[TheForge] from abana.org

[April & Bill Clemens]

Email to ABANA Board

Well, I finally sent my  email to the ABANA Board. I wrote and deleted much
before settling on this. I'll share the reply with you. Here's what I said:

Before I and others can help you determine “where do we go from here” you
need to help us understand where we are now.

I attended the ABANA 2006 Conference and enjoyed myself as did by 5 ½ year
old Grandson:

(Picture included is posted)

I promised and was planning to take his 3 /12 year old brother to the 2008
conference (he’ll be 5 1/2 then himself) but seems that might not happen ,
but I’m hoping the rumors I’m hearing and the announcement by the Northeast
Blacksmiths Association on their website that the 2008 Conference has been
cancelled aren’t true. Are they?

I think that I and lots of other ABANA members are ready willing and able to
make sure that ABANA continues to put on world class conferences of
international importance to smiths and patrons of artistic metal


We can’t help if the board isn’t open and honest in sharing the problems
that seem to lurking out there

So what are the issues and problems that need to be solved to make sure that
this happens?

What are the straws on the camels back, not just the last one that broke it
but all of them?

What will it take to have an ABANA Conference in 2008?

Bill Clemens

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of schade at acegroup.cc
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 11:01 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: [TheForge] from abana.org

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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