[TheForge] (no subject)

[Jerry Frost]

While I don't feel a lot of personal connection to ABANA I have to say it's 
as relavant as it's members make it. My first contact was when Chris Ray got 
me subscribed to TheForge list and I discovered there was a blacksmithing 
group at all. I've been subbed since and have learned more than I've 
contributed.

As to how connected to the left coast or Alaska it is, how many folk from 
the west ran in the last board elections? I know Will held a board position 
for quite some time but could only do as much as he could. If most of the 
people who run and get elected are from the east or midwest I can't say I'm 
surprised that's where most of the representation lays things.

Even in our small young Alaskan group there are only a few folk willing to 
try making things happen while most just want to show up for meetings or 
clinics. I don't blame them, that's what I was looking for myself when the 
silly guys elected me president while I was on a bathroom break. That'll 
teach me to leave the room during  a meeting! I insisted I'd only serve a 2 
year sentence and do no more than I had to. I won my re-election while in a 
coma and discovered some months later it was now a life sentence!

I have no complaints about how ABANA is run, where events are held or who's 
in office. I'm not about to run for a board seat. I learned my lesson! What 
I will do is thank the guys who are serving for their service and efforts, 
it's a lot more work than a person'd think, even at the deliberately low 
level I'll allow in out local club.

Speaking of which, Tomorrow, Sat Oct 23 is our quarterly meeting at my shop. 
Bring warm shoes and such, I'll have the barrel stove burning but if it's 
seasonably cold you're gong to appreciate warm feet and  a jacket at least.

Jer
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "peter fels & phoebe palmer" <artgawk at thegrid.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 3:35 AM
Subject: [TheForge] (no subject)


>
> Just to stir up some sand.......
>
> I can't help but feel that ABANA
> is primarily an east coast organization.
> Most of the conferences are too far away to economically attend, for
> those of us on the left coast.
> Most of the ABANA workshops etc are on the east coast.
> The Anvil's Ring sorta feels like it comes from another country.
> The organization has become so large as to have become an institution
> with all of the baggage that implies..
> Sure, efforts to include us are evident...but......
> Perhaps it should be split?
>