One of the of best ways to share your experiences with and/or learn more about forests, trees and their wood from botanists, dendrologists, wood collectors, woodworkers, and other wood lovers, is to attend a local, regional, or international meeting (also called "woodfest") of the Society.
Members and guests come to hear or see programs about wood, talk about wood, view demonstrations on woodworking, tour interesting woodlands and/or wood-related operations, and choose from hundreds of wood specimens at the auction.
If a meeting in your area is not listed below, please volunteer to host one - you can learn the procedures from experienced hosts listed on this page. Meetings can be planned on a small scale. Even so, do not be surprised if members from other countries attend your meeting. IWCS members include botanists, dendrologists, wood technologists, wood collectors, wood workers, and people who just admire the beauty and versatility of wood. Everyone is welcome to join us!
AustralAsian Click map images to enlarge Port Sorell, Tasmania, Australia
October 4-11, 2010 Regional Meeting Camp Banksia, Port Sorell, Tasmania, Australia. This meeting coincides with the Ulverstone Woodworking Guild Exhibition, Wynyard Tulip Festival, Nearby the Wynyard Motor Museum—1903 Oldest registered "A" Model Ford in the world.
There will be excursions to Tasmanian Design Centre, School of Fine Woodworking, Somerset Veneer Factory, Arboretums, Wild Wood, Forest Eco-Centre, First Basin Gardens, Cockatoo Timbers, etc.
There will be guest speakers plus demonstrations, wood auctions and a tree and timber trivia quiz. For the ladies there will be a private tour of Latrobe: Shops, Chocolate Factory, Cheese Factory.
There is a variety of accommodations available. We are hoping that most will take advantage of the low-cost bunk-style Fully Catered option at Camp Banksia ($50 per day), also available two ensuite rooms ($30 extra), plus there are cabins at Caravan Parks nearby, or, you could stay at the luxurious Shearwater Resort.
This will be a great meeting — don't miss it. Stay on to see all the things we haven't been able to cram into the programme. Contact Graeme Briton, .
Canada
United Kingdom
EuroAfrican Click on map image to enlarge
September 4-5, 2010 IWCS EuroAfrican Region startup meeting:
The first meeting of the IWCS EuroAfrican Region will take place at the home of Dieter Becker in Neuwied, Germany.
Details can be had through e-mail: , mail: Willem Hurkmans, Leliestraat 132, 8012 BV the Netherlands, or phone: 0031-38-4214674 when dialling from abroad.
Hotel reservations can be made if booked sufficiently in advance. The hotel is located one mile from the Becker residence.
United States
Great Lakes Region
Northeast Region
October 2, 2010 IWCS Northeast Regional meeting:
Come join us for a day full of activities and fellowship as we experience educational and historical programs at the Shaker Heritage Society Meeting House near Albany NY. It will also be an opportunity to meet some new "woodies" and renew some old friendships.
The day will include some presentations, demonstrations, a catered lunch, wood specimen swap and sale, craft exhibits and a wood and craft auction. It will start at 9 AM for the set-up of exhibits with coffee and snacks available. Adjournment will be at 6 PM after the craft and wood auction starting at 5 PM.
We are expecting the cost to be $35 per person which includes the refreshments and the catered lunch as well as the hall rental and any speaker fees. Please send us an indication of your interest by Sept. 11 so we can complete our plans. If you have any dietary concerns please let us know about them, also. We will send out travel instructions as people let us know they are coming.
We leave on Friday the 13th for the annual IWCS meeting near Asheville then take a brief vacation, returning home on August 26th so will not be able to respond to any questions or concerns until that time. You can contact us by snail mail, e-mail or telephone.
Hoping to see you in October.
Ron & Judy DeWitt (Regional Trustee)
333 Tiplady Rd.
Salem NY 12865
518-854-3757
Northwest Region
Central Region
Southeast Region
Southwest Region
Other Events of Interest
Statement on IWCS Liability for members traveling to Society activities
(As found in the December 2003 issue of World of Wood )
The following, written by an attorney, and reviewed in 1998 by the Board of Trustees, has been edited so the information applies to all meetings, wood collecting trips, tours, and other IWCS activities, domestic and international.
"The International Wood Collectors Society has limited resources and cannot afford a liability insurance policy. Therefore, anyone who attends an IWCS meeting, and/or any pre-meeting and post-meeting activities, by attending such events and activities hereby agrees to the following: "
"1) Travel has risk and those who attend meetings and any related activities assume any and all risks involved, including, without limitation, the risk of bodily injury, death and/or property damage; and 2) To release the IWCS and its officers, trustees, employees, and agents, including the meeting hosts, trip coordinators, and leaders from, and agree not to sue any or all of them on account of or in connection with any claims, causes of action, injuries, damages, costs or expenses arising out of attending the meeting and any related activities, whether or not caused by the negligence or other fault of the IWCS."