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The purposes of the American
Paulownia Association are as follows:
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To advance the science, technology,
education, and practice of the Paulownia culture (Paulownia spp.) including
planting, management and utilitzation
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To discuss, disseminate, and exchange
the latest information and ideas concerning Paulownia and propagation materials
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To encourage landowners to plant, manage,
and harvest Paulownia by the best known techniques
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To use knowledge from research and experience
to benefit society
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To encourage production and marketing
of Paulownia for a profit
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To promote Paulownia and Paulownia products
in the domestic and export markets
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To publish and distribute a news bulletin.
Paulownia wood has been used in Japan for
centuries primarily as a furniture wood which takes up 75% of all the logs
imported. Wooden chests of drawers called Tansu are made from
this wood and nearly every Japanese home has a Tansu of solid Paulownia,
or sliced Paulownia veneer glued on a Lauan plywood. The wood is
30% lighter than any comparable American hardwood, falling mid-way between
Balsa wood and poplar, being 15 to 19 pounds per cubic foot air dried.
The tree will not rot when felled in the
forest unless it is touching a contaminant of some sort, and logs completely
debarked and 2 or 3 years old are exported into assured markets.
The lumber can be air dried in 30 to 60 days in racks or kiln dried to
10% - 12% moisture in 24 to 48 hours!
Other uses of the wood are musical instruments
called Koto, wooden clogs called Geta, ornamental carvings,
wooden bowls and spoons, bas relief panels, and large and small gift boxes.
While the Japanese do not consider this tree "Holy" the wood is held in
reverence by those who work with the tree, possibly due to the ability
of the tree to regenerate from its own root. This, coupled with its
resistance to rot and its freedom from checking and cracking, may account
for this reverence.
The Association sponsors annual meetings
with Universities to mesh the experiences from Association members with
academia to provide for the rapid development of a superior grade and quantity
of marketable timber to fill the needs of future generations of wood product
users.
Committees
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The Executive Committee elects
officers at the fall meeting preceding each annual conference.
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The Communication Committee
-- publishes a quarterly newsletter to provide the most up-to-date information
on current events eaffecting Paulownia production and marketing as well
as allow the exchange of ideas and experiences of Association members.
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The Marketing Committee monitors
current log prices and explores possible new uses for Paulownia wood.
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The Research Committee experiments
and assembles data to be shared by Association members to aid in the production
of Paulownia timber.
Members of the Association are individuals
who want to stay current on Paulownia and who are interested in becoming
involved in its future in the United States. The Association has
no salaried employees. All the dues income goes toward achieving
the goals of the Association. We encourage everyone interested in
Paulownia to join the Association and become involved.
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