IF we only knew!!!

[tbloomer]

I copied this quote form Dick Fanguy's post on the AFA candidates forum:
If we had good records you could go back and see that we voted on this issue many years ago and the BOD voted that we would not address licensing unless it came from an outside source. In other words, the memberships’ representatives voted that we were opposed to licensing. But, if you have kept up with this issue, you know that the issue came up this time from within the AFA. We did not learn from history.
If this really happened, then why didn't anybody remember it and say something about it? A letter to Professional Farrier magazine with a reference to this particular board action could have put the entire issue to rest. An email sent to the Executive Director could have sent him on a research mission to dig through the archives of minutes from previous Board meetings in order to confirm the facts.

My primary reason for leaving the AFA was due to (my belief) that the Board of Directors failed to make an official policy on licensing. Note that a declaration that "the subject is dead" is not, in my opinion, a policy. From my perspective, this declaration is simply a way for the association to hide from rather than make a stand on the topic itself.

Now we presented with the possibility that this policy issue was already handled in a previous AFA Board Action. So, I want to know why something so important to farriers both inside and outside the AFA was either forgotten, or allowed to slide for TWO YEARS without mention.

OTOH, I guess we can't expect an official response from the AFA without somebody getting in trouble for researching a "dead topic." ROTFL! :)

We did not learn from history.
Dick Fanguy, you have my permission to claim "CRS" on this situation. :) However, what are the odds that every AFA BOARD MEMBER who was around when the above mentioned BOARD ACTION took place forgot about it? How can people learn from history if they can't remember things of historical significance what happened? SHEESH!

[Dick Fanguy]

Tom,

Short answer---I was not on the board when this was brought back up or I would have said something---The BoD is not at fault because they were not notified of this move until a few weeks of the board meeting---The EC took this action without the knowledge of the BoD.

I will explain more when I have more time. I'm in a pinch at the present time.

[Rick Burten]

Short answer---I was not on the board when this was brought back up or I would have said something-
Just because you weren't on the board is no excuse. You had knowledge that could have and should have been brougnt to everyone's attention. Had you done so, the protracted claims, charges, counter-charges, insults, misunderstandings, whatever, could have been nipped in the bud. Instead you stood silent and allowed the association to tear its self apart and to become assailed from without by those who took great pleasure in seeing the association brought low. What other information do you have that might be valuable to the health of the AFA that you are also keeping to yourself?
The BoD is not at fault because they were not notified of this move until a few weeks of the board meeting---The EC took this action without the knowledge of the BoD.
There was no action taken by the EC. A legally constituted taskforce made a presentation and recommendation to the board in Chattenoga and the board responded appropriately. Even then, when the news broke, you had an opportunity to set the record right. And you stood mute. Or so it appears.

Rick

[Dick Fanguy]

Rick,

Why don't you talk about something that you know about. You have not idea as to what was going on in my life at this time. As I said, I was not on the board and was dealing with a cronic back problem. I was worried if I would ever work again and not with the problems of the AFA at that time. You love to argue and play the expert. I tried to call you and talk about some of these problem, but you did not have the decency to return the call.
There were 36 or so member on the board when we made the policy on licensing and you make it sound as if I were the only one that knew it. You would rather be loud than right.

[Rick Burten]

Dick,

You are correct. I haven't gotten back with you yet. I did try a couple of times but didn't get throught. I guess I just have to try harder.

And you are also correct when you say that there were others who knew about the policy. Of those 36, I wonder how many are still active members of the AFA?

Regardless, any of them that are should also be ashamed for standing mute.

What is it that I don't know about? Your back problem. OK, I didn't really know, although I was more than likely peripherially aware. But the issue of the licensing dragged on for what seemed at the time, like forever. Surely, at some point on that continuum, you were well enough to pick up a phone? If not, then OK you have my apology.

And Dick, you are incorrect. I would rather be right than loud, but I'll settle for both. And maybe if more people would speak up, our leadership would listen.

I'll retire for the moment to my little bit of Xanadu where life is beautiful all the time.

Rick