[TheForge] ABANA Election Results

[Dave Mudge]

Thanks for your support Ries. You should run for the board. 

And Ralph, I don't recall getting any correspondence from you
discussing your problem. Please tell me now what are your needs 
& wants that are not being addressed by the two magazines?  
"Maybe" we can do something about it. I am sure that others
share the same issues that guided your decision.As Member 
Services Director, I am probably the guy to talk to about it. 

As far as being able to afford to be a board member, 
it cost me a lot more time than money and I haven't much of either. 
Serving on the board is one of those things that is a 'labor of love'.
For me, the rewards are long hours of hard work and catching a
 lot of grief from some people. There is "0" financial gain involved.
I get a free trip to the board meeting once every other year, a free
room to share with another board member and one meal. That 
is 'one' meal (period) not one per day. 3 days of work, not sight 
seeing. I get free admission to the conference every other year, 
which is more work than you can imagine. I do enjoy being in a
place where I might be able to help other blacksmiths by 
disseminating information. Web Sites, magazines, e-mail lists.
I am happy to be able to do some part in making ABANA run 
a litttle smoother and serve even more people. I pay $45 a year
to be able to do this.
dave mudge


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ries Niemi" <rniemi at fidalgo.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA Election Results


> >
> > Well I am an ex-member so this may not count. But perhaps folks do not 
> > vote
> > as they do not see any value added? Perhaps they do not run as they 
> > can not
> > financially afford to be a board member.
> > I personally let my membership lapse as I no longer felt that either
> > publication addressed any of my needs or wants. And yes I did contact 
> > the
> > editor and the board about this. But never even recieved a reply.
> >
> > But that is just my 2 cents worth
> >
> > Ralph
> >
> >
> 
> Ralph- I am not jumping on you- I have read enough of your posts to 
> respect your abilities and opinions.
> But I gotta respond-
> "value added"?
> 
> There are lots of things in my life I do because of money.
> But not everything. My feeling about Abana, and other similar 
> organisations that I belong to, is that it is not about money, or value 
> to me. It is about community, about learning, about keeping skills 
> alive, and helping others come aboard.
> When I go to a NWBA meeting, or an ABANA conference, I dont agree with 
> everybody- in my case, I am more interested in big iron, ornamental, 
> sculpture and art- so I seldom watch the demos on knifemaking, or heat 
> treating tools.
> But I dont begrudge in the slightest the time and money spent on those 
> subjects that I am not paying attention to.
> It all adds to the knowledge base, it all helps me in a hundred 
> intangible ways.
> The fact that we live in a time when so many talented people have the 
> luxury to pursue their individual madnesses is something I love.
> The technical advancements we have seen in blacksmithing in the last 25 
> years are incredible. There are people working today who know more than 
> any blacksmith ever before. And the single thing we lack- which is the 
> hand control you derive from a lifetime of repetitive work- well, there 
> are a few guys around who have that as well.
> Abana helps me, and you, in ways you dont even see.
> Sure, there are politics, and decisions are made you dont agree with. 
> But that happens any time two people get together, much less 5000.
> 
> Nobody says you have to join, or pay for it.
> 
> But for me, anyway, the magazine is worth the admission price, and 
> anything else I get is gravy. And even if I dont get anything, SOMEBODY 
> is benefitting from it. So I gladly belong to this, and other groups, 
> that encourage metalworking.
> 
> ries
> 
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