I just heard that the new Treasurer, the entire IT committee and the Publications Committee Chairman all resigned within 20 days of the new EC and BoD taking office. Does any one have any more information about this? Why did so many people resign? why has the AFA not informed its members of this situation? What is the new BoD doing about it? Since the Treasurer is also the Chairman of the Finance Committee, did the other members of that committee also resign? If not, who are the remaining members of that committee?
Who is now in charge of the IT committee and what are their qualifications?

It seems to me that there appears to be a conspiracy of silence surrounding the AFA once again. What ever happened to the transparency and open communications that were promised by those now in office?

Jason Hall, Farrier

Damn, probably because I still have not renewed my membership. They probably thought I had given up and jumped ship. Staff, staff, have there office call my office and check into renewing my membership. I still have to get my CF and CJF, so Mr. Stoval will listen to me. Thanks in advance.

In all seriousness, this is news to me.

JasonHall wrote:
Can't speak to any of these issues you brought up except this one. The transparency and communication as I remember it were promised by none other than Rick and Ron. Not as I recall by anybody currently holding office.
George

My best suggestion is to call the AFA office and ask them first hand.

Transparency is one thing.

Conducting busines in a business fashion is another thing.
There are folks who can answer your questions, but most likely a bunch of miss information may arise and mslead a lot of the participants on this board.

Once the EC and the BOD have had a chance to understand/cope/and make a profesional decision then I am sure the public will learn of the happenings.

I would suggest that no one is holding anything back, but merely focusing on a proper proceedure to handle what ever has transpired.

DON'T give up the ship because a rumor or information has gotten out, until the folks in charge have had a chance to do what they were elected to do.
Make decisions and handle poblems.

The AFA has been moving forward and working on building a stronger and more productive association.
The programs and the new officers have to have time to initiate concepts and plans.
There will be disagreements between folks everyday and folks will make decisions to stay or to leave.
It doesn't mean the end of the world so don't holler "the sky is falling" cause it isn't.

Patience to allow things to happen.
There is so much more to running an association this size than even I realized.
Remember Farriers are independent folks and this whole association is made up of Farriers. So disagreements are bound to happen periodically.

It is how these moments are handled and rectified that is important.
I have come to believe there are some awesome folks on committee's and the BOD and the EC.

If your interested in knowing what happens on a daily basis then get involved and volunteer for anything that may come open.

The AFA isn't just an association. It is the largest group of farriers world wide with a common goal of education, advancing knowledge, sharing knowledge, providing guidance, material, insurance, and incentives to chapters so clinics and programs can be provided for the members.

Do you realize how important the liability policy the AFA has available is to chapters ? This is one advantage to having the AFA.
It allows chapters who could not afford the insurance required, to be able to put on events .
This is possible because of the large number of members in the AFA. Most chapters don't have large enough memberships to be able to swing the cost of liability insurance.

The AFA is alive and well, membership keeps it alive and well.




my 2 cents

Jason,

After reading your post, I wanted to contact you personally and answer your questions, but after checking the directory and the membership list, I cannot find your namer or contact information. If you would contact me or your zone reps., your questions will be answered. If you are not in a hurry, the news letter will have the information you request.

Dick Fanguy

Dick, I don't know about you but I am getting to old to stay up this late.

Good night all >>>

Dick Fanguy wrote:
Dick,
If the AFA is so open now, why not publish the news letter on the AFA homepage so we members can view it now? Any problem with this???

Mikel,

Yes, there is a problem with this. The IT chair resigned and we are in the process of getting a web master to take over this old site for the time being. We have a new web site in the works, but it is not ready to put up. Due to financial considerations and the fact that we are farriers and not computer wizards, we have to tred carefully and try to get it right. It is my hope that you and all the other members of this association will see positive changes that are being made in communication with the members and the industry.

Don't give up the ship! All is well. There are bumps in every road and we will get by them just fine.

Dick Fanguy

Bruce,

You are right! I'm to old to be up this late. I think I need to be in bed. I have horses to do in the morning.

Dick

Jason,

I am sorry for taking so long to reply to your post but I wanted to think about it for a bit. I’ll answer your questions in so much as I am able or willing.

Yes, Mr. Burten did resign. You will need to contact him for his reasons.

Actually the entire IT Committee did not resign. Two members resigned about two weeks before I did. I appointed Mr. Steve Kraus to the committee about a week before Mr. Burten, Mr. Bloomer and I implemented our decision to resign. The three of us did in fact decide to resign together and the original decision was reached as a committee before Mr. Kraus was appointed. Mr. Kraus was informed of our decision prior to his appointment. Upon my resignation I turned over all of the appropriate security information to Mr. Kraus. It was my understanding from my conversations with him that Mr. Elsbree had asked him to take on the IT Committee should it become necessary. You will need to ask him or Mr. Elsbree what his qualifications are in this regard.

After submitting my resignation from the IT Committee I also resigned from the Finance committee. To my knowledge the only member of the Finance Committee left was Mr. Mike Miller.

Speaking for myself only, I choose to resign because Mr. Elsbree and Mr. Fanguy had decided to implement a management style that I felt was incompatible with my basic belief systems in regard management and interpersonal relationships. Further, it was/is also my belief that continuing in the position would be both emotionally and physically unhealthy and potentially litigious. Given the level of compensation involved it was apparent that I would be better off discontinuing my services. The others involved in this particular purge will need to address their own reasons for walking away.

I do not see a conspiracy of silence. The AFA is only going to make announcements in a way that are in its interests. Or more bluntly put, the association is only going to tell anyone that which they are either obligated too or that makes them look better. It is unlikely that they are going to hang out the dirty laundry in all its glory, even if that is exactly what needs to happen. That is the nature of the political organism of the AFA and anyone trying to change it is likely to feel a bit of heat. All this to say that it is behaving as it generally always has behaved.

As for your other questions those that are in those positions will have to answer them for themselves.

Ronald E. Kramedjian wrote:
Ron- what are you trying to say? Were you disliked?

This type of stuff is getting really old! If you have dirty laundry to air, why don't you do it? Maybe since the afa isn't doing things the way you want them to, you feel its your job to bring them down by airing things out on the internet?

Dick Fanguy wrote:So no one knows how to cut and past this information on the AFA MEMBER BOARDS?

Dick Fanguy wrote:This is Good.

Dick Fanguy wrote:Been hearing this for over a year and have yet to see any positive changes. Its time to stop making excuses and start getting it done. There still to much secrecy when it comes to EC meeting, committee meetings, ect. Its not hard to post information on the AFA MEMEBER BOARDS.

Dick Fanguy wrote:Same old, same old. Been hearing this going on three years, but have only seen more bumps palced in the road. Its starting to get old!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gary,
That was exactly my point. Use the members board, start a thread and put the info on it. I don't know all the technical stuff, but this seems pretty simple to me????

Put it here. Waite long enough and the rumor mill will over run the facts, as usual.

Phil Armitage wrote:No it should at the least be posted on the AFA MEMBERS ONLY BOARDS first. It will get here soon enough though.
Phil Armitage wrote:Yep!!!!!!! The EC and the BOD better be ready to defend thier actions and to answer any and all questions that arise. Both here as well as on the AFA MEMBERS ONLY BOARDS. However, I don't think they want to do that. They would rather call individuals and discuss it (in secret) instead of posting on the BOARDS to ensure that everyone has the same facts.