To CWA members,

My name is Bob Saunders. I and a few other CWA members are concerned that the CWA is becoming dormant and that no successor is being contemplated. 

We held a short meeting to discuss the future of the CWA with interested Canadian woodturners (at the AAW symposium in Charlotte NC) in late June, 2000.  A report of this meeting is attached.

Mark Salusbury - current President of the CWA - has agreed to send this to its members in the hope of generating some discussion and progress toward forming (or renewing) a national organization to serve woodturners in Canada.  

I would also invite you to encourage other woodturners who may not currently be members of the CWA to also participate is this discussion. The idea is to generate discussion leading toward the formation of a national woodturning organization.
Thank-you 

Bob Saunders (after October 1, 2000)

A meeting of interested Canadian woodturners was held at 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2000 at the AAW 2000 Symposium in Charlotte, NC to discuss "The future of the CWA".  Thirty-two people attended. Bob Saunders acted as facilitator for the discussions.

The focus of the discussion was whether a national woodturning organization was needed and, if so, what form should it take. 

The following points were brought out during discussion:

It was agreed that a national woodturning organization was needed with representation from all areas of the country.

There was general agreement that the CWA, as currently constituted, did not meet the all needs of those present.  It was noted that the current CWA has a structure (membership, budget, journal…) which could be used in forming a new national woodturning organization.

A national woodturning organization should:

* publish a journal
* promote woodturning
* showcase Canadian woodturning and woodturners - symposium?
* emphasize uniqueness of Canadian woodturning
* represent (in a yet-to-be-defined way) local woodturning  clubs. 
 (It was suggested that local clubs, possibly through regional organizations, would elect a board of directors who would hire a staff person to look after the day-to-day aspects of the organization).

The concept of creating regional organizations to coordinate regional activities was proposed.

NEXT STEPS

An intensive effort will be made to promote dialogue among the executives of Canadian woodturning clubs, woodturners (amateur and professional) known to be interested in a national organization and with the present CWA executive. Advice and opinions would be sought with a view to reaching a consensus on how to proceed. GO members!!!