This is my first commentary in Supplier's Edge and the first thing I want to do is thank former AWFS® President Joan Kemp for her unbelievable service during an extended 5 year term. An association is only as strong as its members, and like many of our members the great recession seriously impacted AWFS in a negative way. Joan led the Association through many tough times and guided the board and staff of AWFS in making many tough decisions. Because of so many critical issues, and to maintain continuity, the AWFS Board positions were temporarily frozen. We had no idea the normal two year term would turn into five, but no matter how busy she was I never heard Joan complain, not even once. We're not letting Joan completely off the hook, but she can now relax a little as Immediate Past President on the current Board Of Directors.

High School Student Wins Fresh Wood People's Choice Award, College of Redwoods Student Takes Top Honor

in Fresh Wood Student Woodworking Competition

Student Designs, Woodworking Skills Impress Attendees

Kristoffer Edlund, a graduate of Brighton High School in Cottonwoods Heights, Utah took home the People's Choice Award for his glass-topped table Wrapped Walnut after it received over 100 votes from AWFS®Fair

attendees and exhibitors. The table's elegant pretzel-like base design was accomplished with seven layers of walnut and maple lamination.  Edlund now plans to study Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He also won Second Place in the High School Tables category and took home a total of $1,225 in prize money and a Certificate of Merit.  The People's Choice award was sponsored by Wagner Meters.

Mollie Fergurson, a student at College of the Redwoods, Fort Bragg, California, won the Best of Show Award, selected by judges from all of the First Place winners. Her kwila chair dulcius ex asperis, inspired by Kaare Klint's Danish modern deck chair, received First Place in the Post Secondary Chairs category. Now that she has completed the school's two year certificate program, she is pursuing a livelihood as a fine furniture maker and woodworker.  Ferguson was awarded a coveted wood sculpture designed by the late renowned wood artist Sam Maloof and manufactured by Maloof Woodworking.  She also received a Rikon 14" Bandsaw, a total of $2,225 in cash prizes and a Certificate of Merit. The Best of Show Award is sponsored by Rikon Power Tools. 

 Start Your Engines!

Photo courtesy of: Bryan Bartel 

Gather your pit crews and soup up that belt sander!  A hugely popular event, it was serious speed at the 2013 Belt Sander Racing Association's National Championships held at the 2013 AWFS®Fair, where more than 1,000 fans packed the grandstand to see the sawdust fly.

The Belt Sander Racing Association (BSRA) was created by Accuride to bring together belt sander racing enthusiasts from all over to have fun and compete at Accuride-sponsored events throughout North America. The first BSRA National Championships debuted in 2007 at AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, Nevada.   

Accuride BSRA races are scheduled throughout North America at trade shows and Accuride distributor open houses. The regional races will culminate in the National Championships, which will be held at AWFS Fair, in Las Vegas, Nevada in odd numbered years.  

Both class entries are encouraged to "dress up" their sanders to add personality. You'll see everything from Hello Kitty to Elvis themed racers-which just add to the fun of the event.   
  

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Teachers Take Advantage of AWFS®Fair 

Teachers from coast to coast were present at the show this year, resulting in the highest number of educators to ever attend the show. This is likely due to AWFS® efforts to reach out to educational institutions to decrease the gap between industry and education and to stimulate student interest in the wood products manufacturing industry as a viable career choice.
 

Teachers have also been hearing about the Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) skill standards and the skill evaluator training which was offered at the show. During show hours the WCA trained fourteen teachers as well as industry members. Being trained as a skill evaluator allows the teachers to encourage their students to obtain a WCA Passport booklet and get evaluated on a variety of tools and machines. This then illustrates to potential employers their expertise in the standardized skill sets most used and valued in the industry.
 

In addition to the draw of the WCA training, many teachers came with their students who were competing in the Fresh Wood competition. Teachers also took advantage of the seminars offered expressly for wood educators (called the Teacher Track seminars) as well as the full roster of seminars.
 

AWFS provided a room for teachers to gather at the end of Thursday's show day for a little networking. Approximately 30 teachers came to meet their peers and share information. Many had never been to the show and one administrator proclaimed, I didn't know the wood industry was using CNC!" Teachers were clearly excited about the WCA training and the opportunity to learn more about the industry and more closely align their curriculum with it-which is just what is needed by an industry badly in need of a new crop of skilled workers. They were also very gratified to be acknowledged, recognized and invited!
 

If you or your company has an interest in increasing your involvement with industry-education initiatives, please contact Nancy Fister, AWFS Education Director at nancy@awfs.org  or 323.215.0303. The momentum is growing. Come ride the wave!