Turn Around for Veterans         

In support of the San Diego Woodturners (SDWT) Mission, the Turn Around for Veterans (TAV) program teaches wood turning to active duty service members and veterans at the Naval Medical Center (NMC) San Diego, the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton and the Veterans Affairs Aspire Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program in San Diego.

Turn Around for Veterans was founded in 2007 by Nurse Nan Bushley and orthopedic surgeon and former Navy Officer Dr. Kenneth Roth.  Both understood how a devastating injury can create a feeling that life, as previously known, is over and results in deep depression.  They believed that learning to turn wood would help these courageous servicemen and women to heal in ways beyond the physical. Feedback from professional medical personnel at these sites has confirmed that participation in TAV provides therapeutic benefits to personnel as they recover from military injuries and related stress.  The TAV program is administered and staffed by dedicated SDWT volunteers, many of whom are veterans.  Participants are taught wood turning skills and techniques, with an emphasis on safety.  All necessary safety equipment, machinery, tools, materials and expendable supplies are maintained through donations to SDWT; there is  no cost to participants.  Instruction provides the opportunity to progress from introductory projects such as pen turning through more advanced projects and techniques based on the desires of each participant.

TAV is a critical program of the San Diego Woodturners Club.  All TAV activities are carried out by a dedicated, unpaid group of volunteers so that 100% of donated funds, designated for TAV, are used to purchase supplies and equipment and to support the program.  As always, any one can make a cash or material donation to SDWT, designated for TAV, and receive a letter from our treasurer that acknowledges the gift as a tax deductible item, if otherwise eligible under current tax code.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the TAV Chairman at TAVchairman@sdwt.org