The Woodworkers Guild of Georgia’s motto is “Service Through Education and Fellowship”. This three legged stool fosters the craft of woodworking by welcoming all to learn, grow, and share.

Below is information about where we are, and where we want to go. If you are searching for a member group to join that will help you take your passion for woodworking to the next level, or two, consider joining us.

Your membership will not only advance your woodworking skills, but also provide an environment to make new friends and to get involved, benefitting the community at large.

Membership Information

The Woodworkers Guild of Georgia, founded in the Spring of 1982, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization comprised of approximately 200 members, and growing fast. While most members reside in the Metro Atlanta area, we do have a number of members who live throughout the state, and beyond. This is because we use Zoom for most member meetings and events, and members also have online access to the recorded presentations. So you can watch and participate from anywhere.

Guild members share a common passion for woodworking. Guild members have a variety of woodworking interests, including furniture design and construction, tools and equipment, lumber prep, joinery, jigs and fixtures, shop design, turning, carving, finishing, CNC, software, and many more.

Membership Cost
The annual membership fee is currently $50 for an individual membership and includes the following.

Monthly Programs
Every month an evening program features a wide variety of woodworking subjects (see list below this block), ranging from classes by member or professional speakers, or demonstrations of a skill or tool. Monthly member meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. Historically meetings have been held at Woodcraft on Holcomb Bridge Road, but for most of 2020 and 2021 have been held successfully on the Zoom platform. Most meetings are recorded and are available on our website with member access.

ShopWatch
While members can watch monthly Zoom meetings from their homes, the ShopWatch program allows members to watch the meeting from one of multiple member shops around Metro Atlanta. Watch the meeting, make new friends, and get a shop tour all at the same time!

Symposiums
Presentations by nationally recognized woodworkers during our annual Symposium brings a high quality of woodworking knowledge to the audience, including notables such as Bob Van Dyke, Rollie Johnson, Peter Gedrys, Garrett Hack, Phil Lowe, Marc Adams, Will Neptune, Chris Gochnour, Kelly Mehler, and Jeff Miller. Because of COVID and changes to our meeting location, Guild members will be presenting. We will return to having nationally recognized speakers as soon as we are able.

Education
Hands-On events are held as an extension of one of our regular meetings or Symposiums. This helps members put into practical use what is taught in meetings. For example, members met to build and assemble toys for our community outreach program following a presentation on toy building. In 2022 Hands-On events are being replaced by the Guild Academy, a curriculum based program for new and established woodworkers to learn the woodworking craft.

Mentoring
Our mentoring director will connect you to members that are highly accomplished and experienced woodworkers who are willing to teach both general and specialized skills. There are no costs involved but many benefits.

Community Service
The Guild has a commitment to the community.  Projects during the year allow members to improve their woodworking skills and benefit a variety of non-profit organizations. Our toy program allows members to make toys in their shops using downloadable plans available on our website.

Patron Sponsor Discounts
Our Patron Sponsors are retail woodworking suppliers of equipment, supplies, and wood. Many offer discounts to our members that can offset the cost of membership many times over.

Website and Social Media
A state of the art website that manages membership and includes archives of past meetings and events in both photo and video formats. The Guild’s Facebook and Instagram accounts are also popular with some of our members.

Newsletter
The monthly newsletter keeps you up to date on happenings in the Guild and offers articles of woodworking interest and how-to articles on a variety of subjects.

Library
A Video Lending Library is available for members with over 200 titles available for reservation.

The Future
We are currently in a growth mode for both increasing our membership and finding an Education Center for meetings, classes, and events. Hopefully it will include a bench and machine room. Our Board of Directors has authorized a Strategic Planning Committee to study the possibility of a location appropriate for our needs.

The future is bright, come join us!

Previous monthly meeting topics are listed below, and are representative of programs going forward.
They are available for members to watch with photos, videos, and additional resources.
  • December 2022: Guild Annual Holiday Party
  • November 2022: Finishing Products and Techniques: Penetrating Oils
  • October 2022: Toy Build for Charity
  • September 2022: Joinery Symposium
  • August 2022: Sharpening Systems
  • July 2022: Hand Planes and Chisels
  • June 2022: Hand Tool Basics
  • May 2022: Shop Safety
  • April 2022: Table Saws and Bandsaws
  • March 2022: Power Tool Basics
  • February 2022: Developing Your Strategy
  • January 2022: Furniture Repair & Touchup
  • December 2021: Guild Annual Holiday Party
  • November 2021: Epoxy Resin in Woodworking
  • October 2021: Toy Build for Charity
  • September 2021: How to Plan a Woodworking Project
  • August 2021: Painted Finishes with Erin Spain
  • July 2021: Guild Picnic and Tool Sale
  • June 2021: Making Bandsaw Boxes
  • May 2021: Routing Complementary Curves with Routers and Templates
  • April 2021: Bandsaw Mill Visit
  • March 2021: Spring Symposium: Box Making with Matt Kenney
  • February 2021: Designing and Making Cutting Boards
  • January 2021: Four Squaring and Correcting Warped and Twisted Boards
  • December 2020: Guild Annual Holiday Party
  • November 2020: Patterae Design and Construction
  • October 2020: Toy Build for Charity
  • September 2020: Making Holiday Ornaments
  • August 2020: Router Clinic
  • July 2020: Jigs and Fixtures
  • June 2020: Designing and Making Inlay Banding
  • May 2020: Shop Storage Solutions
  • March 2020: Favorite Power and Hand Tools
  • February 2020: Finishing Woodworking Projects, Part 2
  • January 2020: Finishing Woodworking Projects, Part 1
  • December 2019: Guild Annual Holiday Party
  • November 2019: Mortise and Tenon Joinery
  • September 2019: Toy Assembly Hands-On
  • August 2019: Grow Your Woodworking Business
  • July 2019: Member Shop Tours

Most creative and engaged…

Praise, appreciation and admiration for our Board!  I’ve belonged to many groups through the years.  Our board is one of the most creative and engaged I’ve experienced.
Member Nell R.

Stepped up the entire operation…

I have been a Guild member for over 10 years.  It has always been a positive experience over the years and well worth the time and money I invested.  However, over the last two years the Guild has stepped up the entire operation – programs, newsletters, communications, and special events.  MANY THANKS!
Member Milton M.

The Woodworkers Guild of Georgia offers individual memberships. If your membership has lapsed, click the Join Now button below for instructions to renew your membership.

Individual Membership

  • Membership for a single person 18 years or older with access to everything listed above.
  • Additional fees may apply for Symposiums and other events.
  • Annual membership is $50 and renews on the anniversary of your date of joining.
Join Now