Announcing the Fourteenth Ornamental Turners International Symposium
to be held September 22, 23, 24 & 25 - 2016 in Denver, Colorado.
OTI members:
It seems like we just had the 2014 Ornamental Turners International symposium a few months ago, but it’s nearly time for another one. The 2016 OTI symposium is scheduled for September 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2016 at the Doubletree by Hilton Denver, Denver-Stapleton North, 4040 Quebec Street, Denver, CO 80216. Plans are quickly coming together to make it the best ever. That’s a big challenge as the previous ones were absolutely outstanding.
The speaker/presenter schedule reads like a who’s who in the ornamental turning world with such internationally acclaimed experts as Jean Claude Charpignon from France and David Wood-Heath from England. The lineup also includes other distinguished experts from various fields that will certainly strengthen and broaden your expertise in the OT world.
The tentative lineup is:
- Jean Claude Charpignon - His work and the methods and machines used.
- David Wood-Heath - Brocading machines and their uses and engine turning/guilloche.
- Bill Ooms - Planning your work.
- Phil Poirier - Making dies with your rose engine.
- Fred Armbruster – New cutting frame.
- Jeff Edwards – Photographing your work and website usage.
- Jon Magill – MDF rose engine innovations.
- Peter Gerstel – Rose engine projects.
- Charles Waggoner – Wood stabilization.
In addition to the presentations, we have scheduled a Pecha Kucha (PK) period for Friday evening. Don’t know what Pecha Kucha is? It’s a fun and very fast way of conveying a lot of information in a very short period of time. We are looking to have 10 to 12 speakers. Each topic will consist of 20 slides, each getting 20 seconds of commentary. That’s 400 seconds (6 minutes and 40 seconds per topic). It will be a fast paced, information packed hour and a half. If you have a topic that you would like to share with your fellow OT’ers, contact Brad Davis. For more information about PK go to http://www.pechakucha.org and click on “about” to learn more about it. While on the site, also click on the “watch” button to see some very interesting examples. After becoming an expert at Pecha Kucha, develop your own talk and contact Brad to get on the schedule.
We are working to have a number of vendors so you will be able to go home with a heavy load of toys including wood, books and tools.
The symposium will be recorded by a professional videographer who will record, edit and produce DVDs of the entire symposium. Each registered member will receive a copy to backup what they have learned at the symposium. The contract requires the final product be made available to us very shortly after the symposium is over.
Please bring your turned items for the Gallery/Exhibition area. Everyone can learn by looking at other people’s work. Don’t worry if your item doesn’t look like Jean Claude’s.
I would suggest you plan to arrive on Thursday afternoon, September 22nd. The Symposium registration will be open from 3:00pm until 6:00 and we have a Special Interest Night scheduled later Thursday evening from 7:00pm until ---. The presentation will start at 8:30 Friday morning.
The hotel is only two blocks from I-70 and has plenty of free parking for those driving. It is located next to the light-rail train station that runs to and from the airport and downtown Denver. The hotel also runs a shuttle to/from the airport. It also has a shuttle service to a large local shopping area as well as a theater. We have arranged for a special rate for rooms and you will find the link to make your reservations below. The cost of the rooms is $111.00 plus 14.75% tax for a total of $137.37 per night. The reservations may be cancelled without penalties up until a few days before the symposium. Please make your reservations as soon as possible.
You will find a link to register for the symposium below. The cost to members is only $275.00 and that includes Continental breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, morning and afternoon snacks and drinks on Friday and Saturday, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and the banquet on Saturday evening.
Registered family members, (spouses, mates, children, and grandchildren) may attend all the presentations, exhibits, events, and gallery at no additional cost. They must be registered in order to receive name tags and have access to the venues so please ensure their names are included in your registration.
As explained on the registration form, family members will have three options when it comes to the meals and snacks:
- The first option is simple, no meals, no snacks and drinks, - no costs.
- The second option is they elect to partake in the Continental breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, morning and afternoon snacks and drinks on Friday and Saturday, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and the banquet on Saturday evening. The cost is $125.00 per family member.
- The third option is the family member only plans to attend the banquet on Saturday night and not partake in any of the meals or snacks. The cost for the banquet ticket is $45.00.
Because of the contractual agreement with the hotel’s food service, we have very little option to change the plans at the last minute, so please carefully consider what the family members will what to do concerning the food. We will not say “no tickie – no goodie” but rather be on the honor system for the snacks; however, nametags will be checked for the meals. The hotel does have a full service restaurant and a bar, but there’s no place within walking distance to eat. The room reservations do not include breakfast.
NOTE: YOU MUST BE A CURRENT MEMBER OF OTI IN GOOD STANDING TO ATTEND THE SYMPOSIUM. That means your 2016 membership dues must be paid. You may pay your dues at the link below. I will be sending a reminder to those members that have not paid their dues within the next week or so.
Your security is protected on all three sites. Please contact me at 405-420-4686 to make alternative arrangements for payment if you feel you can’t trust PayPal or Hilton with your credit or debit card information.
Looking forward to seeing you at the symposium.
Charles Waggoner, Treasurer
405-420-4686
EMAIL
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We also encourage you to create a local group in your area if one does not exist! 