[TheForge] from abana.org

[Jerry Smith]

I for two, can't affords the cost,  traveling the
distance and way too much going on. The cost of being
an active ABANA member is on the high side. 

I went to Can Iron IV and had a great time learned a
lot, missed out on getting a leg vise for $50Canadian.

At CanIron I stayed with friends, we car pooled to the
university where it was at, and were dropped off, so
there was no parking expense.

If there was an event near Wheeling, I have an extra
room that I could put one or two people up at no
charge.

I think a realistic revamping of the events should be
looked at. It is easier to move the instructors and
have borrowed equipment on hand than it is for 500
people to fly to a place and find hotel space.

Plus why not produce an instructional DVD of what was
taught there or several based upon the type of work
and then maybe a touristy type of DVD of what was
going on.

If my locksmith instructor can self produce a DVD,
make copies and sell them from $10 to $20USD and make
money, ABANA could do the same.

Jerry, here in the cold part of the hills in Ohio.
It's time to light the forge and maybe share the fire.


--- Bruce Freeman <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com> wrote:

> I, for one, went to one ABANA conference (1998) and
> never to another. 
> My reasons were (1) cost, (2) distance, and (3) too
> much going on all at
> once.  I find that I get more for my money at local
> events.  NJBA puts
> on great quasi-monthly meetings, including demos
> (with one coming up on
> Saturday in Easton, PA), workshops, and public
> demos.  MASA puts on two
> or three events each year that are worth attending
> (including Gichner's
> hammer-in).  Furnace Town's Joint Meeting is usually
> quite good, and is
> followed on the Sunday by a hand-on workshop.  Even
> North East
> Blacksmiths put on a good weekend, twice a year - -
> if only they'd learn
> how to properly run an IITH!  With all this going
> on, I haven't felt
> much need for ABANA conferences.  In fact, I can't
> get to all the stuff
> I listed above.  Maybe I need to clone myself.
> At most of these events, the cost is minimal, the
> distance is a few
> hours' drive at most, and there's seldom more than
> two things going on
> at once - an easy choice.  How can ABANA  hope to
> compete against that? 
> 
> I suggest ABANA rethink its role.  Maybe it should
> simply sponsor
> demonstrators at local events, and perhaps encourage
> greater attendance
> thereby.  I'm sure others will have other ideas.
> Bruce
> NJ
> 
> >>> schade at acegroup.cc 2/15/2007 11:01 PM >>>
> President's Message
> February, 2007
> 
> ABANA NEEDS YOU
> 
> Well it*s happened * the kids (ABANA Affiliates) are
> showing the old
> 
> folks (ABANA) how it should be done. Yes, I am
> admitting that you put 
> on more efficient conferences than we do.
> 
> Some of you have already known this and are probably
> saying right now,
> 
> *Hey, we*ve been trying to tell you this for years.*
> And again
> you*d be 
> right. All I can say at this point is this - the
> straw hit the
> camel*s 
> back * and it broke.
> 
> No longer can ABANA sponsor conferences as before.
> They have become too
> 
> cost prohibitive to produce and attend. Now is the
> time for us to learn
> 
> from you. Here are just a few fine examples *
> 
> Quadstate RoundUp in Troy, Ohio
> 
> Southern Blacksmith Association Conference in
> Madison, Georgia
> 
> IronFest in Grapevine, Texas
> 
> CanIron in a different Canadian Province every two
> years
> 
> California Blacksmith Association Conferences in
> California
> 
> 
> So where do we go from here? What I would like to
> start is a dialog 
> with you. I will be getting in touch over the next
> several months with
> 
> many of you to discuss conferences and ABANA. In the
> meantime you can 
> get in touch with me, clyellin at mac.com 
> 
> Our ears are open and with your help and guidance
> the parent can learn
> 
> a thing or two from the kids.
> 
> Clare Yellin President
> 721 Moore Avenue
> Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
> 610-527-2334
> clyellin at mac.com 
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