[TheForge] RE: Olde Pharts - Speaking of age

[John McPherson]

>Remember: Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

Words to live by. Turned 50 last October. Shaved my head when I was 45. It 
was that or look like Larry. Now I look like Curly. With Moe's personality.  
  ;-)
>
>I was wondering (has this come up before?), how many youngin's are on
>theforge?  How's about we define that as anyone under 30?  I ask because
>I feel as if I'm one of the younger people here and that got me to
>wondering about whether there is a new generation to pick up where and
>when we leave off?  I know of only a few young new-ish smiths like Nigel
>Tudor (met him at Touchstone several years ago.  Very talented young
>guy).  Do things look promising for the coming generation or are we
>heading down another dead end, a la 1970?

There are lots of young smiths coming up, but most do not have the time in 
to have name recognition yet. It takes Time/Patience/Money to set up a shop, 
and some of us are still working out of a basement corner with hand tools. 
There is lots of training available now that was not around in the 70's. I 
have taught Metalwork Merit Badge at Boy Scout summer camp, done casting and 
branding for Cubs and Girl Scouts, demo'd at small events, and formed a 
blacksmithing club that meets once a week at the community college where i 
am taking welding. The enthusiasm is there, they just need the outlets that 
we wish we had when we were their age. Ask yourself, what am I doing to 
promote the craft to young people? Liability is high one-on-one, but groups 
have insurance that can cover you as a member.

>Is anyone watching this?  Does ABANA hold this as an issue?  If not, should 
>they?

The ABS has recently kicked off a Youth program for those under 18, maybe 
ABANA can do the same, not just a Student discount.

By the way, who is heading up the Metalwork MB for Jamboree 2010? Accepting 
volunteers yet?

John McPherson
Trollworks Forge

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