Dean, It looks like you had two introduction threads so I merged them. To clarify who we are, the forum is separate from the AAW website. The forum is free of charge to all woodturners ... it isn't necessary to be an AAW member to be a forum member. Most newly joining members are not AAW members, but the AAW considers the forum a good recruiting tool. However, we don't keep a score of who is or isn't an AAW member ... everybody is equal. And for your personal information privacy, membership information isn't shared between the AAW and the forum, nor with any other websites for that matter. We carefully verify the identity of all joining members to keep out the bad guys (hackers, spammers, trolls, and other ne'er-do-well reprobates).
The forum marketplace is a place for established forum members to buy, sell, and trade their personal woodturning-related tools and machines. The requirement to become an established member is thirty days after joining and at least ten posts in the discussion forums. We do not allow commercial ads or personal ads that we determine to be a sideline business. Sales on behalf of another person are not allowed. Contact us to discuss special situations such as the estate sale of a forum member. We do not allow selling wood on the forum mainly because of local, state, and federal restrictions concerning the spread of plant pests and diseases (for example: emerald ash borer). Also, you're not allowed to sell your woodturnings on the forum. We have a special forum for collaborations and exchange of finished works.
You must be an established member to post in the off-topic forum.
The essence of our rules of behavior is quite simple: treat each other with respect, and no political or religious posts. Once in a blue moon, somebody might have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Don't try to fix the situation, let the moderators know and we will decide the course of action.
Now, you know everything that I know about the forum.