[TheForge] Anvil's Ring/Hammer's Blow CD?

Fri Jul 17 16:18:20 EDT 2009

You have great heart good sir..I'll go look..pf

Rome H. Hutchings wrote:
> Thanks Peter.  One thing I should point out is in regard to the statement
> you make in regard to the membership benefits.  If one cannot attend the
> Biannual ABANA Conference.....yes I can understand that would leave
> only the publications as a benefit.
> 
> That would be past tense!  Perhaps many do not know or keep track of
> the various improvements the ABANA Board has accomplished in the
> last couple of years.
> 
> You, and anyone else should check out the "Members Only" Discount
> Program at the link below:
> http://www.abana.org/resources/discount_program.shtml
> 
> There are now 14 ABANA supporting vendors with discounts to members
> 
> And, unless you a business you cannot purchase through Grainger, but as
> a benefit of membership you can not only purchase from Grainger, but
> you can get discounts for doing so.
> http://www.abana.org/resources/grainger-program.shtml
> 
> In addition you can use Staples Direct
> http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs033/1101903933417/archive/1102415083107.html
> 
> And Insurance..........................!! Limited Medical Benefit Plan with 
> Short Term Disability Plan
> and Term Life Insurance Plan and Vision Plan and Dental Plan!!
> http://www.abana.org/resources/Insurance-program.shtml
> 
> Plus we are working on a new shop insurance coverage...........!
> 
> If you want to catch-up on some of the past Constant Contact announcements 
> click
> on the link to our Archives:
> http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs033/1101903933417/archive/1101912633188.html
> 
> Membership benefits................more than just a conference every two 
> years (make that 4)
> and the publications.
> 
> And yes, we still have Affiliate Grants, Individual Scholarships........and 
> are about to put
> in place a new class of grant for members who are putting an educational 
> event to the general
> public.
> 
> Yes there is a lot of work that has been done while ABANA has aged, but now 
> it's time
> for ABANA to come of age.  We need all the "Ship Righters" we can get.
> 
> Thanks for your support,
> 
> Rome H. Hutchings, Chairman
> ABANA Membership Services
> The Prairie Forge
> 13633 Ferman Ave NW
> Clearwater, MN 55320
> (763) 878-1694
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer" <artgawk at thegrid.net>
> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 11:59 AM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Anvil's Ring/Hammer's Blow CD?
> 
> 
>> Good, meaningful response Rome. Thank you and thank you for the
>> innumerable hours you put in for us.
>> While i've remained a member..it's only barely, i confess.
>> As it's grown and aged, ABANA has, by necessity, become more
>> institutionalized, or so it appears, and i found that alienating.
>> For reasons of location or cost, ABANA events have been inaccessible for
>> me since the SLO conference. So the benefits of membership lie primarily
>> in the publications. More articles are something i can and will continue
>> to contribute, though so many of you are so much better than i am, that
>> it's kinda embarrassing and feels pretentious.
>> Like many of us, I'm not much of a joiner and had backed away when the
>> level of acrimony rose.
>> You guys are working hard to right the ship, and it's appreciated...pf
>>
>> Rome H. Hutchings wrote:
>>> Yes, on an interest bearing checking account early renewal does
>>> add value.  May be not with respect to the member, but in the
>>> long run the interest does help.
>>>
>>> As for the production cost, there is more than meets the eye to
>>> duplicating the CD.  Yes we can get them duplicated for a low
>>> cost.........45 to 65 cents each, then hand packing into the mailer
>>> running the mailing labels, sticking them on, postage, and the
>>> final step of delivery to the post office.  The CD ends up costing
>>> almost $2 out the door.
>>>
>>> When we consider all the other costs associated with the membership
>>> the $2 is a lot.  Over 75% of your membership dollars go to the 
>>> publications
>>> and the remainder is in keeping the Central Office going, website costs
>>> Constant Contact, the CPA and Accountant, office supplies, printing,
>>> copying..........the list of expenses goes on.
>>>
>>> And, we try to do this on 25% of your membership dollars.  When
>>> was the last time their was a cost of living increase in your dues?
>>>
>>> We continue to trim and economize wherever possible so that we
>>> don't have to raise the cost of dues.  All of the board members are
>>> volunteers who work for the love of the craft........free.
>>>
>>> Once again this year we are faced with having less than enough candidates
>>> to hold an election.........yes we have 5 willing members who will be
>>> filling
>>> the expiring terms so we will not have to do appointments.  But, it's 
>>> your
>>> association, it is our association and in order to continue to make a
>>> difference
>>> we will survive and continue to fulfill the mission of being the go to 
>>> place
>>> for sharing educational opportunities.  We are supportive of our 
>>> Affiliate,
>>> individuals who are interested in the craft looking for a local source of
>>> information get connected through ABANA.
>>>
>>> I could rattle on here, but by now I think you will understand.  What can
>>> really make a difference in the future of ABANA is for all of us to 
>>> recruit
>>> those who have walked away from ABANA.  You can help too! Bring
>>> a new member into ABANA, Bring an old friend back into ABANA,
>>> write an article for the publications.
>>>
>>> We all need to work together to rebuild, renew and rejoice in our love
>>> of the craft.
>>>
>>> Best Regards,
>>>
>>> Rome H. Hutchings, Chairman
>>> ABANA Membership Services
>>> The Prairie Forge
>>> 13633 Ferman Ave NW
>>> Clearwater, MN 55320
>>> (763) 878-1694
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer" <artgawk at thegrid.net>
>>> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 12:48 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Anvil's Ring/Hammer's Blow CD?
>>>
>>>
>>>> Respectfully, CD production costs being small as they are..why not
>>>> simply include them with a renewal? Do early renewals really provide so
>>>> much extra value to our org?  pf
>>>>
>>>> fnanvil at aol.com wrote:
>>>>> I think that by limiting this offer to only people who renew in a
>>>>> certain time period is going to sour more people on the benefits of
>>>>> ABANA.  Where do you draw the line?  This statement from a 30 year
>>>>> continuous member!
>>>>>
>>>>> J. Kavett
>>>>> Fisher & Norris Museum
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Rome H. Hutchings <rome.hutchings at theprairieismygarden.com>
>>>>> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>> Sent: Thu, Jul 16, 2009 8:41 pm
>>>>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Anvil's Ring/Hammer's Blow CD?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Correct you are Mike, should have said that within this first 400 per
>>>>> quarter includes ALL and not just existing members renewing.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, spread the word, there is an opportunity here because to date
>>>>> not nearly 400 new renewed, even with new memberships added
>>>>> in to the mix.
>>>>>
>>>>> All of those friends out there who gave up on ABANA for various
>>>>> reasons can rejoin and receive the CD too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for pointing this out,
>>>>>
>>>>> Rome H. Hutchings, Chairman
>>>>> ABANA Membership Services
>>>>> The Prairie Forge
>>>>> 13633 Ferman Ave NW
>>>>> Clearwater, MN 55320
>>>>> (763) 878-1694
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "CGRAF" <adveniam at att.net>
>>>>> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:39 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Anvil's Ring/Hammer's Blow CD?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Zahn wrote:
>>>>>>> I renewed early too but I guess my check got there towards the end
>>>>> of the
>>>>>>> last quarter.  If I had know about it, I could have held my check
>>>>> for a
>>>>>>> couple of weeks until the current quarter and gotten a cool CD for
>>>>> free.
>>>>>>> Bummer, I wish I knew.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is a PR opportunity here.
>>>>>> If it were my call, NEW members and anyone reupping EARLY would get
>>>>> the
>>>>>> freebie.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That gets the old cash flow rolling along.
>>>>>> There is no real advantage in having everyone wait until the start of
>>>>>> the new quarter to send in a check.There might even be a disadvantage
>>>>> to
>>>>>> ABANA, in the present scheme, if someone is trying to win the CD lotto
>>>>>> and is the 401st entrant. Keeping the paying customer happy is always
>>>>> a
>>>>>> priority.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Mike Graf
>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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