Art Liestman nominated for AAW Board of Directors
Having a strong voice like Art on the AAW board is good for woodturning in BC and Canada, and in fact everywhere. Art’s profile is below. Voting is open to AAW members.
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Voting for new individuals on the 2014 Board of Directors has been opened.
AAW’s Nominating Committee has done an excellent job of presenting six outstanding candidates for this year’s election of new board members. If you are an AAW member, I encourage you to read their statements carefully, and if so motivated, contact them to ask questions about their views on AAW matters. Most importantly, remember to cast your votes using either the board election web page in the Members’ Area of the AAW website, or the ballot and envelope included in the August 2013 issue of American Woodturner. Voting must be completed (or ballot envelopes received) by October 18th. In addition to working to support your local chapter, voting for members of the Board of Directors is also a member’s responsibility, to determine the organization’s leadership. Please do take the time to evaluate our candidates and vote in support of your organization!
Members may choose 1 of 2 ways to cast their ballot … Please vote either (1) electronically or (2) by paper ballot & snail mail, not by both methods, obviously. The vote will be audited to ensure accuracy. Members may vote for 1, 2, or 3 of the 6 candidates. We encourage you to participate in the voting process and hope that you take the time to help make this election turnout significant.
Deadline – Your vote must be cast electronically or received in Saint Paul no later than midnight, Central Standard Time, on October 18, 2013.
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Art Liestman, British Columbia, Canada
I started turning wood in 1997 and quickly became an enthusiastic turner, wanting to learn everything about it. In 1998, I was one of the organizers of the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild, founded specifically to be an AAW chapter. I served for five years as the chapter’s first president. I have continued to be involved with my local chapter, primarily organizing visits by traveling demonstrators.
My interactions with the AAW have touched on many aspects of the organization. I have served on two AAW committees. I appreciate the AAW’s grant programs (having received an EOG in 2000) and the journal (having written four articles). I value the annual symposium, having attended every one since 1999 and demonstrated at six of them. I have also demonstrated and taught hands-on classes at numerous AAW chapters. As a traveling demonstrator, I have met many woodturners and have a good overview of the concerns of the AAW’s members—both hobbyists and professionals. Living in Canada, I have an understanding of the challenges that the AAW faces in recruiting and retaining members who live outside of the U.S.
Professionally, I have just retired as a university professor, a position that I held for thirty-two years. I served as chair of one of the largest departments in my university for five years and held other positions in my department and within the university. In the larger academic world, I helped organize several international conferences and workshops and served on the editorial board of a major journal.
I believe that my professional background and AAW experience provide some of the skills necessary for a board member. As a board member, I would strive to ensure that the AAW continues to provide value to all of its members while continuing to expand as an international organization.