[TheForge] ABANA Membership value - long

[Walter L. Mullett]

Almost 10 years ago, I was able to attend one of the SOFA conferences.  =
That was my first contact with ABANA and the blacksmithing community in =
general. =20

What a fortunate experience. =20

Here was a group of people who were willing to share, with whoever would =
listen, their experience and knowledge about blacksmithing.  Even =
professionals who made their income from this vocation were willing to =
give up their secrets even though they knew they were potentially =
training their own competetion. ... - all for a very nominal charge.

WOW!  What a unique group of people!=20

I had never known a group like this.  It seems today that every body is =
looking for the buck... for getting something for nothing...  for =
finding a secret that they could call their own.

This group was nothing like that.  They were like the movie "Pay it =
forward".  They were willing to invest their knowledge in me hoping that =
I would in turn continue that process and thus revive skills and =
processes that were on the verge of being lost.

Some, especially those that don't even "pay it back", could argue that =
"paying it forward" might really be selfish if getting something back =
was anticipated in the end.  No matter.  This is still a unique concept =
and it seems to have held up and is working.  In these last 10 years, =
I've watched the smithing community grow with more people participating, =
better publications and more knowledge available to all.  The only =
smiths I know that are not willing to share their knowledge are those =
outside of the ABANA community.  Those that proudly thump their chests =
and proclaim " I am not an ABANA member".=20

Besides ABANA, I am also a member of my professional organization.  Just =
like ABANA, this is an organization that I am not required to be a =
member of.  I choose to be a member.  Base membership in that =
organization also requires membership in the state and local levels - =
all for a fee that is about 6 times the ABANA membership.  If I have my =
own business, I have an additional fee of around $600/yr + $60/employee =
for those that are not a member and in addition to my membership fees, =
and in order to remain a member, I must also attend approved continuing =
eduction courses that cost an additional $1,000 per year plus time =
involved.  (If I don't attend, I lose my membership.)

What do I get from these memberships? The professional organization does =
some of the following better than ABANA BUT it has a full time paid =
staff at a national headquarters. =20

- Recognition -  sort of status by association but it is also valuable =
to clients, colleagues, and the public.  It says you are dedicated to =
the profession and have a means to keep up with current knowledge and =
trends.
- On-line connection:  Both organizations provide me an up-to-date =
method of communicating with my peers and gaining information and also a =
place to list my services if I have any.

- Educational programs:  Free local programs in both organizations.  The =
professional membership has additional programs on-line and at national, =
state and conventions that have additional fees beyond the convention =
fee. =20

- Professional legal documents:  The professional organization provides =
legal documents for a fee but these documents are also available to the =
public at around 25% more $.

- Resources:  Both groups provide library materials, books and other =
resources.  .=20

- Local networking activities, educational seminars, and regional =
updates are available through some local affiliates.=20

- Insurance programs;  Both groups provide help somewhat in insurance =
concerns.

- Publications and resources:  Both provide publications useful to me.  =
The professional organization's publication has a full time paid staff =
and produces a magazine that is 2-3 times that of the Ring but is =
available outside of the organization for $10-12 per month. =20

- Government affairs: The professional group lobbies at the state and =
federal levels for "my interests" as they determine that to be.

- Educational foundations:  Both groups provide for education of the =
public and individuals.

This is a no brainer.  ABANA membership is cheap and well worth it!  Our =
fees barely cover the cost of printing and distribution of our =
publications and are only possible because much of the information in =
the publications is freely contributed by the membership.

For those that only want to buy the magazines, we should also add to the =
cost of publication and mailing, the value of the contributions and the =
costs associated with running the organization.  Costs like contract =
maintenance, membership list ... etc.  Gee ... whoops, you mean the =
overal charge might be more than our membership? - Yes...  I think the =
value of the volunteers like the board and contributing membership would =
increase the cost of the Ring & Blow considerably and anybody that just =
wants to get the magazines should pay for all the value.

Walt



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