TUSCOLA, IL - The Architectural Woodwork Institute-Georgia chapter was facing some tough choices, as declining membership lead the board to close up shop recently.

But the board faced another quandary: what to do with remaining funds that would fulfill its mission and charter to advance the woodworking industry.

AWI-Georgia announced it will use its remaining resources to foster education and development of woodwork professionals. AWI-Georgia, which until it ceased operating  represented the local chapter of the national Architectural Woodwork Institute, says it will disburse its fund balance to WoodLINKS USA. That group, based in Tuscola, IL, is a partnership between local woodworking business and local secondary and post-secondary woodworking school programs.

The money will fund establishment of WoodLINKS curriculum and site license fees at up to six Georgia woodworking school programs.

The remaining balance will be used to pay for teachers to attend the International Woodworking Fair, IWF 2012, in Atlanta August 22-25.

WoodLINKS USA board president Patrick Molzahn says the group is now accepting applications  for "schools in Georgia interested in becoming part of our 65 school national network. If you know of a school that would be interested in becoming an AWI sponsored WoodLINKS USA site, site, please send a letter of interest." Applicants should include a statement explaining how the program would benefit from participation in the WoodLINKS USA program, and email it to [email protected]

Molzahn, who chairs the wood education department at Madion (WI) Area Technical College can be reached at [email protected] or 608.246.6842.