One of your users brought this thread to my attention and suggested I might be able to supply some answers, so here I am!
In general terms the Association (AWGB) provides a base point for woodturning in the UK. We have about 3,000 members, some individual and the majority through either Associated or Affiliated clubs. This gives the Association a “voice” with various bodies and interest groups. Each member contributes to that through their membership.
Having so many members means we are able to use the subscriptions to benefit both individual and club members through a range of free courses and facilities. Currently members can apply for courses in Demonstrator Training, for who aspire to be demonstrators, custom training in a range of woodturning practice, for those wishing to extend their repertoire of techniques, a soon to be launched Tutor Training course to ensure tutors are following correct protocols, and also currently undergoing trials at Axminster Skill centre a certificated course which will lead to an acknowledged qualification. This is being further developed with the C&G institute. And that's just a few options.
Members can also apply for support for seminar bursaries and a number of other bursary-type awards.
The seminar, which is self funding and not reliant of member subscriptions brings international Woodturners to the UK who would otherwise never been seen here. Any member can attend and any member can apply for a supported ticket. The seminar also raises money for the Youth Development Program through the auctions run over the weekend. The 2011 auction raised nearly £10,000 for YTD. A large number of young turners will benefit from this through 2012-13.
The membership subscription is far lower than for many other interest groups, and we have consciously kept it low over recent years when many are raising subscriptions. As well as keeping the subscription low, we have at the same time increased the Demonstration grant available to clubs. This represents a significant % of any club's annual demonstrator grant and can make a huge difference to club who are bringing in demonstrators from a considerable distance.
There are also many advancements in the planning stages, all of which are aimed at supporting, developing, and furthering woodturning as a craft in the UK. All of this is only possible through the support and subscription of members, and is carried out, as already stated, by unpaid volunteers.
As to specific insurance queries, if you contact Dave Atkinson through the AWGB website he will be only too happy to answer specific queries.
As for the AWGB being “ Another woodturning group for the boys”...where did you do your research? The Association is an Association of Members, which means that the members ARE the association, so if you mean 3,000 “boys” (assuming you include the female membership) you're spot on...it is for the members. What it is not is an exclusive club. Which I think is precisely what you suggested you could do with your £20. Good luck with that.
So at first glance it may not seem to offer much on a personal/individual level, but can actually offer an awful lot to those so minded to write a letter of fill out an application. In the broader sense the Association provides an interest body able to consult with other bodies on behalf of the UK turners. An example of this was the government's Craft Blueprint with which I was personally involved. The Blueprint is now being used to ascertain how government can support the many craft workers – turners included – who make a living from craft, and in doing so contribute to HMRC, retail sales, exports, and employment in the UK. Initiatives have already been rolled out as a result of this consultation process, and due to the input from the AWGB Woodturners are amongst those who will benefit. Is that a bad thing?
There will always be detractors, and there will always be those who don't join groups, and that's fine.
But on a very personal note:
as somebody who has freely given hundreds of hours of his time to the furtherance of the craft through association work I resent the implication that what I (and the EC) do is worthless and only for a chosen few. I work seven days a week at the lathe, and in the current climate it could do with being eight days, but due to my name being linked with the Association I have an average of five or six turners a week call into the workshop for advice (or even a chat), and I have always given my time freely despite having a living to earn. But then that's part of being a committee member and trying to further the craft.
Andy Coates RPT
AWGB PRO
