[TheForge] My view

[Will Hightower]

First, I'm sure that what ever I say will be twisted.  Oh, well!

1.  I have been on the ABANA board for 8 of the last 9 years.  During that time there has been one overriding issue, George Dixon.  I have seen all kinds of ways of trying to deal with his "issues".  At one point for a year and a half nothing else was done.  Trying to talk with him on a daily bases does not work.  Not talking to him does not work.  Third parties have been tried.  I've even seen money taken out of private pockets to try and correct "his wrongs".  Nothing works, his list just grows.

2.  I have seen every board member change.  In short order the new people in George's view have become part of "the board" and thus part of the problem.  Don Kemper is well respected worldwide, decorated Korean vet and organizer of climbing parties to K2 and Everest among other things.  Don was a very good possibly to try and work things out.  Look at what George has to say about him.

3.  During the 98 conference my family and I worked our asses off trying to make a success of the conference.  But I expressed an independent opinion and have sense been repeatedly attacked.  And to date no evidence has been presented to change that opinion.

4.   Even in the last few days I have tried to talk to the people posting the current stuff for George on theforge.  Trying to give them some light from the other side.  As of this writing they have not seen fit to respond, not even with a drop dead.  It is a shame, I have worked with some of them and they seemed nice.

5.   Almost everyone that has worked with George or come to his notice has been turned on.  I've seen him turn on Peter Ross, who's crime was trying to help put together some new basic blacksmithing articles and accepting some transportation help.  George is down on Jim Wallace for expressing his views.  Has anyone seen the plans that Jim has almost funded for a library and research facility just for metal working?  Jim has given his life and fortune to promote the metal arts.  Believe me George turns on everyone sooner or later.  Next in line is his current helpers.

6.   Give me 21 pounds of your letters and I can pick out parts that would make you look really bad.  When 15+ people are discussing issues many ideas and views are floated, that is why you discuss issues, to get views.  And, Emails are only part of any discussion and not the whole picture.

7.   I am not sure that George even has a clear idea of what he wants to gain.  I think this is his way of being noticed.

8.   The ABANA board is no better or poorer than any other volunteer board.  I'm not sure what George thinks they are gaining.  Personally being on the board has cost me thousands of dollars each year.  All I think any of us wanted to do was promote blacksmithing.  But, you can't do anything with an alligator biting at you ass.

9.   It is my feeling that ABANA will soon die, one of the reasons being the alligator.  The blacksmith community needs something nationally to tie it together.  So, this might be a great time for you guys to start a new origination and really show us how to do it right.  I can hardly wait to see how long it takes you to become "the bad guys".

10.  For me, when my present term is over, that's it, as stated long before the current flap.  I got more rewarding things to do than setting around listening to tired verse.  I'm treasurer of the Kenai Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and we are starting our spring build.  I'm treasurer of the Kenai Peninsula Global Releaf, a reforestation group.  We are having our spring tree sale this weekend and the lodgepole pine are only 50 cents each.  Tomorrow, the board of directors for the Kenai Peninsula Community Care Center meet.  I'm the construction chair.  KPCCC runs a campus where we can house, from, around the state, kids (12-18) who are at risk.  I just finished designing a new gym for the campus.

11.  Now this is all my opinion (under the bill of rights #1) and subject to attack.  But, this is the last you will ever hear from me, I'm tired of revisiting the same old issues and to what gain.  IT WILL NEVER END!!!!!!!

Later

Will Hightower

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