Dear AAW Members,

I need your help. As you know, each year the AAW holds three competitions involving the Local Chapters – the Chapter Collaborative, the website competition, and the newsletter competition. Details of these events are on the AAW website (www.woodturner.org). The winners are announced at the Symposium Banquet and auction. Quite honestly, last year these competitions did not receive anywhere near the attention and recognition that they should have. As your new (since Nov. 2007) Chapters and Membership chairman, these events fall under my purview, and I am very concerned that because of the shortcomings of last year, we may not get as many entries as we should this year.

Generally, we don't find out how many entries we have until the Symposium – this is particularly true in the case of the Chapter Collaborative. Here is where I'd like to enlist the help of the Chapter Presidents. Please let me know if your Chapter plans to enter one or more of these competitions. Be assured that this year in Richmond the Local Chapters will get the attention they deserve. I will announce the winners, a photo will be projected on the big screen, and those participants who are at the Banquet will be invited to come forward, receive their award, and get the big round of applause they have earned. In addition, the AAW Star Chapters will be recognized and will receive their specially designed plaques.

Please let me hear from you. Contact me directly at my personal e-mail (lgenender@aol.com) or by phone (214-363-1425). I thank you in advance for your help.

Best Regards,

Larry Genender

AAW Chapters and Membership Chairman