| AAW News
2008 AAW Symposium will be in Richmond, VA, from June 20-22. The AAW website for further information is www.woodturner.com
The Spring edition of "American Woodturner" magazine, page 5, right sidebar, middle item, announced that our club qualifies as a "Star" club. In recognition, the club will be presented with a plaque at the national symposium in Richmond and will recieve a turning DVD set. Keith Zimmerman will represent our club at the National symposium and will accept the plaque. Other members that may be present are welcome to accompany Keith to accept the plaque.
Summer 2008 AAW President's Letter
From Angelo Iafrate
Dear AAW Members,
Earlier this year, AAW Board members met in Richmond, Virginia, to put the finishing touches on plans for the 22nd Annual AAW Symposium. I am looking forward to the June 20–22 event with a bittersweet taste, as this will be my last symposium as a member of one of the finest boards, I believe, to lead our organization.
I would like to share some of the highlights of our Board meeting. At the February meeting, the Board approved the organization’s strategic plan for 2008–2010.
The Board decided to publish a AAW 25th anniversary book and hired John Kelsey to manage the project. John has extensive publication experience with Fine Woodworking, Cambium Press, and now with Fox Chapel Publishing. In addition to his vast experience in publishing, John is also an accomplished woodturner (although he claims to have been distracted from woodturning by other demands of life). Please join me in giving John a warm woodturner welcome. We are confident John will produce a book worthy of the AAW’s silver anniversary.
The Board also reviewed the journal and adopted a strategy to restructure current publication methods that we feel are impeding efforts to expand to six issues per year. We expect that new production processes will be in place next year. When six issues per year might be published is a decision to be
resolved later.
Finally, the Board considered sharing the EOG (Educational Opportunity Grant) auction price of donated artwork with the artists. The question before the board was whether to allow the artists the option of receiving up to 50 percent of the retail price of the donated piece.
According to current Internal Revenue Service regulations, an artists may claim only the value of materials (no labor) when valuing a contribution for tax purposes. The Board wrestled with this question during our November meeting in Chicago, and it was on the agenda again for the February meeting. We explored the pros and cons over the course of two days. Then, in a final vote, the motion to share auction proceeds with the artists passed.
We have enjoyed 20 years of generosity from all our members who have donated wonderful work for previous EOG auctions. This is an opportunity for the AAW to give something back to future donors and to make donations of possibly even better work more palatable. And, it is a stepping stone towards
improving AAW’s fund-raising and professionalism.
Finally, many of you are aware of the perilous condition of Phil Brennion, an AAW past president, after back surgery last summer. If you are interested in making a contribution to assist with medical expenses not covered by insurance, see details at our website. Barry Schwaiger of WMH Tool Group has generously donated a Powermatic 3520B lathe that will be raffled in Phil’s benefit. You can purchase tickets for the lathe at the Richmond
symposium or through the AAW website. Thanks in giving Phil a helping hand. | 
