Jim, I see on the AAW map that there is a chapter not too far from you.
It is Waxhaw Woodturners Association in Mathews, NC. You should find some penturners there.
Also, in the fall, North Carolina is hosting a Woodturning Symposium. VA and NC alternate years/locations. All the NC woodturning clubs participate in bringing these regional symposia to woodturners. They have professional demonstrations, plenty of vendors with all sorts of goodies from tools to wood to entice us turners. Barry Gross was at the VA Symposium last year.