[TheForge] Fw: Top Smiths Must Lead

[Mark and Sylvia Mondloch]

Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 10:24 AM
Subject: Top Smiths Must Lead


> Greetings fellow smiths,
>
> Please allow me to convey to you an important lesson I learned while still 
> in high school:
>
> Believe it or not, our high school had two regulation sized pool tables in 
> the rec hall. I spent an average of two hours a day playing on those 
> tables. I got real good, and learned the fine points of pool from a fellow 
> on the "six year plan." (He missed too many classes as he played pool at 
> the pool ha;lls as well.)
>
> I was a senior, and one day an under-classman challenged me to a game of 
> pool. "What!?......YOU want to play ME in a game of POOL?!!....Ha! You 
> gotta be kidden' me!!! The dejected junior walked away staring at the 
> floor.
>
> Then I heard, "Hey Nauman! C'mere a second, I wanna talk to you!" It was 
> Rick, the pool shark I had been learning from. He took me into a quiet 
> corner, and then said, "Who the @#$%&*?!! do you think you are? That guy 
> asked you real nice to play a game of pool and you all but told him he 
> wasn't worthy of your presence! You weren't always as good as you are now, 
> and in fact, you are not as good as you think you are! Now, either 
> apologize to him, or forget playing with me ever again!"..........Whew! 
> was I ever humbled. I did go back and apologize, and I never forgot that 
> incident. I was truly ashamed of myself.
>
> For those of you who have fallen away from ABANA and shy away from the 
> Anvil's Ring or Hammer's Blow because you feel that "ABANA is for 
> beginners" or that the "Ring and the Blow are beneath me"..........who the 
> @#$%*&?!! do you think you are?
>
> Thank the good Lord that Francis Whitaker, Carl Jennings, Albert Paley, 
> and many more continue(d) through their own progression to provide us with 
> images of their work, suggestions, and insights......and did not get so 
> haughty and puffed up that they thought YOU (yes you!) were beneath them, 
> or thought asscociating with you was too embarrassing.
>
> Yes, ABANA is made up of primarily amateurs, hobbiests, part timers, and 
> beginners. By the way, look up the word "amateur" in the dictionary, and 
> it will say "A person that does something as a pastime rather than a 
> profession." It does not say "Someone who does poor work." In fact, I see 
> some amateur's work in higher regard than many professionals. Just because 
> one is a pro doesn't make their work better than a non-pro.
>
> The learned smiths need to lead ABANA. The high visability smiths, the 
> individuals whose works are highly regarded, need to step forward to 
> increase the quality, set the bar, re-set the bar, and to generate 
> enthusiasm within the ranks. We must nurture those coming behind us; not 
> reject them or belittle them......and you are quietly belittling by not 
> participating.
>
> Please forward this to as many other smiths as you can. Let us unite to 
> not only make ABANA strong, but to increase the awareness of the trade; to 
> create a rich basis of works that others can looktowards; to enrich our 
> beginners; to give back what our mentors gave to us so freely.
>
> To those of you who continue to be involved......I honor your support.  I 
> wish to say "Thank you for caring about me."
>
> My quarter is on the table......anyone else game?
>
> Dan Nauman
> President/Bighorn Forge, Inc.
> 4190 Badger Rd.
> Kewaskum, WI 53040
> (262) 626-2208
> (262) 626-3324 fax
> www.bighornforge.com
> bighorn at alexssa.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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