[TheForge] from abana.org

Fri Feb 16 11:47:06 EST 2007

I went to the ABANA Conference in Seattle this year. It was VERY,  
VERY expensive to attend. I flew in from Ontario, Canada. I agree  
that there were way too many wonderful demonstrators to be able to  
see, even given the 3 days. In my opinion, there should have been  
fewer demonstrators on revolving times so that attendees could  
actually see all of them. I had to carefully study the program and  
pick and choose who I most wanted to see, and felt really ripped off  
that I wasn't able to see them all, after dropping that kind of cash  
for the event. In addition, because of the new mandatory Passport  
rules, anyone flying into the U.S. now need an expensive passport.

The biggest waste of money was the food bill. I was under the  
impression that there was absolutely no chance of buying food, so I  
felt "trapped" into having to buy the food package. I don't need  
anything even remotely that fancy, plus, I got some food poisoning  
out of the deal to boot, so I ended up having to leave early from the  
venue and missed some demonstrators. One other attendee from our  
Chapter who was in line right after me was sick also.

I really enjoyed being around and meeting blacksmiths from all over  
the country and around the world, but please scale back on the cost,  
fewer demonstrators, revolving times so we can see them all, and no  
fancy meals. Chili and buns, simple sandwiches and soups, stews and  
hotdogs and hamburgers will do fine for me.
---
On Feb 16, 2007, at 11:16 AM, Jerry Smith wrote:

> 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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