Our policies page is a helpful guide for attendees, vendors, and demonstrators to understand symposium site rules and registration guidelines. It is important to understand each policy to make your weekend as enjoyable as possible. If you have any questions regarding our policies, please contact us using the appropriate email address on the “CONTACT US” page.
1. Registration:
The symposium registration fee gives you access to all symposium events; the instant gallery, trade show, rotations (demonstrations), an opportunity to win an educational grant, and the Friday/Saturday evening functions.
A one day registration is available for those not able to attend the entire event.
Accompanying spouses or others that do not attend demonstrations are not charged this feeand are not eligible for an educational scholarship or rotation attendance but can participate in all other symposium activities.
There is early registration discount for registrations completed and paid by December 31, 2025.
2. Refund Policy:
We will provide a refund if you notify us on or before 12/31/2025. If you have an actual emergency requiring you to cancel after 12/31/2025 contact us and we will address your issue at that time. We charge a processing fee of $25 or 4% (whichever is greater) of your registration if your registration is cancelled.
3. Privacy Policy
Online registration information is encrypted and processed in the most secure methods we have at our disposal. Personal information provided is used only to the extent necessary to communicate with you about your registration, to inform you that you won a prize, etc. We do not distribute, publish, sell or in any way communicate the registration information provided by our attendees.
4. Instant Gallery:
FWS along with the AAW do not condone the practice of fractal burning, therefore we do not accept fractal burning pieces in the instant gallery
Limit 3 instant gallery pieces per registrant. All items entered in the instant gallery must be items that were at least partially turned on a lathe. We encourage everyone to enter their pieces in the Instant Gallery during the normal registration and check-in hours on Friday between 8 AM and 6 PM. Pieces can also be entered on Saturday morning.
Instant Gallery entries should be picked up no later than 1:00 PM on Sunday.
The FWS Committee will provide security of the Instant Gallery during the Symposium but cannot be held liable for any damage or loss of the entries.
5. Education Scholarships:
Drawings for Scholarships are only available to registrants that have paid the symposium fee, see #1 above.
The drawings will be held on Saturday, and you do not need to be present to win. If you win but are not present, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you do not respond within two weeks, an alternate winner will be selected.
Reimbursement for the scholarship assistance must be requested in writing, using the form in the winner’s packet, with appropriate receipts, and mailed to:
Peter Jarmosevich, 15602 SW 13th Circle, Ocala, Fla 34473
6. Auctions:
The Silent and Live Auctions will be held Saturday afternoon and evening. Either you or your designee must be present to win the auction items. .
The auction is open to the public, but you must have a bidder number issued by the registrar in order to participate.
You can pay for auction items with cash, check, or credit card. All payments must be made prior to the completion of the symposium on Sunday at noon.
Auction cards are contained in your registration package or issued by the registrar for those not attending the rotations and must be used by the registrant only.
During the auction, the FWS auction spotters and the Auctioneer will determine the bidding sequence.
After all bidding on the item has ceased the auctioneer will pronounce the item sold and the bidding will not be reopened for any reason. The Auctioneer’s decision is final.
We encourage all symposium participants to donate a piece to the auction to benefit our education program.
7. Raffle:
You do not need to be present to win the raffle items. If your name is selected as a winner of a raffle item and you are not present, you will be contacted by email or telephone. If the winner of a raffle item is not present, the FWS Committee will be responsible for delivering the item to the winner.
8: Behavior:
Threatening or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated by anyone attending the Florida Woodturning Symposium and is grounds for immediate removal from the symposium.
9. RP Funding Center Policies:
No food or drink can be brought into the RP Funding Center. Concessions will be available for the purchase of food and drink items.
No smoking is permitted within the facility. Designated smoking areas outside the buildings will be made available by the RP Funding Center staff.
10. COVID 19:
The Florida Woodturning Symposium and the RP Funding Center (City of Lakeland, Florida) will follow all Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines related to COVID-19. By attending this Symposium, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Florida Woodturning Symposium, Inc., and the RP Funding Center (City of Lakeland, Florida).