At one point, we were all new to the Seattle Woodturners club and each of us attended our first meeting. If you are interested in learning more about our club and its activities, we welcome guests and prospective members to attend one of our Monthly Meetings! It’s a great way to get to know us and to learn more about our offerings. For more information about attending a meeting, you can contact us here. [Featured: guest demonstrator, Lynne Hull]
COVID-19 UPDATE: Since the pandemic, the Seattle Woodturners have suspended in-person monthly meetings and have begun hosting meetings virtually via Zoom. Interested guests and prospective members can contact us to request a meeting link. As of May 2022, we will begin to transition toward hybrid meetings, offering members opportunities to participate in person or via Zoom. Check our calendar for more details.
When and where do you meet?
Monthly Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, typically from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM via Zoom Teleconferencing. Social time begins at 6:00 PM, and the meeting begins at 6:30 PM. Once in-person meetings resume, we expect to run meetings as hybrid events with the opportunity to participate in person or via Zoom. Details are still TBD regarding hybrid events. A listing of all club meetings can be found in the current month’s club newsletter or on the meetings and demos page.
Can I attend a Monthly Meeting even if I am not a member?
Guests and prospective members are welcome to attend a club meeting to learn more about our club and activities. Please complete the contact form to request a Monthly Meeting Zoom link and we will send it to you via email.
I really liked your meeting. How do I join your club?
Prospective members can join our club online by paying dues via PayPal or Debit/Credit card. Membership dues are $40 per year and are used to support our club activities. You’ll be provided with a membership card and a welcome packet to help get you oriented with the club. You can contact our Treasurer or reach out through our contact form if you have any questions or would prefer to pay dues by check via US Postal Service.
*To mail a check via USPS:
Make your check payable to: Seattle Chapter AAW
Mail to: Robin Brown, 14150 NE 20th St, F1-153, Bellevue, WA 98007
What is your meeting format?
Meetings held via Zoom begin with social time from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM; the announcements and demonstration follows from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. In-person meetings are usually formatted as follows: Announcements, introductions, and welcome new members and guests; Show and Tell; Woodturning Demonstration (Part I); Wood Raffle (and refreshment break); and Woodturning Demonstration (Part II).
What is Show and Tell like?
All members are encouraged to share a newly-turned piece at meetings. It’s an opportunity to both showcase your work and to receive feedback from others. Pieces are photographed by our club photographer and may be published in our newsletter and/or on the club’s gallery page.
[Featured: members, Tim Tibbetts, Jack Wayne]
How does the Wood Raffle work?
Members donate a variety of wood pieces that other members can win, often making for excellent turning projects. Members have the option to purchase single raffle tickets for $1 each, or six raffle tickets for $5. All proceeds go to support our club activities.
Tickets are sold prior to the start of the meeting and up to the start of the Wood Raffle. The Wood Raffle is conducted during the break, with lucky members walking away with one (or more) pieces of wood!
What are your demonstrations like?
Our Program Director recruits, schedules, and organizes the club’s guest demonstrators. (Upcoming Events) The guest demonstrator will present a woodturning technique of general interest to the group. Demonstrations are presented online via Zoom. Once in-person meetings resume, we expect to run meetings as hybrid events with the opportunity to participate in person or via Zoom. Details are still TBD regarding hybrid events.
In-person demonstrations:
Our audio-visual (A/V) equipment is used to project the demonstrator’s presentation and live video. In general, demonstrations include plenty of opportunities for questions and answers. A sample of past demonstrators includes club members, regional woodturners, and both nationally and internationally-known woodturners: Steven Hatcher, Eric Lofstrom, Glenn Lucas, David Lutrick, Jon Magill, John Moe, Jay Shepard, John Shrader, Vern Tator, and Derek Weidman.
[Featured: guest demonstrators Lynne Hull, Glenn Lucas]
What equipment do your demonstrators use?
During in-person events, the club trailer is used to transport the club’s equipment to the meeting venue. The Program Director coordinates use of the club’s lathes, grinders, lighting, A/V, and miscellaneous equipment to support all demonstrations. Demonstrators will typically bring one or more of their own tools, supplies, and a portfolio of slides/pictures.
Do you sell any woodturning materials?
In addition to opportunities to win wood in the Wood Raffles, wood sealer is sold by the Treasurer to members for $22/gallon. All proceeds go to support our club activities. Watch out for our annual Tool Swap for opportunities to barter with other members too!
*Member discounts available at supporting vendors.
Are refreshments available at events?
Yes. Optional donations are accepted for refreshments, with all proceeds going to support club activities. Refreshments include coffee, sodas, bottled water, and an assortment of treats.
Do you wear name tags at in-person meetings?
We do! We find it’s a great way to get to know each other. You’ll see a name tag table with tags available for members to wear.
Isn’t woodturning just for old guys?
We don’t think so. The Seattle Woodturners organization fosters an inclusive environment for any person interested in woodturning. We hope to encourage new generations of turners who will carry the craft forward into the future. Our members encompass a range of ages and skill levels, from budding hobbyists to professional woodturners and retired enthusiasts. Several of our members have been turning since their youth and have a wealth of experience to share; others are new woodturners who will carry on the techniques of the trade and develop the next innovations. We hope that our club can provide many opportunities for collaborative learning and a safe space for developing community.
Accommodations for disabled members?
Please contact us if you require any additional audio, visual, or seating accommodation for the meeting.
Seattle Woodturners 