Attention All SPSW Turners!!!

Garfield Street FairThe SPSW is going to participate in this year’s Garfield Street Fair in Parkland. We are in desperate need of people to help. We will be turning pens at this event. If you have any spare time on August 20th we can use your help. We also need help with mini lathes, turning tools and pen mandrels; not to mention sanding supplies and polish. The pen blanks and pen kits will be provided.

Please get in touch with Craig Chatterton at 253- 848-4205 or chatterwc @ yahoo .com as soon as possible. This should be a very fun event and there are over 100 vendors, food and bands. This would be a great family event for a pleasant Saturday afternoon

You can find out more about the event as well as see a list of vendors at: http://shopgarfieldstreet.com/default.aspx

With enough support you will only have to help for a minimum of time. And, if you haven’t turned pens before, this would be an excellent opportunity to learn.

This is your chance to be a true supporter of the club instead of just being a spectator.

Again, this can be a wonderful family event. In other words, bring your spouse, your kids, your grand kids and help support the best turning club in the state.

woodturning events

SPSW Membership Report

SPSW Membership Chairman Jarred Hoffpauir provides this report on new members:

New members in June are as follows

  • Brian Bassett from Puyallup
  • Lisle Young from Buckley
  • Greg Dunn from Gig Harbor
  • Jim Powers from Gig Harbor

Additionally in July Mr. Larry Rydberg is officially the first person to pay his 2012 dues!

New members from June are as follows

  • Jeff Richardson from Buckley
  • Rick Billings from Federal Way
  • Ron Woszczak from Lakebay

Also from June is a returning member Robert Miller from Lakewood.

As of July, 2011 there are 176 paid members in the SPSW.

Membership

The Unseen Pleasures of Turning

visually imparied experiencing woodturningYesterday’s post was about a woodturner who lost most of her vision but was able to adapt her tools and processes to allow her to continue turning.

Coincidently, the AAW website has a feature on how the 25th Anniversary Symposium included the first showing of woodturnings to visually impaired people. Andi Wolfe, one of the turners involved with the showing commented “It was the most amazing experience for me to watch how these individuals explored each piece with their hands.”

This is another great example of how woodturners are willing to share. I highly recommend this article.

AAW / symposiums

Overcoming Challenges

medeleine sabo
Madeleine Sabo
One of the ways that SPSW members give back is by supporting the Blinded Veterans Association. This organization provides scholarships for children of blinded veterans.

The SPSW also has members that have vision limitations or are legally blind.

The current issue of the American Woodturner, the publication of the American Association of Woodturners has an article about how a professional woodturner dealt with the loss of her sight and continues to turn wood on her lathe.

Madeleine Sabo was already an accomplished artist when she and her husband started turning in 2002. They were selling their work less than a year later. Madeleine has been featured in Country and New Mexico magazines and was President of the Mountaintop Turners chapter of the AAW.

In 2008 Madeleine contracted a MRSA bacteria that resulted in detached retinas and the loss of hearing in her right ear. Her eyesight is now limited to slight black and white vision with some color perception in the periphery of her left eye. This did not stop Madeleine’s desire to turn wood.

With the help of her husband, she has modified her tools and techniques. She only uses three tools – a bowl gouge, skew and parting tool. The skew has been modified to help her line up the tool in the correct position, she has a modified toolrest with stops on each end, and has modified the stand she uses to help her see the edges.

This is a very positive article and shows that determination and desire can help overcome limitations.

AAW / woodturner profile

AAW Elections

If you are a member of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW), you are encouraged to vote in the current board of directors election. There are six candidates for the three positions being elected. The candidates are (i = incumbent):

  • Dale Larson from Oregon (i)
  • John Morand from Ontario
  • Paul Omilon from Saskatchewan
  • Binh Pho from Illinois (i)
  • Greg Smith from Michigan
  • Cassandra Speier from Tennessee (i)

Information about each candidate is available on the AAW election website. Voting is now open and you must vote by October 21st. You should have received a ballot with your current issue of American Woodturner or you can vote online at woodturner.org.

AAW

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Washington Woodturners are having their annual picnic in place of the August membership meeting. They are, however, turning tops for the Bellingham Parks Kid’s Festival on August 6th.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners are also having their annual picnic in place of the August membership meeting. The picnic will be held on August 6th.

The Seattle Woodturners meeting on August 11th will be a mini-symposium with Les Dawson (ornaments), Hal Johnson (bowl coring system) and David Lippincott demonstrating. The chapter is also having their annual BBQ picnic on August 20th.

The Cascade Woodturners meet on August 18th with a demonstration of sculptured vessels by Graeme Priddle followed by hands on workshops.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners have no meeting in August, but will meet again on September 1st.

woodturning events