As they say time flies when your having fun. If you're not having fun you're not turning wood. If you're not turning you must have one of those things called a J.O.B. The steering committee hopes that you’re happy with the thing that the committee has been doing. The committee would like some feedback from each of you about what you like and dislike, and things you would like to see the club accomplish during the next year.

I would like to thank everyone who attended the Donald Derry demonstration and thank those who participated in the hands-on workshops. I would also like to thank O.B. O’Brien for hosting Don while he was here and thank Mike Peters for his efforts on entertaining Don and helping him out with an equipment issue. Overall, I think the weekend was a great success and am looking forward to bringing in another professional turner in the fall. If anyone has any suggestions of who you would like to see, please let me know. We have a couple of people in mind and will start planning for the next professional demonstrator soon.

Danny Haggard has added a “For Sale” section to the web page. I would like to thank Danny for his efforts in putting this together. The “For Sale” page is provided as a courtesy to members and woodturning related items may be listed on the web page, but please be aware of the disclaimer. It is as follows: “The "For Sale" section is provided as a convenience to the members of the Artistic Woodturners of Northwest Florida. The items listed below are being sold by individual members and the Artistic Woodturners of Northwest Florida assumes no responsibility over any sales, and does not guarantee the quality of the items being sold or the accuracy of the information provided about the items.” This also applies to items being sold by individuals at club meetings.

We are in the process of purchasing a 16 inch electronic variable speed JET lathe to use for club demonstrations and teaching. It should be here in time for the next meeting. The manufacturers of JET Tools have offered a limited supply of lathes and equipment to AAW chapters at a discounted price. Since the offer was good for a limited time and was on a first-come first-serve basis, the steering committee decided to go ahead with the purchase. We are also purchasing two JET Mini-lathe stands for the mini lathes we already own. This offer is only valid to AAW chapters and the equipment can only be used for club functions so please do not inquire about prices or ordering information. We are looking forward to receiving our new equipment and I am sure the members who have brought in their large lathes for demonstrations in the past are glad they will not have to do that anymore.

James McClure

The month of June has been designated by AAW as youth month for ages 10 thru 17. Our club will be participating in this program and are making a request for club members to act as instructors for this program. The instructors will be teaching the youth safety techniques, the nomenclature of the lathe, describing the functions of each part. They will have some very basic turning projects to learn with our help. There will be 3 weekends in June for the program, there will be no classes on our regular club meeting day. We need some volunteers to fill the slots for teachers, the committee would like not to have the same volunteers for every session, please share the load. Volunteer to help.

May’s Club Challenge is "make something your spouse can use" bring in your creations for the members to see. Robert McBroom will conduct a club demonstration; he will show us how to make a lathe tool from tool steel and turning a handle for the tool. The committee would like someone in the audience to show the club how to use a roughing gouge come prepared to help us teach what you have learned about the roughing gouge.

June’s Club Challenge will be "make a tool" this can be one of your ideas that you have been using and have been successful using.

Bring in your wood for the club auction. The wood auction will be back in full swing and the club can use the revenue for the projects we are doing.

We need volunteers for demonstrators at the Heritage Days event being conducted in the historical village the first weekend of June. The club has been participating for the last three years at Heritage village and have a great time. We need your help for this event in June if you would like to help please let James McClure, Al McCoy or Danny Haggard know if you will be able to help.

The club has very nice selection of learning material for members to use, books, magazines, CD’s and DVD at no charge, if you have items checked out and one month has lapsed since you checked out your selection it is due for return. Please bring back checked out items for others to use. If you have wood turning books or tapes etc. and would like to donate them to the club it would be greatly appreciated.

Some news from past events: Thanks to Al McCoy and Jack Diamond for participating in the Art Festival at the Pleasant Grove Elementary School on Thursday 21^st of April. The kids from K thru 6th grade enjoyed their demonstration. Jack and Al showed the children how to make tops and ornaments. The wow of the demo was, Jack using a sharpie to color his chatter work on the top, And the wire smoking on the ornament Al was turning, these brought out the excitement of the children. If you have never done a demo for children you are missing some fun and enjoyment. If the opportunity presents its self, do it they are so much fun.

Donald shaping a piece of cherry provided by James McClure. Basic turning up to this point.

Donald showing how to turn out a dip in his shape a low spot we all get now and then.

Donald showing the club how to roll a scraping burr using his special sharpener. The tool is made out of a used plainer blade. The tool is very good for removing surface tool marks as Donald says "is worth the price of admission" this is the same edge used by cabinet makers for scraping table tops and such for years and adapted for turning, great idea. He uses a diamond hone on the back of the tool to remove the old burr then rolls a sharp edge as shown in the photo repeat as often as needed.

Donald using his hollowing rig. This rig is very simple and easy to use not as bulky as some that I have seen. Has a laser light for precise bowl thickness, takes the guess out of the procedure. Like brain surgery.