The Chippewa Valley Woodturners Guild came about as a result of Brian George talking with Steve Odgren, of Heartland Hardwoods in 2008.

Brian was a member of the American Association of Woodturners and wanted to start a chapter in the Chippewa valley. He contacted AAW and they sent him a large packet of information along with a copy of sample bylaws and other organizational materials. Steve offered his seminar area as a possible meeting room and the idea took off from there.

At the time there were AAW chapters in Milwaukee, Madison, La Crosse, Superior/Duluth and the Minocqua area as well as in the Twin Cities. Printing up a simple brochure and taking interested parties names down on a sheet of paper passed around at an Alan Lacer seminar  at Heartland Hardwoods was the impetus for the core group to start the chapter.

Our organizational meeting was held at Heartland Hardwoods on the first Wednesday of November, 2008. Richard Golde volunteered to serve as Vice President, Carl Brown volunteered to be treasurer and Al Waite as secretary. Brian George, as founder of the chapter, was to become the first president.

We established our dues at $13.00 for the first year which included December, 2008.

From a small group of nine or ten CVWG has grown in our first year to 29 members. We have purchased a 55 gallon barrel of Anchorseal for chapter members, had a small assessment for our first lathe purchase, a Rikon mini lathe, and established the first Annual Woodturning Expo to be held at 29 Pines Convention Center north of Eau Claire at exit 69 and CTH “T” on Hwy 29. Very grand for a new chapter!