[TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead

[Woolley]

Sounds like the voice of reason to me. I wouldn't expect less from Tom 
Clark.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Linn" <bamablacksmith at comcast.net>
To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 8:56 AM
Subject: [TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead


>
>>From: Ozark School of Blacksmithing 
>><<mailto:ozarksch at therural.net>ozarksch at therural.net>
>>Date: February 23, 2007 6:30:40 PM EST
>>Subject: 2008 conference
>>
>>Clare,
>>
>>I am sorry to not have addressed this issue earlier but I am just in off
>>of the road and my phone has been ringing off the hook.
>>
>>I was very sorry to read your release about not having a 2008
>>conference.  I will be right up front and say, I can only describe that
>>as a death wish for ABANA.
>>
>>Let me bring you up to date with my situation with regard to keeping
>>track of the problems in confirming a date for the 2008 conference with
>>the New York group.  When I first heard in Seattle that this may not
>>happen, by my nature I put some of my energy into an alternative.  My
>>affiliate, BAM was already considering offering to host the 2010
>>conference and I was pleased with that because we did have a successful
>>conference in 1994 at which time I was president of BAM.  It was both
>>well organized and a financially rewarding conference for ABANA.  I have
>>been personally involved with every conference since except Wisconsin in
>>2000 where I also participated as a demonstrating vendor and making
>>several power hammers available for ABANA's demo sites.
>>
>>When I later heard that there was a second refusal of New York's offer I
>>approached our president, Kirk Sullens to see if we could possibly offer
>>a program if New York was not going to happen.   Kirk called a meeting
>>and even though we realized we would be getting a late start, the group
>>agreed to do it.  I put Kirk in touch with Dorothy and with that back up
>>program available it is inconceivable to me that after you made a final
>>refusal with New York you did not even consider BAM as a back up.
>>
>>As I said earlier my phone has been ringing off the hook and I have had
>>conversations with many people including, Bill Callaway, two time
>>chairman of past ABANA conferences, Michael Bondi, two time chairman,
>>Clay Spencer, past chair of the board's conference committee, Bob
>>Bergman and Toby Hickman, who has had more experience with blacksmithing
>>organizations than the rest of us put together.  We all agree that it
>>could possibly do irreparable damage to ABANA if we skipped a conference.
>>
>>I hold no claim to it but in fact, all of the above mentioned people
>>were active on the ABANA board and conference activities during the
>>largest growth of the ABANA membership.  All participated in financially
>>rewarding conferences and other activities for ABANA and will lend their
>>energies to a 2008 conference.
>>
>>I have again talked to our president Kirk Sullens, and even at this late
>>date Kirk says, BAM will accept the challenge and do a conference in
>>Missouri in 2008.
>>
>>I am leaving Sunday for a quick trip to Turkey and then I will be
>>driving out to Reno for a show.  On that trip I am going to stop at the
>>state fairground where we are planning our future conferences and am
>>going to see what dates would be available in 2008.  That facility
>>offers us unlimited camping at very low rates, unlimited RV hookups, and
>>every type of hotel and motel for lodging.  Everyone can choose their
>>own budget level and type of housing needed for the conference.  The
>>site also offers a wide range of vendors that can more than meet our
>>needs for food.  People can choose what they want to eat and all we will
>>need to do is arrange for one meal at our membership and awards meeting.
>>
>>Further, I have put together a program that will utilize as few as 12-16
>>demonstrators and provide meaningful demonstrations that will all be
>>repeated so that more people can see more of the conference.  We can
>>promote a financially successful conference with little or no financial
>>risk for ABANA.  We need to call on our friends and get ABANA back on 
>>track.
>>
>>Time is short so I must speak frankly, which is my nature anyway.  If
>>ABANA is not going to host a conference in 2008 I will spend all of my
>>energy supporting an effort to promote an international conference in
>>2008 to keep the momentum alive.
>>
>>Tom Clark
>
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