[TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...

[dann at wctatel.net]

Phlip,

I think Dave Mudge is a stand up guy for being willing to take on the
sometimes caustic banter from this list.

That said, this thread with the all or nothing costly vision of "World
Class" ABANA Conference, pretty much fried me.  The recent ABANA
Conferences ahve scaled up to become  budget busting for both ABANA and
the bulk of the membership.

I know that I am not "world class blacksmith".  I joined to learn, and
maybe to share a bit of what I have learned with newer "wannabe smiths".

I don't expect to drive a new BMW. I drive a 10 yearold toyota, because it
runs good and I can afford it.   My blacksmithing tools are similary aged.
I got to thinking that maybe the ABANA board by pricing me out of the
conventions  has set its sights on "World Class" membership.

Emotions run high, and mine did too.  I pretty much decided to drop my
ABANA membership when the "WORLD CLASS" $600 New York convention got
revealed.


Dann


> OK, guys, we need to do some re-thinking.
>
> In my opinion, ABANA is NOT dead, merely very ill. Just like a
> diabetic, ABANA needs to make some lifestyle changes, but again, just
> like a diabetic patient, it may take a while to sink in how extensive
> those changes might be, and for them to take effect.
>
> I just heard from Clare last night, and I've directed her to one of
> our top people in SCA, to give her a chance to look at how we do
> things.
>
> What some of you who are strongly pro your local groups don't realize,
> is that there are definite advantages to having a national group to
> belong to, IF that national group understands and performs their role
> properly, and that's what we're working out.
>
> There is nothing at all wrong with supporting and believing in your
> local groups. Hell, our local groups go into the middle of hayfields
> and hit each other with sticks, in support of their Kingdom or
> Baronial loyalties ;-) In fact, we form the largest non governmental
> standing army in the US- and being a member doesn't affect anybody's
> security clearances ;-)
>
> This should not be a conflict between National or Local groups, but
> rather a negotiation, where both can discover how best to work
> together- and THAT, at least, is what I'm working on.
>
> Although I'd much rather be thumping on steel....
>
> --
> Saint Phlip
>
> Heat it up
> Hit it hard
> Repent as necessary.
>
> Priorities:
>
> It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.
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