International Wood
Collectors Society

Founded in 1947, the International Wood Collectors Society is a non-profit Society devoted to distributing information on collecting wood, correctly identifying and naming wood specimens, and using wood in creative crafts.

People from all countries around the world are invited to join IWCS, enjoy the benefits of membership and discover more about nature's wonder material -- wood!

Collecting wood and/or using wood creatively has to be one of the most unique hobby interests that you could ever pick. IWCS members around the world have formed a network for information exchange and mutual assistance.

Membership in IWCS gives you numerous benefits including - World of Wood, a 32 page bimonthly magazine; and Annual Directory of members, and access to wood, wood information and members in some 30 countries on six continents. View a sample issue of the March/April 2010 WOW or see the index of articles published in the last seven years.

• Mr. Manley L. Hunt (1945-2010) | Manley L. Hunt, 64, Inverness, died July 3, 2010, at his residence under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County. A native of Wellsville, NY, he was born on Oct. 10, 1945, to Lawrence and Ellen (Leonard) Hunt and came to this area in 1974 from there. He was employed for 35 years as a cable splicer with Century Link Telephone when it was the original Florida Telephone Company. Manley graduated from Wellsville High School in 1963. Active in our community, he was a member of the Highlands Volunteer Fire Department for five years and an active member and Trustee of the International Wood Collectors Society. He enjoyed collecting antique tractors and loved to travel, having been to Europe and all over the U.S.A. He did custom wood cutting using his woodmizer sawmill. He also enjoyed wildlife and all of nature. Additionally, he enjoyed helping others, regardless of their need.
  He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Frances "Elaine" (Tarte) Hunt; two children, Tod Hunt and his wife, Izzy of Pensacola, FL; Amy Avery of Inverness; one brother, Bruce Hunt of Wellsville, NY; two grandchildren, Tyler Avery and Lea Hunt. He was predeceased by his stepson, Bronsell Rasbury, in 1988 and a brother, Edwin Hunt.
  
  
• NEW UK Trustee: Terry Sawbridge has had to give up his duties as Trustee for the UK Region, due to his inability to travel due to health conditions. UK Region members voted at their last meeting to approve Bob Goddard, to take over Terry's remaining term of office. With this I wish to announce the appointment of Bob Goddard as the new trustee for the UK Region. I want to thank Terry for his years of service and dedication to this organization.
  Thank you Terry and Pauline, we wish you the best, and we will miss you at the meetings. But will always be thinking of the both of you. Garry Roux, President, IWCS.
  06/14/2010.
  
  
• NEW Associate Editors: Effective March 1, 2010, IWCS members Barry and Danielle James of South Africa, are appointed joint Associate Editors for World of Wood. They will assume responsibility for a new series of articles in the IWCS Journal, “African Trees & Wood”, the first of which is included in the March/April, 2010 issue. Both Barry and Danielle are accomplished field naturalists, experienced in the African bush and forests – familiar with many of the trees and woods in Southern Africa and willing to share this knowledge with IWCS members. They are also involved in an environmental & ecological consultancy as well as a company specialising in utilisation of indigenous timbers and other indigenous products and have written extensively on these and related subjects. 03/02/2010
  
  
• NEW Trustee: Willem Hurkmans, of the Netherlands has been elected as the first Trustee of the recently formed IWCS EuroAfrican Region. Willem is a Life member of IWCS and an Associate Editor of World of Wood writing a series of articles on Botanical Gardens of the World. In 2009, along with other Dutch members of IWCS, he hosted the IWCS Annual meeting held in the Netherlands. Willem attended Utrecht University where he majored in plant systematics and evolution. He is also a member of Nehosoc, the Dutch Wood Collectors Society. IWCS thanks Willem for his willingness to act as Trustee for the new Region, and for all his other work for and contributions to the Society. His term as trustee will go from March 1, 2010 through September 30, 2013.
  
  
• New Endowment Fund Chair & Member: The appointments of Allen Nemetz as Chairman of the Endowment Fund and Greg Reed as a committee member were recently approved by the IWCS Board. They are replacing Dan James (Chairman) and Tim Deahl (Committee member). IWCS thanks Dan and Tim for the service you provided. 03/02/2010
  
  
• IWCS Student Membership Application now includes the "student friendly" rate of $15 USD per year.
  
  
• Corporate Membership - a new package of benefits for Corporate and Donor members in IWCS has been introduced which will make this type of membership much more attractive to such members. These benefits are described in Article I.7 of the IWCS Bylaws. Corporate Membership fees remain the same at $125 per year but longer term options now are: Three years - $325, and Five years - $450.
  
  
• Member Listings and Requests - Listings by members of wood, wood specimens or other items wanted or for sale
  
  
• Listings of all IWCS Wood Data Sheets ever published.
  
  

• September 4-5, 2010 IWCS EuroAfrican Region startup meeting - The first meeting of the IWCS EuroAfrican Region will take place at the home of Dieter Becker in Neuwied, Germany.
  
  
• September 25, 2010 Northwest Regional Meeting, near Florence, Oregon.
  
  
• October 2, 2010 Northeast Regional Meeting, at the Shaker Heritage Society Meeting House near Albany NY.
  
  
• October 4-11, 2010 AustralAsian Annual Meeting, Camp Banksia, Port Sorell, Tasmania, Australia.
  
  

• August 15-20, 2010 Annual Meeting at the Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, North Carolina. Feature presentations included Special Guest Speaker, Bobby Goodson, star of the Swamp Loggers program on the Discovery Channel.
  
  
• May 15, 2010 Jasonville Regional Meeting, Wright Township Fire Department, Midland, Indiana on Highway 59 South of Jasonville, Indiana.
  
  
• March 26-28, 2010 Red Gum, Buloke and Red Wine—Revisited, Naracoorte, South Australia.
  
  
• February 17-21, 2010 Winter Regional Meeting in Lake Yale, Florida. Hosted by Manley and Elaine Hunt.
  
  
  
• October 3-8, 2009 AustralAsian Regional Annual Meeting, at Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia. Story and Photos.
  
  
  
  
• September 12, 2009 Great Lakes Regional Meeting at the home of Bob and Judy Chastain. Story and Photos.
  
  
  
  

• Members' Special Wood Specimens Offer - IWCS is pleased to announce the addition of a "Member's Special" service to IWCS member collectors. Member's Specials are limited quantities of specimens from unusual woods. These specimens will be offered for $5 each, one specimen per member while supplies last.
  To kick off this new feature, we are pleased to offer the following specimens:
  - Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
  - Texas mountain laurel (Calai secundiflora) syn: Sophora secundiflora
  - red tip photina (Photinia x fraseri)
  - Chinese parasol-tree (Firmiana simplex)
  
  Help support the IWCS while building your collection.
  Orders will be shipped subject to the following terms:
  + US funds only. Checks made payable to "IWCS".
  + Mail with order to: IWCS Treasurer; 2300 West Rangeline Road, Greencastle, IN, 46135-7875 USA
  + Shipping: flat rate in USA $4.95, Canada and Mexico $11.45, all other locations $13.45; this rate covers up to three specimens only;
  + Send check and requested specimens to IWCS treasurer along IWCS Member Number.
  + IWCS will ship from San Antonio, Texas, USA when check clears.
  + Checks will be returned if requested specimen is out of stock.
  Posted 06/22/2010
  
  
• New - Crafts for Sale. As of July 7, 2009, IWCS is offering donated members crafts for sale. Allan Schwindt, of Washington, USA., is the craft sales coordinator and may be contacted at for information on donating and purchasing the crafts. The top menu has been expanded under Wood Crafting to display "Crafts on Display" and "Crafts for Sale".
  
  
• New Wood Specimen Kits: As of May 1, 2010, IWCS is offering a new and expanded selection of wood specimens to collectors and wood enthusiasts. The IWCS Wood Specimen Kit order form with complete details for selecting a minimum order of 40 specimens can be accessed here. Dan Keierleber, of Texas, USA., IWCS Wood Specimen Kit Chairman may be contacted for any further information on the kits and ordering. E-mail: .
  
  
• Vice President Gary Gronborg, of Festus, Missouri, USA, retired from the railroad industry after 37 years, and took up wood turning about ten years ago. He has turned just about anything that is round, and is now working towards his own artistic statement working with metals and wood and experimenting with shapes. He is the founder, past President and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Show Me Woodturners of Festus, Missouri; a member and contributor of wood turning articles to the American Association of Woodturners (AAW); a member and demonstrator for woodturning in the International Wood Collectors Society; and a member of the Best of Missouri Hands (BOMH). April 27, 2009.
  
  

• A Man of the Woods. Richard Crow takes you on a charming journey to discover how it is that one man's business and hobby could develop into the singular greatest individual wood collections in the world. This book is for everyone who enjoys the love of collecting or simply a wonderful story laced with historical anecdotes. Copyright 2009, 6 by 9 hardbound, 156 pages. (June 30, 2009)
  
  
• A Guide to Useful Woods of the World edited by James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder.
  Published in 2001. Here's your chance to have a copy of the definitive statement on 279 woods of the world.
  
  
  
  
• New Release! A Guide to More Useful Woods of the World includes:
  * 71 additional wood data sheets (WDS) bringing the total of published WDSs to 350.
  * 2 comprehensive indexes.
  * 14 articles from highly respected professionals in wood-related matters.
  
  
• "A Guide for Developing a Wood Collection" - published in 2005; this Guide explains how to get started in wood collecting and how to develop and maintain your collection. Collection Guide order form.