Woodworking In America Conference

Finally, the Woodworking In America Conference is taking registration.  Trying to register for this conference was filled with highs and lows.  First off, let me say that everyone over at Popular Woodworking has been very nice.  With that said, boy did they goof up the registration process.

1. They sent out the email telling everyone they could register before everyone on the net could access the page.  By the time my internet provider dns server had updated 4 classes had already be filled.  This just felt so unfair, I didn't get an equal shot at signing up for the more popular classes.
2. So I sign up for all my classes and I select to pay by credit card.  I enter all the appropriate information and hit next.  I get a confirmation page showing all my classes, there are no links on this page.  I'm thinking everything is fine then I notice at the bottom of the page it says Amount Due $420.00, Amount Paid $0.00.  So now I'm confused, do my credit card info not go through correctly?  Do I need to reenter it or is their the possibility they will charge me twice?  So I email so folks at popular woodworking and the next day I receive an email from customer service with apologies and a receipt for my credit card payment.  Apparently it was just a glitch.  Well at least I'm all signed up now....but wait.
3. Then I receive an email trying to confirm that I signed up for a class on turning tool handles.  Never seen that class offered, let alone signed up for it.  So I go back the website and look at the classes again.  I notice that somehow the Saw Shapening class I had signed up for was gone and this class was there in its place.  Now I'm beyond frustrated, i'm pissed.  Mainly because instead of getting an email saying, "sorry but we had to move the sharpening class to a different time, would you accept this one instead" All i get is some weak email asking me to confirm that I wanted to take the turning class.

Well it was very frustrating, but I got thorough it.  I'm trying to maintain the perspective that this is the first time this conference has been held.  So maybe the folks at Popular Woodworking are learning how to hold one of these events the hard way.  I feel that i will have a great time once I get there.  Just meeting everyone will be wonderful.  Here is a list of the classes that I am signed up for (at least until I get another email).

Thursday (11-13-08)

• 6:00 pm Welcome Reception

Friday (11-14-08)

• 8:00 am Chair Design (Brian Boggs)
• 9:45 am Master The Spokeshave and Drawknife (Michael Dunbar)
• 1:30 pm Advanced Dovetailing (Frank Klausz)
• 4:15 pm Understanding Western Saws (C. Schwarz, M. Wenzloff, J. Moskowitz)

Saturday (11-15-08)

• 8:00 am Hands on clinic: Turning Custom Tool Handles (Kevin Drake, Dave Jeske)
• 9:45 am Forgotten Workbenches & Workholding (Chris Schwarz)
• 1:30 pm Infill Roundtable: Construction, Mechanics and Use (Robin Lee, Konrad Sauer)
• 4:15 pm Joinery Planes (Frank Klausz)

Sunday (11-16-08)

• 9:00 am Set Up And Use of Japanese Chisels (James Blauvelt)
• 10:45 am Dovetails for Casework and Speed (Frank Klausz)

Sounds like a blast and I'm hoping to meet a lot of folks.  Hope to see you there.