[TheForge] ABANA Dilema

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

I tend to agree with Dan. It appears that the national org has 
become too institutionalized, ossified and burdened with 
strictures to contribute as much value to it's members as strong 
local groups have grown able to offer.
Having also contributed a number of articles i'm not totally 
guilty of idle bitching.
As for the artsy part...i'm for some of it...we are the ARTIST 
Blacksmith Assn after all....pete f

Dan Crowther wrote:
> Personally, I feel ABANA doesn't represent our interests at the 
> individual or club level.
> 
> Local groups are plentiful enough (now) that they do the bulk of the 
> work teaching, recruiting, and disseminating pertinent information.  
> Additionally, other publications are plentiful enough that individuals 
> don't have to rely on ABANA for that either.  A vibrant local group is 
> far more effective at these things than a "National" organization that 
> is effectively too small to cover the entire nation or even help those 
> local groups that need it.
> 
> In fact, the areas where ABANA really wasn't "duplicating services" was 
> their Conferences and (often times) Chapter Insurance.  Both of which 
> are now a thing of the past and are still needed by individuals and clubs.
> 
> If ABANA is truly a "National" organization it should be tackling issues 
> and projects that are too large for individuals or local groups, not 
> duplicating what we at the grass roots level can do without them.
> 
> 
> Dan Crowther
> http://www.oakandacorn.com
> http://www.celticclans.org
> 
> 
>