[TheForge] copied from forgemagic.com

[schade at acegroup.cc]

Letter Posting - Sat 24 Mar 2007 18:57:36 #0
BAM, ABANA & 2008

 > What I don't see why BAM will go to all the work of a large 
conference but
 > not an ABANA conference. With an ABANA conference they could draw 
from a
 > larger pool of people, etc.

BAM is looking at going to all the work of an international conference,
but not an ABANA conference, because we were told categorically that we
would not be given an ABANA conference in 2008, that there would be NO
ABANA conference in 2008, and that was that. I'll be drawing from the 
same
pool of helpers, regardless. Wanna help?

 > The reason given for not having an ABANA conference, offending the
 > Northeast group, is lame.

I think the reason given of not wanting to offend the Northeast group is
KIND OF lame, but I still understand why that reason was given, and we
DON'T want to step on the Northeast groups toes. Once the conference was
cancelled, this point became moot, as did hosting an ABANA conference.

 > I think that finances are the main reason BAM wants a international
 > conference and not an ABANA conference. If anyone is interested, I'll 
go
 > into details.

Nobody asked ME why I want BAM to host an international conference. Even
though Tom Clark is who you've had the most contact with, because he's a
"go-getter", this idea is my baby and not his.
 >
 > Chris Winterstein

Kirk (and Raoul, a name I was dubbed with by Doug Hendrickson at my 
first
ABANA conference in 1994. Many people know me by that name).

 > If blacksmithing is being promoted (which I agree it is) then what 
mission
 > does ABANA have left to do?

If it's up to the local groups to decide the future of blacksmithing, 
why
do we need ABANA at all. Most of the chapters are strong enough now to
support themselves. If ABANA wants to continue in a leadership role, 
then
it's up to the board to find out what the chapters want.

 > How do we support the international conference? Support many times 
means
 > money, how does ABANA do this with a debt load and declining 
membership
 > (less money)? If you mean by verble and volunteer support, ABANA is 
not
 > needed for that.

How can you support a non-ABANA international conference? Sometimes it 
is
with money, and we would welcome ABANA sponsorship of an international
demonstrator as was suggested by Clare and by Eric Ryser. We might 
welcome
support in the form of seed money, as was suggested by Clare, but I hope
BAM won't need support in that form to put this conference on.

How else could ABANA help? How would you support a BABA conference, or 
the
World Congress of Smiths? By attending! By not talking us down at every
turn. Look what happened in Seattle when a group decided to vocally
detract from a conference.

 > You are politicizing.

I suppose I am. If that's the case, what form of exchange of opposing
ideas is NOT politicizing? I'm trying to make a positive experience for
ABANA, for BAM, and for American blacksmithing in general by promoting
this. I'd like your help. Not just the membership's help. Not just the
help of people on this email list. Your help, Will. Your help
specifically. And I'll thank you if you give it.

Kirk Sullens
aka El Presidente Raoul
president of BAM