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 May/June 2009 WOW.

• New Wood Specimen Kits: As of July 1, 2009, 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: . July 1, 2009
  
  
• Richard Crow, IWCS member, has published a new book, "A Man of the Woods" Experiences Collecting 7,000 Woods of the World. This book is for everyone who enjoys the love of collecting or simply a wonderful story laced with historical anecdotes. June 30, 2009.
  
  
• IWCS WOOD MUSEUM - A presentation of the Proposed Bi-National Location in PDF format. Feb. 20, 2009
  
  
• All Mail Wood Auction - Notify winning bidders, June 30, 2009. Sept-Oct, Publish results in WOW.
  
  
• New Series in World of Wood: "Shrubwoods of the World" - a new series on the characteristics of shrubs and their sometimes colourful and interesting wood if only in small stem sizes. 02/20/2009
  
  
• New Series for World of Wood: Botanic Gardens of the World - This series will highlight special trees found at these gardens. It will focus on trees typical of the region where the garden is found, giving IWCS members an idea of what they (and their wood) are used for, and why. Under the guidance of Associate Editor, Willem Hurkmans, IWCS hopes to stimulate the reader to visit botanic gardens they have never been to, for example when on holiday. Willem hopes to get his excitement about botanic gardens across to our readers and invites all IWCS members to write a report on a botanic garden they visited. If it’s the one in your home town, that’s excellent. Or one in a remote region, that's fine, too. Please try to adhere to the same format as used in the series and don't forget to tell us why that garden is so special. IWCS member's contributions will be highly valued – and can be published as part of this new and exciting series. 02/20/2009
  
  
• New Additions to Crafts Page - 02/06/09
  
  
• Six year Index of Articles in World of Wood - 2003 through 2008; in searchable format: Topics, Titles, Key words, Authors and Issue Date. 12/11/08
  
  
• September 12, 2009 Great Lakes Regional Meeting - will be held at the home of Bob and Judy Chastain, Ladoga, Indiana. 47954.
  
  
• October 3-8, 2009 Australasian Regional Annual Meeting - will be held at Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia. Ravenshoe is the highest town in Queensland, situated on the Great Dividing Range some 50 kms inland from the coast. This unique setting affords Ravenshoe an environment which encompasses World Heritage Eucalypt forest to the West.
  
  
• February 17-21, 2010 Winter Regional Meeting in Lake Yale, Florida. Hosted by Manley and Elaine Hunt.
  
  
• August 15-20, 2010 International Meeting at Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center, Ridgeway, North Carolina. Hosted by Manley and Elaine Hunt.
  
  
• Spike Carlsen, IWCS member, has published a new book, A Splintered History of Wood: Belt Sander Races, Blind Woodworkers and Baseball Bats, now available through HarperCollins. It's a collection of 55 stories that revolve around the unusual or unexpected uses of wood throughout history. It includes segments on the extraordinary Stradivari violins, the ill-fated Spruce Goose, an interview with Jimmy Carter, 50,000 year old wood, Sarah Winchester's 36 year long "spooky" remodelling project, the world's greatest wood carver, blind woodworkers, modern day bowyers and barrel makers, the world's most expensive woods and more. Best of all it contains a segment on wood collecting featuring several IWCS members. March 1, 2009.
  
  
• IWCS Membership Application now includes the "student friendly" rate of $15 USD per year.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

• IWCS Archivist - IWCS President, Garry Roux has announced that Dennis Wilson of Michigan, USA has been appointed Archivist for IWCS. Dennis succeeds Gerry Zipprich who has occupied the post since 1996. Dennis has served IWCS in numerous capacities over the years including that of Secretary/Treasurer and President. It will be his responsibility to preserve artifacts pertaining to the history of IWCS and to provide research of archive data for IWCS officers and members. July 3, 2009.
  
  
• 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
  
  
• Willem Hurkmans, of Overijssel in the Netherlands has joined the ranks of IWCS Associate Editors. Mr. Hurkmans brings a wealth of experience in plant systematics and evolution, anatomy of fossil plants and fossil vertebrates. He is member of Nehosoc as well as a Life member of IWCS and has been a steady contributor to World of Wood for a number of years. For over 20 years, he travelled widely in conducting fieldwork for Amsterdam University and for pleasure - and visited a number of the over 2,650 botanic gardens in the world. Willem will be responsible for a new series of articles in World of Wood - Botanic Gardens of the World. Feb. 20, 2009
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Daryle Layton: has been appointed IWCS Corporate Membership Coordinator. Daryle is a long time member of IWCS and has had many years of experience in the forest products industry. He will be responsible for identifying prospective Corporate members for IWCS and providing them with all necessary information on the benefits of such membership to them. IWCS members that know of prospective Corporate Members are asked to provide contact information to Daryle at
  
  
• Southeast Winter Woodfest at Lake Yale Conference Center, Florida on February 18-22, 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.