[TheForge] "Official" News from ABANA

[Riverbend Blacksmiths]

I second, and agree wholeheartedly with what has been said here and  
by Kirsten.

Marsha.
---
On Feb 21, 2007, at 9:20 AM, plumdon at aol.com wrote:

> I think Kirsten's suggestions below are excellent and I would be  
> vry supportive of that approach. And yes, Kirsten I took note of  
> your message as soon as I received it. Much of the conversation  
> however, has been geared toward how ABANA might put on a less  
> expensive conference.
>
> I may be overly optomistic but I like to thin that Clare's note on  
> the ABANA website was a sincered call for suggestions. I also feel  
> quite certain that our conversations here are being viewed by  
> several ABANA directors. One hopes, therefore, that over the next  
> weeks or months they will consider all options and alternatives.  
> Including the many that have been so far presented here. I suspect  
> there will be much debate, controversy, haranguing and acrimony at  
> the board. Our site actually affords a very effective medium to  
> express our opinions. More so than any other ABANA related site  
> that I know of. I think we should continue to present our  
> suggestions as they occur to us.
>
> I doubt any sudden, startling changes will occur. But hopefully,  
> change WILL occure that will benefit the larger majority of our  
> interests. It would appear change will HAVE to occur. We need to  
> help make sure it is the RIGHT changes.
>
> It would be great to see ABANA supporth those regional conferences  
> with coverage, as Kirsten mentions. Particularly two or three that  
> would provide geographic proximity to the largest concentrations of  
> members or blacksmiths. Also followup pics and text in the AR.  
> Perhaps they might even provide a demonstrator or two if requested.
>
> I hope it might also be considered that if ABANA no longer provides  
> the conferences (which is a huge effort) that there would be a  
> significant decrease in their responsibilities. Enough so that they  
> could reduce the size of the board and perhaps streamline their  
> operations.
>
> I would aslo like to echo thanks to Dave Mudge for providing  
> responses that help us better understand the complexities and  
> difficulties of conference presentation and the intricacies of ABANA.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bkmetal at mwt.net
> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 7:14 AM
> Subject: [TheForge] "Official" News from ABANA
>
> I already posted this suggestion for 2008 conference alternatives  
> once, but nobody noticed. So I'm trying again.
>
> I suggested that for 2008, the board recognize 3 or so outstanding  
> regional conferences (at least one in Canada) and give them  
> substantial coverage and free advertising in the magazines. I would  
> also suggest, for those recognized conferences, extra funding for  
> teaching stations or for some type of education program that  
> reaches out to high school kids and tech schools.
>
> This would be in place of a major North American conference. That  
> would give ABANA time to decide if National conferences are still  
> relevant or if it makes more sense to give extra support to the  
> regional ones.
>
> It will also give ABANA time to develop a plan for letting  
> affiliates take over the national conference, if ABANA decides to  
> keep one. The plan would obviously include detailed budgets and  
> financial reporting guidelines.
> -Kirsten
> www.kirstenskiles.com
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