OHIO VALLEY WOODTURNERS GUILD

Turning 2025, OVWG's biennial symposium, is less than 12 weeks away.  As of July 31, 2025, registration costs for this event will increase by $25.00.  If you are serious about woodturning and your schedule permits I urge you to register at your earliest convenience.  This is a wonderful event where for a very reasonable cost you are able to see recognized, professional turners demonstrate their skills.  In addition to these featured turners there will be demonstrations by talented guest turners from the OVWG and from other AAW chapters.  You may also want to reserve a room in the lodge or in the bunk house.  Since rooms are equipped with 2 beds you may want to share the room and the cost with someone else.

Besides the benefits gained from seeing top level demonstrators at work, there are other reasons why you should attend the Symposium.  These include opportunities to get to know and develop friendships with other members, a chance to volunteer to help with the Symposium, and helping finance the operation through your registration and lodging fees.  As a member of the OVWG you have access to monthly meetings where you can see demonstrations by some of the best woodturners in the country.  You also have access to the Learning Center where you can use lathes and turning tools provided by the Guild.  This allows new turners to try their hands at turning without having to make a big financial layout for tools.

With that said it is important for you to realize that it is primarily the funds earned during the Symposium that makes these two activities possible.  It is true that past successes have allowed the Guild to build up a nice financial cushion.  We use these funds to pay the rent for the facility we occupy as well as to purchase and maintain lathes and tools.  However, we must never become complacent since an event such as a pandemic (COVID) or a major weather disturbance can cut into this very quickly.  

Many people work very hard to make the OVWG Symposium a success.  I hope you will join us so that you can begin to see what is possible and what has made the OVWG a great organization - our members.  I urge you to go to the OVWG website (OVWG.org) and register now.  To accommodate your schedule, you may register for all three days, two days or only one day.  You can also come out on Thursday to help with the set-up.  On the far right side of the menu bar at the top you will find a drop-down button labeled "Symposium".  Once you click on it you will see several options that relate to the Symposium.  I encourage you to check all of them. Once you have registered, you should check out the volunteer opportunities.  It is the volunteering by members like you that makes our Symposium a success.  

In closing I want to thank you for being a member of the Ohio Valley Wood Turning Guild and look forward to seeing you at the Symposium.  

Jerry Warner
President

P.S.  If you are a past member who has not renewed your membership now is a good time to do so.  I hope you will renew and join us at the Symposium.