[TheForge] ABANA Election Results

Wed Oct 6 14:37:22 EDT 2004

Hey Ralph,
Knowing you, I'm sure you gave at least 110 % to the conference setup.
Sounds like both you and the conference folks benefited from the match up.
Wish I could have made the conference, but unfortunately, I spend most of my
discretionary income supporting the local medical community down here.
Chuck
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph Sproul" <brhlbsmt at mcttelecom.com>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 5:45 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA Election Results


>         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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