Time is not sitting still and here we are already into April and spring time. Your Association has been just as busy with many activities regarding education, public policy and the upcoming AWFS®Fair, which is less than 100 days away.
Recently, I had the pleasure to join the Public Policy committee on their trip to Washington D.C. to call on legislators in order to discuss workforce development legislation and address the shortage of talented individuals in our industry. Whether you’re a manufacturer, supplier or service-oriented business, there is simply a void of qualified workers. Thanks to the organization of your Education Director, Adria Salvatore, and Jason Ortega, our representative from our lobbying firm, LobbyIt, a group of 10 AWFS® members were able to hold appointments with 21 members of Congress in order to promote the Partners Act and Skills Act. For more information, read further in the newsletter for additional details.
There is a lot of activity with the education initiatives the AWFS® Board has set out to accomplish. The DC fly-in was one way to bring awareness to the legislators that not every child will go to college; technical education is lacking and funding is needed! The committee is involved with many groups (Society of Wood Mfg, WCA, ACTA, CTC, SkillsUSA, just to name a few) as a means of tying together the interests of our industry. If you are interested in supporting these goals, we certainly welcome your participation.
Woodworking professionals will soon be converging in Las Vegas for the AWFS®Fair. 4.0 technology, digitization (products and production processes), innovative materials and products will be waiting for key players to discover ways to improve their business.
Registration is open (www.awfsfair.org) for the show and hotel reservations. Take advantage of Vegas hospitality along with opportunities to network with other woodworking professionals which benefits your business and bottom line. This year, you will experience and see the designs from students who entered their creations in the Fresh Wood contest. With each passing show, we are further amazed at the craftsmanship and creativity of these young students who are the future of our industry.
The new product showcase is the perfect way to keep abreast of the latest products, and if you are exhibiting, check out the Exhibitor Marketing manual for further details to enter your new product but please be sure to note the May 24th deadline.
In addition, you don’t want to miss the 2019 College of Woodworking KnowledgeTM (CWWKTM) which delivers relevant information needed to run a business today. CWWKTM along with our Smart Sessions are highly regarded with their professional approach of providing the latest information from leading industry experts.
Come be a part of 2019’s largest woodworking show in North America and take part in the live demonstrations, technical seminars, and our student competition while experiencing the largest selection of hardware, tooling, components, power tools, software, lumber and panels and machinery.
Personally, I look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas and wish everyone a Happy Easter.