The Woodworkers of Central New York, Inc. may be young as a corporation but it has a rich history with its beginnings over 30 years old and incorporating three form groups.
     Members span all ages, all disciplines, all skill levels, and many different locations.  

History as Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association

Gatherings of woodworkers living in and around Central New York started in 1991. A gentleman by the name of Val Summitt placed an ad in the Pennysaver looking for those interested in woodworking.  About September 1991, the Sawdust & Woodchips Woodworking Association (SWWA) was formed. Art Kirsh’s garage was the meeting location until the group began to grow. The cold sent the group to Bob Saucier’s basement. Meetings were held at Bob’s until April 1992 when the group began meeting in the Rt 31 Chase Pitkin conference room.  For one year, starting in March 1996, members held meetings in the back room at Woodworker’s Warehouse on Bridge Street.  As the space there was exhausted, the Association relocated its home to the Salina Civic Center, beginning meetings at the Center in April 1997.  SWWA’s membership grew too large for this site and in May 2002 moved to the Canton Woods Senior Center in Baldwinsville, NY.      In ..., the group began holding their meetings in the Community Room at the Belgium Cold Springs Fire Department. 
      Over the years, members learned about many new techniques, equipment, and visited several local facilities.  In 2001, SWWA began sponsoring Saturday Seminars focused on various skills for members and taught by members from 8:30 am to 12 noon. A special interest group focused on the many aspects of scrolling was established in 2004. 
     From its humble beginning, the members were also very community-oriented.  At their annual holiday celebration, they would present wooden toys made by the members 
 
One of the ways SWWA supports the community is through its annual donation of wooden toys to underprivileged children. Over 100 toys are donated at the annual holiday event in December. The scrolling interest group will donate a tree to the Everson Festival of Trees in 2004.
In 2001, SWWA began sponsoring Saturday Seminars focused on various skills for members and taught by members from 8:30 am to 12 noon. A new special interest group in Scrolling was established in 2004. 
 
One of the ways SWWA supports the community is through its annual donation of wooden toys to underprivileged children. Over 100 toys are donated at the annual holiday event in December. The scrolling interest group will donate a tree to the Everson Festival of Trees in 2004.