Midland Woodworkers’ Association
July 21, 2004
Backgrounder
The Midland Woodworkers’ Association (MWA) began drawing together woodworker enthusiasts from the Tri-City area in 1983. Meetings were held in various member homes until 1984 when MWA was formally formed as a Michigan Non-profit Organization.
MWA is a forum for area woodworkers to learn and improve their skills in various aspects of woodworking. Sharing experiences with tools and techniques members can produce a high quality wooden or composite item that can reflect true craftsmanship.
The membership of MWA ranges from people in their 20’s to 80’s, with skill levels from novice to expert/artist/craftsman. Keeping the skill of woodworking alive and helping people enjoy growing and evolving their techniques and breadth of talent is a prime goal of MWA.
MWA was founded on 5 key goals:
1. To provide and encourage all phases of woodworking. -- Annually we provide a program schedule of 8 demonstration, technique, or tour programs, 2 show and tell display programs, and one organizational family picnic. MWA has a publicity program targeted at the Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland media markets. Also, we have exhibited at local Artists Markets to broaden MWA awareness in the communities. Serving all levels of hobbyist to professional woodworkers gives us a broad spectrum of topics ranging from cabinetry, furniture making, intarsia, veneering, turning, joinery, to carving, and many, many more.
2. To provide sources of information, materials, equipment, supplies and facilities for area woodworkers. -- MWA members contribute names of suppliers and their evaluations to the membership. Sources of wood both raw and kiln dried are basic topics at many meetings. Tools and accessories are often discussed and evaluated by members and reported back to the membership. MWA members also share shop layouts and allow others to visit and use their facilities on special projects.
3. To facilitate communication and cooperation among area woodworkers. -- MWA meets the third Tuesday of every month, except July, at the Homer Township Hall just north of M-20 on Homer Road. Also, MWA has a website at http://www.midlandwoodworkers.org that has information on meetings, example projects, and related organizational information as well as links to other useful woodworking websites.
4. To Provide educational opportunities for those desiring to begin or improve skill in various phases of woodworking. -- Facility tours of industrial woodworking sites, workshops on special woodwork techniques, and evaluations on finishes, adhesives, and abrasives are all educational programs. MWA also has a library of woodworking books, tapes, and periodicals for member checkout and use. Also, there are communications within the monthly meetings about local, state, national, and international symposia on woodworking and the location of special schools that focus on woodworking education.
5. To provide voluntary public services to the community. -- MWA members are often participants in Habitat for Humanity and Day of Caring projects. By contributing their personal time and skills to help others in the community our members put to practice their love of woodworking.
MWA has a board of directors elected by the membership annually. The board is comprised of a President, Vice President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Members at Large all drawn from the membership community.
MWA welcomes all enthusiasts in woodworking to visit our meetings and join our group of talented craftsman.