The Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association (SWWA) is a non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of over 175 woodworking enthusiasts, ranging from novice through professional. SWWA members gather monthly to learn about woodworking techniques, view demonstrations, and enjoy hearing about member’s woodworking ventures. We do not focus on just one area of woodworking but rather encourage cross-pollination of ideas, techniques, and tools between woodworking disciplines.
We serve the Central New York area and our membership draws woodworkers from all around the area. From the north we draw members from as far as Clayton and Watertown; from the south as far as Binghamton; from the east as far as Utica and Clayville; and from the west as far as Rochester. Regularly, members from those areas attend our meetings.
The full, regular club meeting is generally on the 1st Wednesday of every month. Our meetings are held in the Community Room of Belgium Cold Springs Fire Department Station 1. Directions here. The Scrolling Interest Group meets five times a year, generally on the 3rd Wednesday in January, March, May, September, and November in the same location.
Membership
Membership in SWWA runs from January to December. Renewals and new memberships are received year round. Each new membership includes a name badge. Individual memberships are $28 per year for a individual and $41 per year for a couple. Renewals are $25 for individual and $35 for couples. Checks should be made payable to SWWA. All memberships must have a membership form completed and the liability statement at the bottom of the form signed.
While we understand that in many cases nothing changes, each year we like to verify that the membership database contains accurate information. Also, we must have a signed liability statement completed each year to financially protect all of the SWWA membership and everyone involved with the SWWA. So, it is not enough just to send a check, we need the completed and signed form as well. Renewals and checks can be sent to our treasurer Mark Baumes as follows: SWWA, ℅ Mark Baumes, 169 Edgehill Road, Syracuse, NY 13224. Do not send cash.
The Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association (SWWA) began in Sept 1991 when a group of men met at the local Denny’s to discuss creating a woodworking group. The meeting locations varied over time: Art Kirsch’s garage, Bob Saucier’s basement, the Route 31 Chase Pitkin conference room, even the back room at Woodworker’s Warehouse. As the space there was exhausted, the Association relocated its home at the Salina Civic Center, beginning meetings at the Center in April 1997. In a few years, SWWA’s membership grew too large for this site and in May 2002 moved to its current location, the Canton Woods Senior Center in Baldwinsville, NY. In June 2015, our meetings relocated to the Community Room at Station 1 of the Belgium Cold Springs Station which is located at 7920 River Road – just south of Route 31 and the new YMCA.
Over the years, members have learned about many new techniques, equipment, and visited several local facilities. In 2001, SWWA began sponsoring Saturday Seminars focused on various skills for members and taught by members from 8:30 am to 12 noon. A new special interest group in Scrolling was established in 2004. At both meetings and special events, members openly share their projects as well as their varied talents and skills in woodworking. Members vary in their skill levels – from the beginner to the experienced. Guests are always welcome and encouraged to attend any meeting to get a first hand view of what we are all about. Visitors are automatically sent newsletters for one month after they visit.
SWWA supports the community through its annual donation of wooden toys to underprivileged children. Over 200 toys and many other items are donated at the annual holiday event in December. The Scrolling Interest Group (SIG) donated a tree to the Everson Museum’s Festival of Trees in 2004 & 2005. In 2006, the SIG spearheaded a new community event – selling ornaments to benefit the Golisano Children’s Hospital with over $19,000 donated before switching in 2011 to support the Syracuse Ronald McDonald House. Turners from CNY Woodturners and carvers from the Onondaga Woodcarvers also contribute to the effort. More on our community support efforts can be learned from the web pages here.
Please attend a meeting to see for yourself what a great group the Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association is!
Members who enjoy scrolling created a special interest group in April 2004. With 25-30 members, the group discusses various scrolling related topics at its monthly meetings while working to teach beginners and improve the skills of old timers. They openly exchange skills and techniques.
SIG members coordinate SWWA’s community project to donate funds to the Syracuse Ronald McDonald House thru the sale of holiday ornaments. Previous sales resulted in about $19,000 being donated to the Golisano Children’s Hospital. The group owns a Delta scrollsaw donated by Delta as well as an 1877 treadle scrollsaw manufactured by Seneca Falls Manufacturing. SIG hosted the Upstate NY Scrollsaw Festival in 2006, bringing together approximately 200 scrollers from across NY and beyond.
The group meets five times a year, generally on the 3rd Wednesday in January, March, May, September, and November at 6:30. Meetings are held at the Belgium Cold Springs Station 1 Community Room (directions here). Membership in SWWA is required to be a member of SIG.
The Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association (SWWA) is a non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of over 175 woodworking enthusiasts, ranging from novice through professional. SWWA members gather monthly to learn about woodworking techniques, view demonstrations, and enjoy hearing about member’s woodworking ventures. We do not focus on just one area of woodworking but rather encourage cross-pollination of ideas, techniques, and tools between woodworking disciplines.
We serve the Central New York area and our membership draws woodworkers from all around the area. From the north we draw members from as far as Clayton and Watertown; from the south as far as Binghamton; from the east as far as Utica and Clayville; and from the west as far as Rochester. Regularly, members from those areas attend our meetings.
The full, regular club meeting is generally on the 1st Wednesday of every month. Our meetings are held in the Community Room of Belgium Cold Springs Fire Department Station 1. Directions here. The Scrolling Interest Group meets five times a year, generally on the 3rd Wednesday in January, March, May, September, and November in the same location.
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- Promote an interchange of ideas & information about woodworking
- Provide education & training in fundamental, advanced, and new techniques used in woodworking
- Provide members information about the safe use & care of woodworking equipment
- Interest & assist novices in their efforts to gain skill as a woodworker
- Provide information to the public that may assist them in their woodworking endeavors
- Aid charitable organizations through the manufacture & distribution of wooden toys during the holiday season
- Aid community organizations by donating time & talent to the completion of their projects