[TheForge] ABANA conference program problems

Fri Jul 14 22:26:55 EDT 2006

Good man Ralph!
Perhaps preparation needs to be in proportion to the size and 
complexity of the event?....P

Ralph Sproul wrote:
> Pete, if it's anything like our meets and conferences - the demonstrator is
> usually putting stuff into his truck the morning of the demo and trying to
> figure out what he's doing for a demo on the way to the demo......  :-)  
> 
> Having volunteer to do it twice and in putting over 600 hours into the
> planning of the Kentucky conference with Dave Koenig I can say two things
> that should be mandatory to improve the current hap hazard method of
> scheduling equipment, tools, gear, demos, promotion, and signage at a
> conference (which appears to be everyone's view of what could be improved
> mostly)
> .  
> 1) A conference should never be put on without the support of good local
> help/chapters/affiliates.
> 
> 2) Getting a list of tools, materials, and what a demonstrator plans to
> demonstrate should accompany the signed contract for the demonstrator when
> he is signed on for a demo. (this is common sense but seems to get ignored)
> 
> You don't need a book, nor an operations and procedures manual - just add
> those two items in your mandatory planning criteria and you'll take half the
> work out of the task at hand.
> 
> I was receiving requests for tools and materials (from demonstrators) the
> day before demos in Kentucky (and being the 4th of July weekend - let's just
> say one must improvise...:-)     .............and politely tell them they
> are dreaming in Technicolor.  We had wisely ordered large round stocks and
> wide flats ....just so we could torch or forge things to size to meet those
> late requests, but we had seen it coming due to the amount of planning we
> tried to do - but some things just don't go as smoothly as you'd hope with a
> slew of volunteers and a list of demonstrators who really don't know what
> they're doing until the last minute (from what I've experienced).  2/3 of
> the demonstrators had turned in tool request and stock needed three months
> ahead of the conference...........those folks were a pleasure to deal with
> and had no complaints in the tools provided and stock they had to use.
> Those who refused to answer e-mails, didn't know what they were doing,
> didn't have a plan, and left things to the last minute seemed to be the most
> scattered and complain the most............. (big surprise ehh).  
> 
> This just follows the golden rule:  "Improper Prior Maintenance, Leeds to
> Piss Poor Performance" 
> 
> Oh, and I have already signed on to help do the set up and take down in NY.
> 
>  Ralph
> 
> -----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: Friday, July 14, 2006 4:10 AM
> To: Sponsored by ABANA
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA conference program problems
> 
> Judging from our CBA conferences, the demonstrators and available 
>   facilities keep changing till the last second..the presentation 
> is a juggling act.
> All the players are either volunteers or minimally compensated.
> Printing accurate schedules is difficult..but posting the info in 
> conspicuous locations would help.
> No, I don't volunteer to do it next time....PF
> 
> Bruce Freeman wrote:
> 
>>I realize these conferences are organized largely by the local section,
>>but REALLY it's about time these organizational problems were fixed.  It
>>really should be up to ABANA to evaluate and log these problems, and to
>>come up with better ways of doing things.
>>
>> I attended the 1998 conference, and missed SO MUCH because the
>>available information was so poorly presented that I found it difficult
>>to get to the demos most interesting to me.  
>>
>>Since then I've attended as many of the local conferences and demos as
>>I've been able to, and find they provide much more bang for the buck
>>(counting ALL the bucks - travel, lodging, conference fees, food).
>>
>> I have not been tempted to go to another ABANA conference.  I'll go to
>>the New Paltz one (2008?) because it's so close by, but maybe my
>>contribution (time permitting) will be to present the program in a
>>manner to allow people to actually attend the demos they most want to
>>see, instead of spending megahours figuring out what will be where, then
>>finding the schedule was changed anyway.
>>
>>Bruce
>>NJ
>>
>>
>>
>>>>>mpaietta at iglide.net 7/13/2006 1:20:31 AM >>>
>>
>><snip>
>>I really enjoyed the classes, but it was not organized well. They had
>>four different lists that seamed hidden on the website. The demo list
>>with
>>times, locations, and demonstrator did not say what they were
>>demonstrating,
>>that was on another list. The list changed and was not updated very
>>well. My
>>friend wanted to go on the UW metal lab tour the people who were
>>volunteering their time were not informed of the different tours. There
>>had
>>been an issue long before with the local chapter and the person in
>>charge of
>>the conference.  <snip>
>>
>>Regards
>>Martin
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>theforge mail list group photo site is
>>http://www.photoaccess.com
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>password:  anvil
>>___________
>>
>>
>>
>>
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> password:  anvil
> ___________
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> theforge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> password:  anvil
> ___________
> 
> 
> 
> 