Membership

Download a Membership Form in PDF format
Membership Questionnaire
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Membership in the Guild is open to all. While most of the members are actively involved in designing and building timber frame structures, the Guild also includes architects, designers, and other professional builders, suppliers of tools and materials to the timber frame trade, owner-builders, timber frame home owners, and pure aficionados of the craft.

The Guild includes some 1,700 individuals representing most of the 50 states, Canada, and various other countries around the world. More than 200 companies belong to the Timber Frame Business Council, organized in 1996 to address specific concerns of running a timber framing business.

Whether you are a practicing timber framer, a woodworker, a student, or someone who is simply interested in learning about the craft, we invite you to become a full, participating Guild member. That’s the best way to learn about this enduring and appealing building style.

Membership Categories

If you join, you can become part of an organization of individuals who share a common interest and love of the craft of timber framing. We also offer student memberships, international memberships for those living outside the U.S. and Canada, and Family Memberships. For only an additional $25, family members receive individual member benefits, directory listings and member rates at Guild events even if the principal family member cannot attend. The second member receives voting privileges; only one set of Guild publications is sent to the address listed. In order to qualify for this special rate, family members must all reside at the same household.

A Guild Scholarship Fund allows us to sponsor apprentices in timber framing. Please consider adding $10 or more to your membership dues.

Lifetime memberships

Now we are offering Lifetime memberships for all levels except Student Memberships. Click here to sign up.

New Membership Discounts Available

Electronic Subscription Discount: Take $10 off of your membership fee if you elect to take Scantlings electronically as a color PDF file instead of being mailed a hard copy. International members can take a $30 discount (currently $135 US/year). In the future, we may make the other member publications (Timber Framing and the Membership Directory) available electronically for further discounts.

Recruitment Discount: For each new member you recruit, we will award you a $25 credit for anything in the Guild store (including your own membership renewal). A new member is defined as someone who has never been a member before or since 1999. So you could get your membership free if you recruit 4 new members. A credit memo will be issued to you when the new member identifies you on their application form. These credits must be used within one year of the new member's enrollment.

New Member Discount: New members qualify for a $15 discount off their regular membership fee for the first year (one time only). New members will get their publications for the first year as hard copies, and are thus not eligible for the electronic discount mentioned earlier.

Automatic Renewal Discount: If you elect to renew automatically by automatic debit to your credit or debit card, you will qualify for a $10 discount on your annual membership fee. Plus you can lock in that membership rate for as long as you keep your card number on file in our office current. If your membership lapses, or if you need to be reminded or asked for an updated card number, your membership will go up to the fee currently in effect.

Student Membership Discount: Student members can take an additional $15 off each membership when 3 or more students join or renew at the same time. Student membership is currently $65/year, and must be supported by a photo ID from the school attended. To obtain this discount, students must join or renew on the same day and indicate that they want the discount in the "Comments" section during checkout. The discount will be applied when the credit card is processed by our office and reflected on the receipt received in the mail, even though the total reported during checkout will not show it.

Same Company Group Discount: When 3 or more employees from the same company join or renew together, they can take $15 off each membership. To obtain this discount, employees must join or renew on the same day and indicate that they want the discount in the "Comments" section during checkout. The discount will be applied when the credit card is processed by our office and reflected on the receipt that is sent from the Guild office, even though the total reported during checkout will not show it.

Benefits

With paid membership, members will receive:

A minimum 10% discount on tuitions for TFG events, including Conferences, Workshops and Rendezvous.

A 15% discount on most merchandise purchases from the Guild online store (some books excluded), effective January 1st, 2009.

Subscriptions to the Guild's publications:

Timber Framing, the Guild’s acclaimed quarterly journal, carries in-depth articles on the history and lore of timber framing, reports on the theory and practice of timber framing, and the work of the Guild and its members. $35 of your annual membership fee is for your subscription to our quarterly journal, Timber Framing.

Our newsletter, Scantlings, announces upcoming conferences and workshops and provides information on employment opportunities, material and equipment availability, and a calendar of Guild activities. As a member, you are entitled to free classified ads for two consecutive issues.

Numerous ways to learn about traditional joinery at regional and national conferences and workshops, where you can meet with like-minded individuals.

Opportunities to participate in projects that meet a social responsibility, whether it be the construction of a house for people in need, building a covered bridge for a community, or working with other organizations to support sound, sustainable forestry practices.

A chance to join the Traditional Timberframe Research and Advisory Group (TTRAG), whose members actively pursue a better understanding of historic timber frame structures and techniques. This group surveys old historic buildings before they are changed or razed to have the information available to future scholars and builders.

Member directories provide easy access to a worldwide network of professionals, practitioners, and others allied to the trade. Guild members are generous with their knowledge, and this network is a resource found nowhere else in the world. It is the best place to turn for information and troubleshooting help with the complex issues surrounding the contemporary building process.

If you want to join or receive information about membership or any of our publications, please let us know.