[TheForge] Questions regarding group leadership
David Childress
trollkeep at gmail.com
Sun Dec 31 21:31:13 EST 2006
I realize that I am a little slow on this Thread, but I am also
running for the Board of our Statewide Association.(Indiana) I know
what the Members that I regualerly see would like to see change and I
have a vision of a goal, that everyone at least will someday know
someone who practices our craft. This will require many new
blacksmiths and many more visiable blacksmiths. I would like to be
able to go to Menards and buy a pair of tongs because there is enough
demand to make it worth their while to carry tongs. How to do this I
only begin to know but I am willing to try. Any suggestion How?
On 12/22/06, Jeffrey Polaski <jeff.polaski at rgs.uci.edu> wrote:
> >In fact, CBA is becoming such a high class group, that they
> >aren't apt to put up with the likes of me much longer...pf
> Same here -- I figure I should get more involved while I still can!
>
>
> Jeff Polaski
> -----Original Message-----
> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Fels And
> Phoebe Palmer
> Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 11:24 PM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Questions regarding group leadership
>
> We've been fortunate at the CBA to have and to have had a couple
> of excellent finance officers of late.
> Lowell is doing it now and so far as i can see ,he does
> everything well. An admirable smith to say the least.
> But it was Jim Joyce who took our somewhat-neglected-but-honest
> finances (that were geared to a small, informal bunch of perhaps,
> overly colorful,individuals_)... and rebuilt it ,quite
> professionally, with necessary modern concerns accounted for and
> clear, efficient methodologies established. We owe him a lot..too.
> In fact, CBA is becoming such a high class group, that they
> aren't apt to put up with the likes of me much longer...pf
>
> Lynne Mork wrote:
> >
> > Jeff; 12-21-06
> >
> > I have been a member of two different blacksmithing groups, but
> not
> > the CBA. One group (A) was run in a very efficient, timely
> and
> > informative way. The other group (B) was run in an
> extremely
> > disorganized manner.
> >
> > I believe it makes a big difference to the membership if
> the
> > organization is disorganized even if it is a non-profit
> (hobby)
> > group. If a person is not qualified, or willing to fill the
> position
> > with integrity, they should not accept it. It affects peoples
> lives.
> >
> > I believe a mans word should mean something.
> >
> >
> > At times, different officers of the (B) board of would
> conduct
> > meetings, take membership dues, address changes, and other things
> that
> > would affect an individual member when the treasurer or secretary
> was
> > not present.
> >
> > When I retired and moved, I gave the officiating officer my
> new
> > address. But each time I received the news letter
> containing
> > information about when and where the next meeting was, the
> meeting
> > date had already passed. The mail would go to the old address,
> back
> > to the post office, and then finally to me, to-late. I have to
> travel
> > at least 130 to 180 miles one-way to attend meetings. The
> meetings
> > were held every 2 months. I lived alone looked forward
> with
> > anticipation to go to the meetings and interfacing with some of my
> old
> > friends.
> >
> > I made calls to several different officers on the board and
> was
> > assured by each one of them that my address change would be
> corrected.
> > This went on for over two years, really!
> >
> > Even when I paid my annual dues, I would enquire to see if they
> had
> > corrected my address. But guess what? Finely a friend of mine
> became
> > an officer in the disorganization. He found out that every member
> of
> > the board had their own membership list, that they never took the
> time
> > to cross check or updated their membership lists.
> >
> > Also, they could not satisfactorily account for the finances of
> the
> > organization. They would not account for other questionable
> practices
> > that a few of the officers was involved in when guest
> demonstrators
> > came to town. Through evasion and intimidation it was swept under
> the
> > rug.
> >
> > The same group (B) also did not uniformly enforce safety
> practices.
> > The same people micro-manage the organization to this very day.
> Sad,
> > sad, sad. It makes you wonder how they are able to keep their
> own
> > business running.
> >
> >
> > Organization (A) is run just the opposite, and is a pleasure to be
> a
> > part of.
> >
> > Bottom line, I dont want anything to do with the former officers,
> nor
> > could I ever trust them as individuals. To take two years to get
> my
> > address correct so I could get the flyer in time to attend a
> meeting
> > was disgusting.
> >
> > Lesson: Use just one updated master membership list for
> current
> > information!
> >
> >
> > I know am ragging on this, but it really ^%#$*@ me off. Something
> that
> > should be fun was not. Only due to having a few friends in
> the
> > organization, I have remaine.
> >
> > Good Luck!
> > ______________________________________________________________
> >
> > From: "Jeffrey Polaski" <jeff.polaski at rgs.uci.edu>
> > Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > Subject: [TheForge] Questions regarding group leadership
> > Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:20:13 -0800
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> > Received: from mailman.qth.net ([63.238.179.60])
> by
> > bay0-mc6-f6.bay0.hotmail.com with Microsoft
> SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.2444);
> > Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:20:23 -0800
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> Dec
> > 2006 17:24:25 -0500 (EST)
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> id
> > 53829859C6Cfor <theforge at mailman.qth.net>; Thu, 21 Dec
> 2006
> > 17:24:19 -0500 (EST)
> > >I've decided that I'll be running to be a board member in
> our
> > states
> > >local blacksmithing organization, the California
> Blacksmiths
> > Association
> > >(CBA). It's a good group of people, and I think I have some
> skills
> > that
> > >can really help out.
> > >
> > >I'm curious, though, about what sort of things people expect
> and
> > need
> > >from their local blacksmithing organizations. I think
> following
> > the
> > >purpose statement* from the charter is the most important
> thing.
> > After
> > >all, that's why the group was founded. Personally, I think the
> CBA
> > has
> > >been run very well. Sometimes they may be a bit disorganized but
> I
> > think
> > >that would be true of any non-profit "hobby" group. (The web
> site
> > needs
> > >work -- but that is in the process of getting fixed).
> > >
> > >The main thing for me is I've only had experience with the CBA,
> so
> > I
> > >could easily be missing a lot. That's why I wanted to
> ask
> > others: what
> > >do you expect from your groups leadership? Do you want them
> to
> > just put
> > >on a few meet-ups every year, publish a newsletter, and
> otherwise
> > stay
> > >out of the way? Or do people want more public outreach, or
> more
> > support
> > >for people who are doing blacksmithing as a business, or
> people
> > trying
> > >to get a job at a shop?
> > >
> > >I'm not talking specifically about the CBA, but does anyone
> have
> > any
> > >suggestions? What do they expect from their board members?
> Has
> > anyone
> > >done something that is especially worthwhile, but that might
> not
> > be
> > >obvious? Any tips for stuff to be avoided?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >*CBA purpose statement: "The Association is organized solely for
> > >educational purposes, accomplish by the encouragement of training
> > >programs and conferences for higher standards of craftsmanship;
> > >disseminating information on sources of equipment, literature and
> > >material; and bringing the art of the smith to the public
> through
> > craft
> > >fairs and publications."
> > >
> > >
> > >Jeff Polaski
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
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> > >___________
> > >
> > >
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> >
> >
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>
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