[TheForge] (no subject)

[ries]

  I
On Mar 1, 2007, at 11:03 AM, tristerk at aol.com wrote:

>> Thanks for your input.
 >>dave m
 >>

  Which means, of course "Get lost" pretty typical ABANA board  
response and perhaps we need look no further for the reason behind  
the failure of the board to put together a 2008 conference.


I am not sure who YOU are- I dont recall meeting anyone named  
"tristerk" ever- but I do know I have met, and talked to, most of the  
current, and many of the past board members.
One of the reasons I go to abana conferences is to actually meet people.
And there is no blank faced "typical board member"- these are actual  
blacksmiths, ordinary people, who are just exactly like you or me,  
except they risked public embarassment by running for the board, and  
then they donate time and money to participate. It costs a board  
member money, and lost work, which means more money, to be a board  
member.
This is totally a volunteer operation, except for the "leigh ann"  
position.

"Failure of the board" indicates to me that you dont know much about  
what has been going on lately.
Now I dont want to get into a whole pissing match about the Seattle  
conference- suffice it to say that a series of decisions was made,  
for various reasons, that many people did not agree with at the time,  
but could not affect. The board did the best they could with a  
complicated situation. If you had been on the board, I doubt you, or  
me, or anyone could have done better.
There was a lot of discussion about this as it was happening, and a  
lot of disagreement. It was messy, just like real life.

But its done- it happened, and now we have to move on.

Overall, the current  abana conference model has been a success- but  
the last one lost money, and the whole organisation is too  
precariously balanced to not have to react to a loss, and thats what  
they are doing, by cancelling New Paltz.

There is no big money at abana to be wasted- its run very lean and  
mean, and if you dont think so, well, you havent been volunteering  
enough. Most board members pay for most of their own expenses- it  
varies, of course, but they pay for food and lodging at conferences,  
and put in a ton of work. And many other people volunteer to set up,  
break down, exhibit, demo, and so on, for little or no renumeration.  
I got comped a registration fee once, but the other 5 conferences I  
have attended, I paid full ride, even if I presented. This is  
typical- people paying to work at a conference. Not getting paid.

I have sat down next to board members at meals numerous times,  
introduced myself, and started a conversation. And you could too. Or  
you could write or email any of em. They are jest plain folks.

I gotta admit, I get tired of this conspiracy theory thinking. None  
of them are millionaires. Nobody has evil intentions to take over the  
world. None of em are snooty college professors who sneer at guys in  
overalls. Every one of em gets their hands dirty.

Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist
http://www.riesniemi.com/