AWFS featured fun activity in the "Make & Take" booth
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LAS VEGAS - The 2017 AWFS Fair showcased the new “Make & Take” booth, a fun activity where attendees could make a tea light candle holder.
 
The booth was hosted by the Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWM), a new AWFS chapter with the purpose to support woodworking education programs and connect schools with industry partners.
 
“The Make & Take booth was a great opportunity for us to connect with AWFS Fair attendees and share our mission,” said Saúl Martín, SWM founding President. “We also raised some money through attendee donations which will be used to support students competing in SkillsUSA woodworking contests.” 
 
Generous donations from AWFS Fair exhibitors helped make the project possible. Sierra Forest Products donated all of the solid stock material, Woodworker’s Emporium of Las Vegas loaned the drill presses, Laguna Tools loaned the laser machine, Bessey Tools provided clamps, and OneSource (a 3M distributor) provided safety and finishing supplies.
 
Booth staff helped attendees program a desired word or phrase into the software of the Laguna laser machine to customize their candle holders completing it within minutes.
 
Martín, Charles Wilson, Kevin Walgate of OneSource Distributors were among the volunteers that staffed the booth and ran the activity. Woodworking educators assisted in the booth as well as some industry celebrities including CTE and SkillsUSA advocate, Kayleen McCabe, and Kyle Toth of Wood by Toth and “The Dusty Life” woodworking podcast.
 
Founded in 1911, The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) is a non-profit organization that wholly owns and produces the biennial AWFS Fair. AWFS has more than 400 members, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, software, tooling, lumber, components, wood products, and supplies for the woodworking industry including cabinet, furniture, millwork, and custom woodworking products.

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About the author
Angeleen Kipfer

Angel Kipfer is an editorial intern at the Woodworking Network.