Hi Philip & all, My local Club are an Affiliated Branch and I would after I'd made 3 visits to the Club, if I'd not already been a member of the AWGB, the Club joining fee would have had to include AWGB membership, so I had to be a member. As a fully paid up member on receiving the Revolution, I, as everyone else had the Ballot paper, less by error most were missing from the issue .. it happens. For the record I'd voted yes on both count.
I've seen also at the Club's I've been in most can at time's only be interested solely as to what the Club is doing and/or giving them .. turn up, at a seat, see the show have their tea and leave at the end and chairs don't move themselves or anything else which has been setup. The Club has dropped taking members pieces who which to sale them at Events, it's now a case to bring them along and they can then go on the sale table, too many must of just been too happy for the few who do, to carry out the whole work for them. And few ever enter competitions.
What do we expect .... I consider the AWGB would expect more of US to take an interest, dr4 has rightly commented, as has been done in the past, how few use the forum, then I've found on speaking with other Turners, as to if they use the forum or had seen such a thing on there, it's been they don't, whats the point no one's on there or I asked a question, have posted and no one replied, I've also asked do they even have a computer, most have but the forum just doesn't interest them.
The AWGB could not be expected to do any more than what they do, we are given an excellent up to date Website, Forum and Magazine besides Training Courses, Youth/Scot workshops, funding and insurance etc, and above all a large amount of their FREE TIME .... We could at least be more supportive after all it is done, as at Club level for US ... in the end it is down to US ALL in the interest of Woodturning if it is to survive as we know it and for the future to put the effort into it, come on now.
Too the few who may read this .. Thank you.
Best regards. David