AWFS[R]: a strong partner in woodworking education; AWFS'[R] commitment to improving woodworkers' skills is evident. The association practices what it preaches.

Finding, training and retaining woodworkers is one of the most pressing challenges faced by the wood products industry today.

For its part, the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers[R] is trying to do something about it.

The association's major support of educational initiatives takes on many forms, from its ongoing contributions to WoodLINKS USA to the many educational seminars and programs offered at the AWFS[R] Fair and throughout the year.

Larry Hilchie, regional sales manager for the Weinig Group, president of WoodLINKS USA and chairman of the AWFS[R] Education Committee, rattles off the many and varied contributions AWFS[R] has made as an energetic supporter of the group.

"AWFS'[R] strong support includes annual financial contributions to our program," Hilchie says.

"AWFS[R] pays for the travel costs--airfare, hotel and meal allowances--that makes it possible for 25 to 35 woodworking WoodLINKS USA teachers to attend both the AWFS[R] Fair in Anaheim and IWF in Atlanta.

"The group provides scholarships so that graduates of the WoodLINKS USA program can continue on to post-secondary woodworking education programs," Hilchie continues. "AWFS[R] buys hundreds of WoodLINKS Careers in Wood CD kits and offers them at the nominal fee of 20 dollars to any woodworking teachers interested in the WoodLINKS USA program."

Hilchie adds that AWFS[R] funds special biannual WoodLINKS USA teacher training programs, through which the teachers learn about current wood products manufacturing technologies and techniques. "AWFS[R] also supports WoodLINKS USA by putting a request for a $10 voluntary contribution to the group on all AWFS[R] Fair registration forms."

FILLING A VOID

AWFS[R] is totally in tune with WoodLINKS USA's mission, says Wilf Torunski, national director of WoodLINKS USA.

Torunski says that WoodLINKS USA mainly addresses two critical objectives: the creation of quality educational programs to prepare students for careers in woodworking and improving the public's image and perception of the woodworking industry.

"Most students, parents and teachers, even shop teachers, are very poorly informed about the wood industry because we haven't promoted ourselves as a good high-tech place to work. The industry has to recognize that we are in competition with all of the other manufacturing sectors for the best and brightest students. If we sit back and wait for employees to come knocking on our doors, we won't get the people we need," Torunski says.

"Most parents don't understand how a piece of furniture or a window or a door is made. They understand the difference between a piece of lumber and a finished product, but our experience is that they know very little about what goes on in between. Most teachers have not been exposed to modern wood industries either. Most teachers are still the 'old shop' teachers dealing with solid wood technology because our industry doors have not been open to the teachers to show them the modern materials and methods used today. Shop classes have gravitated downward to hobby classes where kids make hobby products or they become repositories for non-academic students where kids are sent to develop skills."

Torunski continues, "In school systems across the United States, however, the skill programs have become very expensive relative to conventional programs. This is the reason that many of our shop classes are being closed across the country because of the cost/benefit ratio. There is a perception that there's no benefit. WoodLINKS USA would like to change that and have a presence in every state. We refuse to allow one more shop class to close."

Fortunately, Torunski says the number of students coming into the WoodLINKS program is increasing because the teachers are much more knowledgeable about career opportunities offered by the industry.

"We focus a lot of our attention on the teachers to make sure they understand what is happening in the wood industry," Torunski says. "AWFS[R] plays a very important role by making sure that the teachers are accepted into the wood industry as our resident trainer-educators."

AWFS[R] has also taken an active role with ongoing work to develop a national woodworking education Web site.

"We want to create a one-stop approach for industry, parents, teachers, students and anyone who wants information about education and training in the wood industry," Torunski says.

A COLLEGE OF KNOWLEDGE

Jeff Oliverson, western regional manager for Atlantic Machinery and Omga Inc., is the chairman for the AWFS College of Woodworking Knowledge[R], the educational component of the biennial AWFS[R] Fair. He notes that the education program, which kicks off on Wednesday, July 30, a day before exhibits open, features an impressive and diverse lineup of seminars, workshops and demonstrations.

The seminar program includes 29 technical and business-focused presentations. Topics range from "Nested-Base Manufacturing for the Small Shop" to the "ABCs of Building Green." The seminars allow attendees to earn continuing education unit certificates.

Nancy Fister, who has studied woodworking at Cerritos College and the College of Redwoods, joined AWFS[R] as education and conference manager last year. She said the seminars are categorized by subject--business management, safety, technology, etc.--and shop size so that attendees can better evaluate the relevance to their business.

"One of the new offerings is a design track, including seminars about using CNC machinery and software and maximizing the design potential of CNC equipment, how to translate drawings into design software and adding style to furniture and cabinetry using design elements," Fister says.

"One of the sessions covers the design trends that are showing up in international shows, from color features to hardware to ergonomic features," Fister adds. "A lot of different elements will be presented to people who might not be able to travel to the European shows but are interested in keeping up with trends. This will be an encapsulation of really creative, innovative ideas that are happening in cabinetry, hardware, and surfacing materials. We want it to be a good source of inspiration."

SMART is the new name for the popular woodworking machinery demonstrations, previously known as SMOPs.

"The SMART program, which stands for special machinery and relevant technology, features exhibitor hands-on seminars held at booths," Oliverson says. The SMART program emphasizes new technology. To provide an additional incentive for companies that are participating in the SMART program, Oliverson says the presentation receiving the highest marks based on attendee evaluation forms, will receive an award.

Fister says the SMART programs, mainly 90 minutes in length, will take place on the exhibit floor each morning before the show opens. "We will only them limited number of SMART programs a pace around the floor so that people can hear. We think it is valuable because people can see the machinery up close and ask technical questions of the experts running the machines.

"It's a bit of a different format than the classroom programs, which features a more straightforward lecture with a question-and-answer session at the end," Fister says.

OTHER AWFS[R] FAIR EVENTS

On Wednesday, July 30, the day before the show officially opens, several workshops will take place. "These involve in-depth presentations on techniques like building a jig or classic joints using different power tools like a table saw, band saw and a chisel," Fister says.

Other special AWFS[R] Fair events include a traveling design exhibit and the student design competition.

"The Furniture Society has organized a traveling exhibition called 'the right stuff,' and we will be showing some of those designs. We feel the designs show the production possibilities behind innovative design. There are pieces that have production capabilities and are creative," Fister says.

Oliverson says the student design competition has grown in size and stature. Two years ago our student design program attracted roughly 65 entries. For this show, the number has doubled to 120," Oliverson says. We want to get the kids interested so that they see woodshop as a career not a hobby. We want to keep," the momentum going through these special programs.