International Wood
Collectors Society

Founded in 1947, the International Wood Collectors Society is a non-profit Society devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying and naming wood specimens, and using wood in creative crafts.

People from all countries around the world are invited to join IWCS, enjoy the benefits of membership and discover more about nature's wonder material -- wood!

Collecting wood and/or using wood creatively has to be one of the most unique hobby interests that you could ever pick. IWCS members around the world have formed a network for information exchange and mutual assistance.

Membership in IWCS gives you numerous benefits including - World of Wood, a 32 page bimonthly magazine; and Annual Directory of members, and access to wood, wood information and members in some 30 countries on six continents. View a sample issue of the May/June 2011 WOW or see the index of articles published in the last seven years.

• New - Two new Trustees: John Burris, Indiana USA, replaces Bob Chastain US Great Lakes Trustee 2011 - 2014, and Dave Mouat, California, USA replaces Les Campbell as US SW Trustee 2011 - 2014. 10/06/2011
  
  
• Melvin Talley appointed to IWCS Vice President effective June 27, 2011. His Bio follows:
  I took early retirement in 1988 from the army and Bridgeport Brass due to an accident. At the time I had too much time on my hands and my mother suggested I try wood carving as a hobby. From there I started doing other things with wood using a scroll saw and a lathe. I became acquainted with other wood workers and was invited to join IWCS. This has been a real blessing in my life. I was living in Indiana at the time, then moved to Florida, and Arkansas; and am now back in Indiana which is my home state. I found wonderful wood workers in each area. I spent most of my days in the shop and going to festivals where I can show and sell the things I have made. My wife and I have been to the Lake Yale annual meeting at Eustis, Florida and the Jasonville, Indiana meetings several times. It is always a joy to spend the day sharing stories and patterns with other members. I consider it a privelege to serve on the board as Vice President.
  
  
• "IWCS News Down-under" the newsletter for International Wood Collectors Society AstralAsian Region australia-2011-newsletter-65.pdf. 10/04/2011
  
  
  
• NEW - IWCS President Elect: Garry Roux, President of IWCS announces that Gary Gronborg, the current IWCS Vice President, has assumed the role of President Elect for IWCS with the approval of the IWCS Board. Gary will move into the president's position in 2012 when the current president's term ends. 04/30/2011
  
  
• IWCS Student Membership Application now includes the "student friendly" rate of $15 USD per year.
  
  
• Corporate Membership - a new package of benefits for Corporate and Donor members in IWCS has been introduced which will make this type of membership much more attractive to such members. These benefits are described in Article I.7 of the IWCS Bylaws. Corporate Membership fees remain the same at $125 per year but longer term options now are: Three years - $325, and Five years - $450.
  
  
• Member Listings and Requests - Listings by members of wood, wood specimens or other items wanted or for sale
  
  
• Listings of all IWCS Wood Data Sheets ever published.
  
  

• February 15-19, 2012 Southeast Regional Winter Woodfest Meeting that will be held at the Lake Yale Conference Center near Leesburg, Florida.
  
  
• June 27, - July 1, 2012, 2012 ANNUAL MEETING, Springfield, Illinois USA, Downtown Hilton Hotel
  
  
• May 6, - May 11, 2013 South Africa Meet Preliminary Program for 2013 IWCS Meeting South Africa. The conference consists of two days of presentations, two days of field visits and an open day on the Saturday which will include displays.
  
  

• December 4, 2011 Sunday - Central Region Meeting at Woodcraft at the Woodcraft Store, 2077 Congressional Drive, St. Louis, Missouri.
  
  
• November 14-20, 2011 AustralAsian Regional Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand. Nau mai, harer mai -Otantahi
  
  
• October 15, 2011, Great Lakes Gateway Meeting at Springfield, IL by Dan Schmoker.
  
  
• October 8 - 10, 2011, EuroAfrica Regional Meet, Nevers, France.
  
  
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  August 24-28, 2011 IWCS Annual Meeting at the Quality Inn, Crawfordsville, Indiana.
  
  
  
  
  
• August 6, 2011 Saturday, Central Regional Meeting at Daniel Boone Home in Defiance, Missouri
  
  
• June 4, 2011, Saturday, Sawmill Days Great Lakes Regional Meeting at Bob Chastain's home, Great Lakes Region.
  
  
• May 21, 2011, Saturday, Jacksonville Regional Meeting, Wright Township Fire Department, Midland, Indiana.
  
  
• May ??, 2011, McCauley Spring Picnic at The McCauley Project, a 1000 acre non-profit area for nature in Kampsville, Illinois on the Illinois River just off the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers.
  
  
• May 7, 2011, Saturday - Northwest Spring Meeting at Adna Grange in Adna, WA.
  
  
• April 9, 2011 Saturday starting at 9:00am - A Half-day meeting hosted at the US Naval Academy Museum (Preble Hall).
  
  
  
  
• April 3, 2011 Sunday - Central Region Meeting at Woodcraft at the Woodcraft Store, 2077 Congressional Drive, St. Louis, Missouri.
  
  
• February 23-27, 2011 Winterfest Meeting at Lake Yale, Florida.
  
  
  
  

• New Website Committee Chair: IWCS President, Garry Roux, has announced that as of November 1, 2011, Art Lee will become Chairman of the IWCS Website Committee. Art is a former Chair of the Committee and also Past President of IWCS. He replaces, Chuck Holder who will continue to serve as Chair of the IWCS Publications Committee.
  
  
• Facebook Page for IWCS Check out this IWCS Facebook page set up by John Lobban. There are many photos and several videos that you can view. 10/27/2011
  
  
• Wood Specimen Kit Availability: After a period of down time, while the Wood Specimen Kit inventory was transferred to the new Wood Specimen Kit Chairman, Gary Green, IWCS is pleased to announce that the Wood Specimen Kit Program is again in service. This is a great way for new collectors to start their collections, with up to 80 specimens of known wood, identified and labeled, many not commercially available. See the Wood Collecting page; or click here for a link to the IWCS Wood Specimen Kit order form with instructions for selecting and ordering wood specimens from IWCS. Gary is a professional Urban Forester/Sawyer and takes great pride in preparing high quality wood specimens, all properly seasoned, clean, well milled, free from dirt and defects and accurately identified and labeled.
  
  Gary also provides a large selection of hundreds of high quality wood specimens for wood collectors from his own inventory over and above those available via the IWCS Wood Specimen Kit program. On request he will send you a specimen and price list.
  
  GW Green, Urban Forester/Sawyer; 9923 N 800 E; Syracuse, IN 46567, USA; Phone: 574-457-5471; Fax 574-457-8551; www.woodsbygwgreen.com. 08/06/2011
  
  
• Here is clip of Chuck Hoffmann's Dad called "Show Me St. Louis". For those of you who don't know, Chuck's Dad was on a local St. Louis T.V. show. They came out and did the interview last Friday Feb. 4th. 02/11/2011
  
  
• Jean-Claude Cerre's French translation of the feature story on pages 4 and 5 of the WoW Nov/Dec issue on Identifying Wood rescued from the wrecked ship, the "Kiperousa" in 2005. 12/1/2010
  
  
• Crafts for Sale. As of July 7, 2009, IWCS is offering donated members crafts for sale. Allan Schwindt, of Washington, USA., is the craft sales coordinator and may be contacted at for information on donating and purchasing the crafts. The top menu has been expanded under Wood Crafting to display "Crafts on Display" and "Crafts for Sale".
  
  

• A Man of the Woods. Richard Crow takes you on a charming journey to discover how it is that one man's business and hobby could develop into the singular greatest individual wood collections in the world. This book is for everyone who enjoys the love of collecting or simply a wonderful story laced with historical anecdotes. Copyright 2009, 6 by 9 hardbound, 156 pages. (June 30, 2009)
  
  
• A Guide to Useful Woods of the World edited by James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder.
  Published in 2001. Here's your chance to have a copy of the definitive statement on 279 woods of the world.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• New Release! A Guide to More Useful Woods of the World includes:
  * 71 additional wood data sheets (WDS) bringing the total of published WDSs to 350.
  * 2 comprehensive indexes.
  * 14 articles from highly respected professionals in wood-related matters.
  
  
  
  
• "A Guide for Developing a Wood Collection" - published in 2005; this Guide explains how to get started in wood collecting and how to develop and maintain your collection. Collection Guide order form.