[TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...
Woolley
wjec at verizon.net
Tue Feb 27 12:01:01 EST 2007
I have to agree with a lot of this below. I 've never been to an Abana
meet, just too expensive. I like the concept but it obviously isn't working
anymore so why fight it? I dropped my membership which I held for just a
couple years simply to get the magazine. Dues are now $55 so I buy Dixon's
magazine now and let Fabricator go. Something that Dave said about
justifying the cost of the conference by learning something that you can
turn into money for your business just doesn't wash with me. Such ideas
come from many sources. I've been to a few of the Girchner meets and thought
they were great. IMHO expand this model, move it around the continent and
you have your conference. BTW, I fit into the category of small
metalworking business(welding, decorative architectural work, very little
forging or machining). My blacksmithing ability is very limited but I love
all types of forged work, so I'm mainly an enthusiast.
Regards,
Bill Woolley
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 11:23 AM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...
All good points.
I especially agree about clean sheets. I don't even like dorms. But I hate
to blow money on foo-foo motel rooms when I only want a clean bed to sleep
in. I would consider camping, on a cot off the ground, if showers were
available and lines weren't exorbitant, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
The transportation costs are an issue. That is the reason I think a series
of regional conferences would make more sense. Build on what the local
affiliates are already doing. Let a few affiliates coordinate to put on a
bigger show.
But get this out of the hands of exclusive committes, "awarding" the thing
to affiliates as if a gift from god. Grass roots, all the way, with no one
to say nay.
Bruce
NJ
>>> ries at riesniemi.com 2/26/2007 7:30 PM >>>
It seems like everyone thinks the reason there was a problem with the
last ABANA conference was all because it was too pricey- but in
reality, there were several other problems, whole nests of politics,
and a quirky decisions.
If the conference had another hundred attendees, it might have been a
whole different story- and in an organisation with over 4500 members,
if a hundred people have other plans, it can make quite a difference.
I dont think the big problem is just to chop a hundred bucks off the
ticket price.
Especially if it means putting it on in a campground.
Dave says at Richmond, under 25 people out of more than 500 camped-
this leads me to believe that the college dorm model is not so
unpopular. Same with the cafeteria food- most people, at the last 8
or 10 conferences, signed up for the cafeteria food- me, I kinda like
it. I like the Pig-out factor, I like not having to do the dishes (I
do em all here at home, always have) I like not cooking- I do plenty
of that at home too. I like ICE CREAM at every meal!!!
I dont think the solution is cheaper tents, or using porta potties,
or renting shower trucks- really, if sensible decisions were made,
and it was more centrallly located, and 50 grand could be saved, the
conference would be just fine- the problem isnt that it costs 400
grand to put on a conference- the problem is when the 400 grand
conference only makes 350k.
Every suggestion you guys have been making doesnt change the fact
that for every abana conference, I have to fly in, usually rent a
car, stay in the dorms, buy food, and so, on top of a couple three
hundred bucks registration, it STILL will cost me maybe $800 to go to
some fairground in Tulsa- and at that price, I want a bed, and sheets.
I may not be old, but I aint young either, and I think I am pretty
representative of the people I have seen at the last 6 conferences I
have been to.
ries
On Feb 26, 2007, at 4:17 PM, Jeffrey Polaski wrote:
Just to add to this thread,
I just wanted to throw this out as an option... Sometimes you can rent a
whole camp ground. There are SCA events that do this, and their prices
are pretty low, so I'd think it would be doable for a blacksmithing
event. I think it might be hard to find a campground that has the
shelter that a blacksmithing event would require (i.e. non-flammable,
good ventilation, power, etc...). I don't know, but maybe a campground
with an equestrian focus might work.
One other suggestion... You can rent a shower truck. There were few at
an SCA war I went to about a year ago. It had hot water and six stalls,
IIRC. I don't know where it was rented from, but I think I get in touch
with the organizers and find out. I think it was run off a RV hook-up.
Any way, lack of facilities shouldn't automatically rule out a fair/camp
ground.
Honestly, I think a fairground would be best, but not the only option.
The really good thing about a fairground is that, if there is food
there, you don't have to leave the area for the duration of the
conference.
Jeff Polaski
Webmaster
Office of Research
Office of Graduate Studies
University of California, Irvine
http://www.rgs.uci.edu/
949.824.6363
-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jerry Frost
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 11:34 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] ABANA is NOT dead...
This is what got me thinking fair grounds, they'll rent
all or part, have insurance for almost anything shy of
suicidal and many have their own fire marshal so
approvals can be. . . Had. There's already more than
enough electric service for anything a blacksmith's
conference is likely to need. Propane is on site too.
In short, there's all the infrastructure necessary and
people who have experience using it, coping with the
logistics, and1,001 other details involved. All they
need is the specifications.
Accomodations and food are close. There're about 150
rooms within a 10 minute drive, another 250 or so
within a 30 min. drive and 2,500-3,000 more within a
45-60 min. drive. There're two good cafe's a 4 min walk
from the fair grounds main gate, a dozen more within a
10 min. drive, another 30-40 within 30 mins. and
another 150+ within 45-60 mins. You can tent on the
fair grounds if you want, hit a state campground,
Alaskan lodges, bed and breakfasts, or opt for four
star accomodations in Anchorage.
In the case of the Palmer, State Fair grounds, (it's
the size of a small county fair grounds) they'll
entertain almost any proposal, especially if there's
nothing already booked for the date. It's in a
suburbanizing farm community 45 miles north of
Anchorage and about 25 miles east of me.
Ours is a small operation and they host all kinds and
sizes of events from Girl Scout campouts, Boy Scout
Jamborees, dog shows, RV sales EVENTS, swap meets,
single family reunions to grid locking state fair
action. They'll rent you a picnic table and BBQ for a
couple bucks. Pizza Hut opens it's doors if they think
100 people will show up.
The convention center or sports arena in Anchorage are
for hire as well though not as well suited to a
blacksmith's conference.
I'm not proposing Alaska for an ABANA conference. Any
time soon anyway. <grin> I'm using our fair grounds as
an example is all. I've always been impressed with the
wide range of activities fair grounds handle.
Frosty
-------------------------------
If it ain't forged
it ain't real.
Wrought iron is.
The FrostWorks
Meadow Lakes, AK.
http://www.artmetalradio.com/
From: "Dave Mudge" <dave at magichammer.net>
> Bob, we need a facility for 1,000 if were lucky. We
> can not afford a
> 60,000 people facility.
> Bruce, you hit the nail on the head. 99 percent of
> the attendees want
> a motel or dorm room and easy food. I could see the
> "right" fairground
> if local zoning lets us do our fire thing and if eats
> and sheets are
> near-by.
> dave m
>
> On 2/23/07, Bob Willman <blcksmth at wcnet.org> wrote:
>> The Wood County fairgrounds in Bowling
>> Green, Ohio host the National
>> Tractor Pull each year with over 60,000 folks
>> attending. Camping on the
>> grounds measured in acres. Plenty of open buildings
>> for demonstrators. Food
>> vendors move in for the weekend with a variety of
>> fares available.
>>
>>
>> Bob Willman
>> Bowling Green, Ohio
>> The Eagle's Anvil
>> WB8NQW
>>
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Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist
http://www.riesniemi.com/
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