[TheForge] ABANA Election Results

Wed Oct 6 06:45:32 EDT 2004

        Hi Chuck,  It isn't america's best kept secret, but it is something
that is kept to a minimum.  There are only certain positions on crews that
are comped and they are looking for people with experience in those fields.
The volunteer might be comped but if he's bringing his wife, or family those
are not free tickets.

        It is up to the conference chairman.

        I was approached by Dave Koenig by phone asking if I'd picth in -
mostly because I had helped Bob with the last one - so he was looking for
some continuity in a person who had gone thru the motions previously.  I
didn't jump on the band wagon instantly until I checked with a few of the
guys from Minnesota and Wisconsin that had done it last time. It's nice to
find a group of folks that can work together and definitely have some
welding, rigging, and forklift driving abilities.

        Yes, the site crews had three comped positions per tent/site. You
have to supply tools and equipment for the demonstrator, but your on site
watching over it, and the gas, coal, water, torch fuels, etc for that
demonstrator for the entire conference for that site and demonstrator.

Terry Carson and Jerry Culperson are two of the fellows that mentioned
they'd be doing it next time.......... as they came to work with us to find
out how it went, what is necessary, and get a feel for tools needed,
equipment needed, etc.

It is a large project to set up 20 tents, provide seating, water, 14 power
hammers, all the forges, stacks, anvils, stands, tables, vices..........and
on and on.  Each conference the task gets easier as each chairman tries to
put something positive towards the conference set up in the containers.  In
LaCrosse we made anvil stands that were helpful this round, and this time we
put modular sawhorses, work tables, and sign towers into the containers for
next time.  That's more projects the folks in the Northwest won't have to
build the next time.

Ralph

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Robinson" <robi5515 at bellsouth.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 7:32 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA Election Results

> Hey Ralph,
> I believe the 40 comped positions were a well kept secret, doled out by
the
> ABANA board or possibly by the conference directors.
> How did you hear about it?
>  I'm the GCBA ABANA affiliate liaison and was never notified of their
> existence.
> I only became aware of a perk when I read in the LAMAGRAM that  3 LAMA
> members were receiving free entrance to the Richmond conference in
exchange
> for assisting the demonstrators.
> Chuck
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ralph Sproul" <brhlbsmt at mcttelecom.com>
> To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 5:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA Election Results
>
>
> > Ron,  You say it's to expensive as a volunteer, but were you aware that
> > there are about 40 comped positions for a conference?
> >
> > ABANA needs folks to run the set up crew including a manager, 3 welders,
3
> > riggers, 3 forklift drivers, and then there are the site crews with
> usually
> > three volunteers each to cater the demo sites and demonstrators needs,
and
> > then the gallery crew has comped positions, and some other positions are
> > comped as well.
> >
> > By comped I mean, room, meals, and tuition to the conference.  Many of
the
> > guys I worked with on the crew had signed on in LaCrosse.  They are
> retired
> > and liked the idea of donating their time to the cause........and being
> able
> > to go to the conference by ride sharing.  It was a riot to see the four
> guys
> > from Minnesota show up in Monty Bygd's Suburban .......jump out and
> > go......"we're here - what can we do!"  There meals, rooms and ticket to
> the
> > conference were paid for the week they donated, and they did some
serioius
> > work.........but they also had some serious fun!
> >
> > When you have a talent like welding or rigging of equipment into place,
or
> > the ability to safely operate a forklift -  your skills are needed and
you
> > can go to the conference with some of it paid, in swap for your hard
work.
> > I found it to be very worth the time, but I've done it twice and might
jus
> t
> > come as a spectator next time (where there is such an active crew in the
> > Northwest area).
> >
> > Ralph
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "rw" <rw at itech.net>
> > To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 10:01 AM
> > Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA Election Results
> >
> >
> > > Ralph, I'm inspired by your response.  Your points seem valid to me.
It
> > > also says a lot about the human condition.  Most folks do not know
what
> > they
> > > "really" need.
> > > However, I have attended only one ABANA conference (Alfred, NY in I
> > believe
> > > 1978) as a spectator.  Why?  Too expensive for me.  It would still be
> too
> > > expensive as a volunteer.  I wish it were different.
> > > Ron
> > >
> > >
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