[TheForge] Re: Saving ABANA

[Chuck Robinson]

Hey David,
I read in the "LAMAGRAM" a few issues back, the same offer to LAMA members.
that you state in this email rebuttal.
"Dave was on the agenda to talk about his plan to help build a "reciprocal
relationship" by offering free attendance to some affiliates in return for
volunteer time
at the demonstrator stations".
I sure didn't see this deal offered to the GULF COAST BLACKSMITH ASSN., or a
general offer to the other affiliates.
Is this being arbitrarily offered to a few select folks or are you going to
make this offer to all the chapters?
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "magichammer" <dave at magichammer.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Saving ABANA


> Although it is against my better judgment, because no matter what I say,
> it will get twisted into some other thing. I am going to address some of
> this
> by interspersing my comments into the original text.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Patty Draper/Bill Robertson" <applecrossforge at nettally.com>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 8:48 AM
> Subject: [TheForge] Re: Saving ABANA
>
>
> > As tired as this whole ABANA stuff has become I think what George Dixon
is
> > doing is worth while because the people who have used and abused their
> > positions on the ABANA board for personal vendettas and gain are still
on
> > the board.  Only with the ABANA membership learning about the past and
> > finally voting the like of Jerry Kagele, Dorthy Steigler and Clare
Yellin
> > off the board can ABANA have the opportunity to be the kind of
> organization
> > it set out to be.
>
> ......If you have a specific charge, you should make it nice and clear.
>
> > Wouldn't it be nice to have full disclosure of board
> > minutes, no more secret executive committees, a complete and full
> accounting
> > audit (you may be surprised what your membership dues pay for), fair
> > bidding,
>
> ...... All of the board meeting minutes and financial statements are
posted
> here
> http://abana.org/business/index.shtml for anyone to see.
>
>  > a reflection of the diversity of the blacksmith craftsman in the
> > Anvils Ring rather than selective showcasing and favors to friends,
>
> ...... Have you or anyone that you know submitted anything to the Anvil's
> Ring
> that did not get published? If so, what was the reason?
>
> > an
> > opportunity to voice a rebuttal in the newsletters, (Mr. Kagele has
taken
> > great glee with his use of the Ring to promote his personal agenda at
the
> > expense of those who dare stand in his way),
>
> ......Same question, What rebuttal did you submit that did not get
printed?
>
> > a gallery website that invites
> > all art from the membership from the proud first heart-hook on up versus
> the
> > current gallery that has to first pass through the ABANA art police,
>
> ...... Now you really got to me. If you or anyone has a problem with the
> ABANA web site, I am the guy to talk to. There have been NO rejections
> of any art work submitted to the web site gallery.
> http://abana.org/resources/galleries/index.shtml By the way, I didn't see
> any
> "proud first heart hooks" on the Florida web site or in the Florida
> newsletter.
> Who are the "art police" ? If you have something to submit, do it.
> If it doesn't get posted, let me know davemudge at abana.org
>
> > and finally to change the "chapters" back to chapters.  The name change
to
> > "affiliates" was a feeble attempt by the ABANA board to save face after
> two
> > years of the anvil-shoot controversy when they "finally" realized and
> > accepted the fact the Florida chapter made from day one, that ABANA had
no
> > legal connection with, or authoritative control over the chapters.
>
> ...... You will have to talk to the legal department about that one, but I
> think
> you are mistaken about liability.
>
> >  And finally wouldn't it be nice if ABANA and the chapters start to work
> on
> > building a reciprocal relationship.  I was stunned when I sat and
watched
> > ABANA board members Dave Mudge and Dave Koenig sit quiet as mice during
> the
> > meeting at Tannehill AL this fall when the 2005 seven-chapter conference
> at
> > Madison GA was being planned and the duties divided up.  Only after all
> the
> > tasks and duties were assigned did the two ABANA board members stand up,
> > address the group and ask for "our" help with "their" conference in
> > Kentucky.
>
> ......We must have been at different meetings. You are making it seem that
> we avoided
> being assigned any "tasks or duties". Dave & I were invited to attend as
> guests.
> Dave was on the agenda to talk about his plan to help build a "reciprocal
> relationship"
> by offering free attendance to some affiliates in return for volunteer
time
> at the
> demonstrator stations....... and by the way, I did (personally) volunteer
to
>  help with
> the S.E.R.B. web site or any of the web sites of the 7 chapters attending
> that meeting.
> And the only speaking that I did was to address one of the people saying
> that ABANA
> had blocked and censored his affiliate's web site..... turns out that he
had
> provided the
> wrong address. It got straightened out when he got home and sent the
correct
> address.
> By the way, I am still trying to find a S.E.R.B. t-shirt with the anvil
> shoot on it. ( L )
>
> >  A complaint from the chapters I have heard for years has been
> > "what does ABANA do for us".  That demonstration pretty well summed up
the
> > current policy.  Certainly we can do better, and a good start would be
to
> > get Kagele, Steigler and Yellin off the board.  So, if you are a member
of
> > ABANA please exercise your power and vote.    Bill Robertson, President,
> > Florida Artist Blacksmith Association
> >
> ......I to encourage all 5,000 ABANA members to send in their ballots.
> I also encourage people to run for the board. Please. There will be 5
> positions.
>
> Dave Mudge
> Member Services Director
> Affiliate Liaison
> Internet Committee
>
> You can fool some of the people all of the time,
> and all of the people some of the time,
> but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
> Abraham Lincoln
>
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