Alan Van Art
I have one of the wood identification kits that is basically a veneer sample pack. I've discovered that locally available timbers are almost never in the pack. Only the common woods, and some exotics are represented. I also have tried one of the iPhone apps that is supposed to help ID wood with very limited results. The USFS Forest Products Laboratory recommends some ID kits on this page;

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/centers/woodanatomy/wood_idkits.php

Our club is fortunate to have several Penn State University Forestry Professionals. One of them mentioned recently that the USFS Forest Products Lab in Madison will identify up to 5 samples per household per calendar year for free. More info can be found here;

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/centers/woodanatomy/wood_idfactsheet.php