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A
secretary cabinet made by Al Hudson of the East Tennessee
Woodworkers Guild.
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When
the resurgence of interest in woodworking began in the 60s,
there was no equivalent quality-control mechanism. Much information,
skills and even many tools had been lost over time, and the
emergent woodworking community first had to recapture these
aspects of the craft. On a national level, these deficiencies
were addressed by the publishing of an array of magazines and
books devoted to the craft and by the formation of companies
where good tools could be purchased. In turn, there followed
the creation and advertisement of woodworking programs, instructional
videos and, of course, today's vast number of woodworking websites.
But at the beginning of the craft revival, the local situation,
for most woodworkers, remained unchanged: where do you go to
get help in improving your skills and an honest assessment of
how far you've come (or, how far you still have to go)? More
often than not, even today, woodworking is an isolated practice,
and communication among aficionados is sporadic.
For those woodworkers in East Tennessee fortunate enough to
have discovered and joined the guild, some of these issues have
been alleviated. The guild founders clearly delineated in our
by-laws the following goals:
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1.
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To
promote and advocate the development and appreciation
of superior woodworking skills, |
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2.
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To
encourage and recognize consistently high standards of
workmanship, |
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3.
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To
bring our woodworking skills to the public through participation
in shows, exhibitions, demonstrations and similar activities. |
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