Welcome aboard Martin.
Continue and hang tough.
When I pushed to start the Vermont Farriers Association I contacted everyone I could get an address for in Vt. Eastern Ny and Western NH.
I got everyone together at a local spot and we discussed the concept of a Farriers Association for thoise of us here in the north country.
SNEFA is 4 1/2 hrs south and for many of us its to long a trip to make on a regular basis.
We needed to offer and bring in the best we could so farriers up here could have the same opportunities farriers down country have.
Bottom line access to all sorts of farrier education.
As founder and first president we made large strides and have continued to grow.
One day I came in to the meeting and said we need a new president !
I have taken this as far as my abilities go.
We need someone with fresh idea's and the skill and leadership to take this assoc. in new directions.
I knew nothing of your "lid" theory.
I did know I didn't want the VtFA to fail from becoming stagnant and doing the same ole same ole.
That meant new leadership. (not always easy when you always have 4 or 5 core members who do everything...)
I agree with your statement. The AFA needs leaders who can deligate. (and then step back and let them do their job !Q)
If he/she happens to be a farrier so much better, but if he/she isn't then it is leadership quality we need.
The AFA has out grown the group of origional farriers who started it. They knew this would happen if it was succcessful.
And if $ is a sign of success, then the AFA is a success.
It takes $ to run projects and produce material, and move folks across the country and exchange students over sea's etc.
It takes LEADERSHIP to see all this runs smoothly and GOOD COMMITTEE'S with dedicated members willing to work to over come the constant hurdles that pop up.
Danvers said it best when he listed names of volunteers whom many of us never heard of. But if it wasn't for these folks things would never get done.
These are the unsung HERO'S who keep the AFA going forward or keep it from falling backwards.
Martin your on the money with your statements.
You can talk the talk, if you can walk the walk then wonderful things can be accomplished.
Others have just hit you with negativity. Will it run off your shoulder or will it get to you and affect how you think ?
NO ONE ever bats 100 % NO ONE ever is 100% popular.
This is one time when Phil Armitage can be used as an example.
NO ONE on this entire board has had to put up with (or asked for, or set himself up for) more c**p than he has. YET ! he is still here. His good attitide (majority of the time) has out lasted almost everyone who nailed him everyday.
I use Phil as an example of tenacity.(not always the brightest light in the shed, but one heck of a super nice guy and a dedicated Farrier.)
If you believe your the man, then be the man.
Get out and visit the Associations and attend their meetings.
Let us hear from you first hand on you proposals and thoughts.
Give us, the membership an opportunity to make a solid decision when we vote.
I would hate to imagine just how many folks close theiur eyes and pick a name from the ballot card sent to them. I also can't imagine how many vote for someone they recognize the name from an article they read about them.
Many of us take voting seriously and want to put the best man for the job in the position needed.
You as a nominee have an opportunity to do just this.
OR you can sit back on your laurells like others have in the past and not communicate and still get voted in.
my 2 cents worth