About Turners Anonymous

Turners Anonymous??? That's right! We share an addiction to the joy that we find in the shaping of a rough piece of wood into a finished using a lathe. We think that if you haven't tried it, you should. To paraphrase an old potato chip commercial: "I bet you can't turn just once!" And, if you want to find out a little bit about wood turning, there is no better place than your local turning club!!!

Turners Anonymous is a Western Pennsylvania chapter of the American Association of Woodturners. Our local chapter is run by an elected board of directors and currently boasts nearly 100 members who enjoy woodturning. Some members are professionals who exhibit in national shows and teach wood turning, while other members simply enjoy the occasional turning of a salad bowl or tool handle in their home workshop. A few members have never even tried turning, or haven't done so since a rather traumatic experience in Jr. High School woodshop. Some members haven't been to Junior High yet, and other members can't remember Junior High because it was so long ago for them (fortunately most of them don't use the internet and won't see this). But all are delighted to advise, assist or just gab about woodturning.

Our Mission

• To promote and encourage woodturning as an artform
• To sponsor workshops and seminars in woodturning
• To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, techniques and inspiration
• To provide a network for exchanging sources of tools, materials and supplies
• To encourage others to take up woodturning
• To have fun and enjoy!

So What Does an Anonymous Turner Do?

In general, these are the kinds of things that Turners Anonymous does over the course of a year:

• Hold monthly meetings from September through May. Meeting topics vary from presentations to demonstrations to "hands-on" sessions
• Generally, there is a picnic over the summer months
• Usually, two of the regular monthly meetings are replaced by an all-day, paid event featuring nationally and internationally known turners. Often, the Saturday meetings are supplemented with small, paid workshops on Sunday and even Monday
• Public outreach at Art and Craft shows in the area
• Donate turned items to places like Children's Hospital and the Veteren's Home
• Publish a monthly newsletter and maintain a club website
• Maintain an extensive video library

Normal monthly meetings are usually held on the third Saturday, usually starting with coffee at 9:30, and are usually held at Society for Contemporary Craft at 2100 Smallman in the Strip District. There is limited free parking, and you may end up having to park at the paid lot next door (for $5.00). Turners Anonymous maintains a mutually supportive relationship with the Society for Contemporary Craft by helping with demonstrations, hands-on events, and by other volunteer activities.

The program directors for Turners Anonymous have done a great job in bringing in well-know turners over the years... Some well recognized turners who have presented in Pittsburgh include John Jordan, Bob Rosand, Lyle Jamieson, Alan Stirt, David Ellsworth, Judy Ditmar, Alan Lacer, Andi Wolfe, Jimmy Clewes, Stuart Battey, Ray Key, and of course, our own Linda VanGehuchten.

Turners Anonymous maintains a large library of wood turning DVDs. There are currently nearly 150 titles. All paid members are free to sign out one or more videos for a month at a time.

Membership Information

If you are thinking about becomming a member of Turners Anonymous, we would love to have you join us. Our dues are a very reasonable $20/year. Memberships run from January to December. Membership in Turners Anonymous has many benefits, as outlined above.

If you aren't sure whether Turners Anonymous is for you, consider attending a meeting as a guest. Guests are always welcome and it can help you decide whether Turners Anonymous is for you.

If you are ready to join, you can download and print a membership form and send it, along with your check, to the address on the form. Or you can just bring the form along to a meeting and join there during the social time.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything about membership, feel free to contact Gary Larson, or any member of the board.