[TheForge] YAK: A few words to Bill Robertson

[Will Hightower]

Bill, I wish to address a few of your concerns. Others may address the balance.

1.   The best way to reform something is from the inside.  This is the time of year that people sign up to run for the board of ABANA.  If you really think that ABANA needs reforming then run for the board.  But, I must warn you that there are two little problems with this:

   a.   You would have to work with the people you have bad mouthed.  Most of them are not up for election.

   b.  You would have to become an ABANA member.

2.   Could you please name for me the "ABANA art police"?  ABANA's sites live on submissions and most of the time there is not enough to fill them.  Then ABANA catches hell for posting poor examples.  When was the last time you submitted something?

3.   Chapters.  I have to agree with you that "affiliate" was a half way thing.  I favored "no relationship at all".  I was hearing from the "chapters" at the time that they wanted no interference from ABANA.  OK!  Now I see you want to go back to being a "chapter".  If you look up the meaning of chapter you will find that it means "subdivision".  If I am reading you right you want to become part of ABANA.  Since you signed your posting as President, Florida Artist Blacksmith Association, is this an application to become a subdivision of ABANA?  If so, I would be most happy to sponsor your request and see what can be done about changing the bylaws of ABANA.  Please let me know.  Great idea.

4.  Auditing.  Each month ABANA receives a basic audit from an outside CPA firm and posts the results to the website.  To do a full audit would cost more than ABANA's total assets.  Would this be a wise use of membership money?  You could pay for it if you wish.  By the way, does Florida ABA get full audits?  Maybe you could forward a name and ABANA could get a deal.

Also, most of the accounting functions of ABANA are now handled by an outside CPA firm.  All the Treasurer does is sign the checks.  There is an independent review of all ABANA spending.  This is something I helped set up before leaving office as Treasurer.

I hope that this answers some of your concerns.  Please let me know if you have other questions.

Later

Will Hightower