Don't believe everything the grapevine tells you.
Oh dear, I wish I hadn't started this one!
Why do you wish that? It would appear to me that this is a subject close to the heart of many people who are here, and we are having a lively exchange of views and ideas, which is precisely what a forum is all about.
From my own observation I would have to agree with George that many ordinary club members would struggle putting together a demonstration, never mind one that people would want to see or pay money for. However, this has to be seen against the background of what a club is. Your members range from professional right through to the person who wants to escape SWMBO for a day. They come from all walks of life, and not many of them will have ever had the opportunity to speak in public, let alone doing it while holding a razor sharp tool against a piece of wood rotating at 1000rpm. Presentation skills are something that has to be learned, just like any other skill, including wood turning, and many club members simply do not spend enough time turning to become truly proficient at it. To them, it's a hobby and that's all. They do not even have the desire to demonstrate.
I also agree with George, that a demo by somebody who is not proficient and at ease with the task, is probably either boring or dangerous (and possibly both).
So all in all, the course is probably meant for people who want to demonstrate, but are unsure about some aspects of it. It's not about turning skills, it's about presentation/safety/etc. In any case, those folks who do bad demos probably get told very quickly, and then have a chance to up their skills or leave it.
I think all that's happened here is that George has been very honest and direct, which is why we all love him so much, right?
OTOH, Paul does have a point, too. Clubs must be prepared to work with their members. And since clubs are made up of members, that means the better members have to put in some time and effort to teach the less proficient ones.
And since you (George) have quite some experience, maybe it would be a good idea to work with the AWGB to make the course better?