E-Mail News - of the Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths.
Volume 2, Issue 4 and 5. May 3, 2007
The fine print:
If you have received this e-mail with your name in the “To” list, it is because you have been identified as the contact for your local forge.
Others that wish to receive these periodic e-mails from the Chapter, should provide their name, e-mail address and Local Chapter affiliation to me and I will add their name to the "cc" list. Any that would like to be removed form the cc: list should send me a short e-mail (politely) requesting me to cease and desist, or something similar.
NOTE: The LATEST Issues of this newsletter are to be maintained on our new website for your information and use. The LINK to our site is: http://appalachiablacksmiths.com and pick “Newsletter” from the menu – pick the “E-Mail News” button with the latest date. I plan to keep the latest three issues posted.
Another Note: If you have moved, or change your address, please contact the Treasurer (Lonnie Farmer) to make the change so that we save postage by not sending the hardcopy newsletters to the wrong address. Thanks.
THIS ISSUE:
1 News
a. Choo Choo Forge Meeting date
b. Madison Meeting
c. AACB Newsletter
d. Get your Raffle Tickets In!!!!!
2 FGBA Hammer In
3 Madison Conference Ring Project
4 Steering Committee Members
5 Last Chance - ON SALE NOW! - Tickets for the “Complete Blacksmith Shop” Fundraiser Drawing
6 2007 AACB Meeting Dates – Calendar – Almost Final
7 AACB Website – Up to Date and Current
8 AACB Library
9 Safety
News
You thought he last issue was late, how about this one? I have combined the issue numbers so that I can get back on track, thus the issue number “4,5” – April and May. I will try to do better. I will not get into the list of things going on in my life that hampered my performance, because they all just sound like excuses to me.
AACB meeting hosted by the Choo-Choo Forge – The date for the AACB Regional meeting hosted by the Choo Choo Forge is set for June 9th this year. See more details in the calendar of events, below.
The Madison Conference – The Conference is upon us. The flyers have gone out, plans should be complete made. The AACB raffle is advertised in the flyer so all participants should know about our fundraiser and the opportunity to buy tickets!!
AACB Newsletter - It was my intent to issue a hardcopy newsletter last month and then stuff started happening, so it did not come to pass. So I will continue to complete the next issue, as I am able.
Are there any volunteers out there that would like to take on being the Newsletter Editor for a while? Anyone have any articles?
Get Your Raffle Tickets In – Originally we had set a mid April timeframe to return sold (and unsold) “Complete Blacksmith Shop Raffle” tickets to Lonnie Farmer (or myself) so that there would be no mix ups. Many have not turned in their tickets, and the Madison Conference is upon us. To make sure that tickets are received in plenty of time for them to be carried to Madison we must receive those tickets by May 10th, or you should bring them to Madison yourself to submit before the drawing. If tickets that were sold are not turned in before the drawing you will be responsible for returning the ticket stubs and money back to the people that bought them.
FGBA Hammer In
The third annual FGBA Hammer IN will be held on May 12, 2007. The Hammer In is a get together for Blacksmiths and their family members.
Food, fun, competitions and good time will be yours at the Hammer In. The Hammer In is free to all blacksmiths and their families.
Bring a covered dish or dessert to share with others. We always have more food than appetites.
We will have an iron in the hat drawing. Be sure to bring something for the drawing. For just a dollar you can take home a treasure.
This year we will have an auction. Got something you want to sell? Bring it to the auction and we will sell it for you. FGBA will get a small portion of the selling price.
Have something you want to sell yourself? Bring it for the tailgate sales. You sell it and you keep all the proceeds.
Everyone has a good time at the Hammer In. Remember the date: May 12, 2007.
The fun will start at 9am central time.
You will want to get there early for the coffee, donuts and conversation.
There will be more reminders for the Hammer In
Madison Conference Ring Project
A CALL TO CREATE RINGS AND LEAVES – I cannot remember if someone has told me that a ring has been made yet, so if you have, let me know. If not maybe one could be built a the upcoming FGBA hammer in – just an idea. .
Each of the seven chapters that put on the Conference are asked to submit a ring. Members of the seven chapters are asked to contribute a leaf.
Details
Details for the ring are available, and have been published in this e-mail newsletter in a couple of previous issues. Contact me if you need them.
Steering Committee
As soon as I can get my act together I will coordinate and schedule a meeting of those interested in participating in steering the AACB into the future.
We have had several volunteers from a couple of local forges commit to spending one Saturday this coming Spring (hopefully they will still be interested in a summer meeting) in a team meeting planning the future of the AACB. (I have good intentions, at least.)
I will set up a meeting in the near future with the volunteers and Officers – trying to find a date that MOST can accommodate, and then I will send invitations to all the other local forges to see who else may be willing and able to participate in the discussions, as well.
Here is your opportunity to be able to actively participate in the workings of the AACB.
LAST CHANCE - ON SALE NOW! - Tickets for the “Complete Blacksmith Shop” Fundraiser Drawing
All local forges (except the Volunteer Forge, evidently) have had an allotment of raffle tickets for the “Complete Blacksmith Shop” fund raiser. Please consider purchasing one or two to support your fundraising effort and to get a chance at winning a complete blacksmith shop. I have heard that some are buying one a month – to spread out the cost.
BEWARE - time IS running out to turn in advance sale tickets (the drop dead date is now May 10th) – to make sure we have all the sold tickets in hand before we head to Madison you need to get or send your ticket stubs and funds to Lonnie Farmer or me well in advance (it was April 15th, and is now May 10th) so that all who purchased a ticket, actually have one in the drawing (rather than being in the mail).
Also, please consider donating a tool for the shop, today. We still have some coming in so don’t think you are too late for that.
2007 AACB Meeting Dates – Calendar – As It Stands
I now have dates that local forges are planning to host a regional meeting and dates for other significant events.
3rd Annual FGBA Hammer In - May 12, 2007. See details above for more information. I have heard that this is something that none should miss.
Southeast Regional Blacksmith Conference - Madison, GA - May 17, 18 and 19, 2007.
The Choo-Choo Forge will host a Regional meeting on June 9th this year. Their will be Iron In the Hat and a Family Program. The meeting will be in Chattanooga June 9th. Jamie Tyree of Bluff City TN will be the demonstrator. He is a professional blacksmith that works with a catalog restoration company. Will demonstrate items such as door hardware & colonial lighting. Thanks, Charles Henderson President, Choo Choo Forge 423-495-1288
The Clinch River Blacksmith joint meeting will be July 21, 2007. The July 21 meeting will be held at same location as last year. That address is House Mountain Baptist Church, 8621 Washington Pike, Corryton,TN. 37721. My contact phone number is 865-281-9868.
FGBA will host the September meeting on Sep 22, 2007. At Lebanon – see the details elsewhere in this newsletter.
The meeting at John C. Campbell Folk School will be on November 3, 2007 this coming year.
And, the December Christmas meeting is scheduled for one of the first two weekends in December. Details are being worked out – I will list the date when it is finalized.
Let me know of other important meeting or event dates as soon as you know them.
AACB Website – Up to Date and Current
Everyone needs to remember the AACB website. The address is www.appalachiablacksmiths.com. The website is being kept VERY up to date and all the information on upcoming meetings and forms and news are posted as soon as the information is available. Go and check it out.
NEW AFC WEBSITE: To let everyone know that the Alabama Forge Council has a new website and new address. www.alaforge.org
Please make these corrections to you information and websites. If you have any question please email me at joey@alaforge.org.
Thanks,
Joey Babb
Webmaster
AACB Library
No one has stepped forward as a volunteer to be our Librarian yet.
Safety
Q: Do you know how quickly one can cut a ¼ inch deep notch in the end of their thumb when it is brought into (accidental) contact with a rotating angle grinder?
A: About 1/10,000 of a second.
Please, THINK about safety every day in all that you do – because it does matter. AND pay attention to where you are relative to rotating machinery. It pays dividends for you entire life.
I hope you all are safe in ALL things.
Forge On,
Mitch Latsch
President,
Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths
May 3, 2007
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