[TheForge] ABANA - long

[Aaron Silver]

At 09:26 AM 7/4/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> > And if you don't like us talking about the organization we belong to 
> and have a
> > duty to look after, fine.
>
>I have no problem with this. Although it would never enter my mind that we 
>have a
>"duty" to look after ABANA. That is what we elect board members to do. 
>After two
>years of dragging this thing around, it is just getting a little stale. 
>Why doesn't
>George D. personally address the board members he is in disagreement with, 
>instead
>of taking it to theforge, where many of them are not subscribed?

1) As members we elect the board. They are responsible for running ABANA. 
As members we are responsible for evaluating their actions to determine if 
they are doing a good job, or should be replaced for whatever reason.

2) I get the impression that George has been trying the direct approach, 
and not been getting satisfaction. So his only recourse at that point is to 
bring this to the membership in an attempt to get us to evaluate the 
situation and take actions that might change the situation. As for his 
choice of theForge, this is a forum of people of whom many are members so 
can start asking questions in a groundswell of support. It is also a "free" 
medium, in both monetary cost (he doesn't have to take an ad out) and also 
free from the supposed censorship he has claimed he has faced in the ABANA 
publications. Therefore this is a proper medium for this conversation.


> > Set your filters to ignore these threads, or simply hit the delete key. 
> What
> > we're having here is an exchange of information designed to bring to 
> light the
> > facts of certain allegations.
>
>Right, and after a couple of year of accusations, nothing has been resolved!

Is that his fault or ours?

> > If there is nothing to be found, so be it. If there is, we will be 
> informed and
> > can make decisions based on that information.
>
>And what would the decision be?  To drop out of ABANA? I joined ABANA about 20
>years ago and am more pleased with the two publications than ever. As far 
>as the
>conferences, (the only other other benefit to me) they have become 10 ring 
>circuses
>and way too big. I personally liked the Ripley, WV and DePere, Wisc. 
>conferences.
>None since then.

Dropping out would be one option. Taking more of a part in the elections 
would be another. Take the latest election where we only had 4 candidates 
for 5 positions. Anything that increases activism in this our organization 
is to be lauded.

>SO, I am happy with the Anvils Ring, and now the redesigned Hammers Blow, 
>and I
>continue to send in my dues in their support, and vote for board members 
>as I am
>notified about the elections.
>On that note, isn't it a shame that only 208 members actually returned the 
>ballot
>cards  for the vote on the revision of the bylaws! I sent mine in, did you?

Yup. And I heartily approve(d) of the changes made. I think this is an 
example of how our involvement is reflected in the organization. This 
started as a fight over liability and the proper procedures for removing 
parts of the organization that were seen to be increasing the liability of 
the group. Instead of simply ignoring the outcry and proceeding with the 
original course of action the board took a look at the situation and came 
up with what I believe to be a viable and novel option. In the discussions 
prior to the new bylaws I had not seen it suggested to change the structure 
of the organization to change the liability. Someone (or some group of 
people... dare I say "the board" :-)) was thinking outside the box on this 
one. Bravo!


>Chris
>Alexandria VA

Aaron Silver