more towards turning in the magazine this coming year. We shall see. robo hippy

Hey Mac, go> >

Betty Scarpino is assuming the editorship of the magazine and they plan to put out 6 issues/yr vs the current 4 - the content will also change - - - so I think the value will be going up.

Yeah, I'm thinking you're right, Kevin.. $45 isn't much, but no use spending it if I don't need the membership.. Never been to a symposium and doubt that I'll ever get the urge.. lol

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Well, I don't want to get involved with a group again especially START one.. Too old and happy for that..

Oh.. just FYI, it would be just under 700 pesos, at today's rate.. (little under

Mine too, pretty much, but not needed here... and the wife's Spanish is getting pretty good, so it's easy for me to be lazy about learning..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

You working the guilt angle here, Reed? ;-] Poor kids won't get turning class unless you spend the $45 bucks... Damn..

Watz in Albuquerque? If ya go, stop here on the way back! BRING WOOD

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Any idea what changes the content will change?

Seems like I used to get some good tips and ideas but lately it seems more about carving, painting and putting holes in things than turning..

I'm probably going to send the money in.. My wife just told me that she enjoys the magazine.. (for the same reason that I don't)

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

It will be interesting to see the direction it goes. It's a hard balance to run a turning mag - or any woodworking mag for that matter - w/o repeating yourself. If you put in artsy stuff, it's out of range of a good percentage of your readers to actually do. If you put in basic projects, a good percentage of your readers are already past that point. Quite a quandry. I don't envy the editor!

I think some product reviews/comparisons would be great - seems like we never see any of those. Of course, the minute you write one you've painted a big target on your back!

Here's hoping Betty the best of luck...

...Kevin

...

June 26-28 in Albuquerque is the AAW national Symposium. It's worth experiencing at least once. It's great to put faces to all of the turners we "meet" on-line.

Matt Heffron Ex-president, Inland Woodturners

As long as you're down there, make sure they respect your rights. Don't pay one peso in taxes. Demand free health care for your whole family and free education for your children. Don't bother learning Spanish. Make them change all signs to English. Make them change half of their radio and TV broadcasts to English. Sneak every friend and family member you can find into the country. Let's see how THEY like it.

B.

I wish I could go every year. They're a blast. Been to two - '99 and '07 plus the Utah symposium in '97.

If one comes anywhere near your neck of the woods, I definitely recommend it. Just leave the checkbook at home. The vendor floor show can be rather tempting.

Unfortunately it's a bit spendy getting to 'em from here. Especially since the family seems to want to go on vacation too. They're not too wild about watching woodturners, but they're always glad to be getting out of Dodge...

...Kevin

jeez, there must be something wrong with me - I went to the symposium near me when it was In Passadena - even volunteered to help - but I was bored stiff after a few hours - got the volunteer T shirt, got the programme, bought a few blocks of wood and went home - I can't remember if I went more than one day - I know I didn't stay for the auction at the end -

I think whether you enjoy these things depends in part on how you like to receive your information...

Turning magazines are really difficult to produce, as said. Just imagine how out of balance they are after chucked on to the lathe - the pages straining in all directions, the woosh of the paper and the danger of paper cut! Makes you shudder. On a serious note, I subscribed half a year ago but stated 2009 as the year of membership. When do you guys expect the first issue out? Max

now, there is a good project for your wood turning club - seriously - glue up AAW magazines, and make a bowl or something out of the result - if done right, it could be interesting

Ahh... thought it might be something like that... Been there, done that in 30 years of real estate.. sort of burned out on any meeting involving more that 5 or 6 people..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing