THE TRUTH NEEDS TO COME OUT....

From: "Mike Nolan" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: September 11, 2006 4:16:09 PM CDT
To: "'Scott Davidson'" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "'Bob Earle'" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "'Walt Taylor'" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "'John Blombach'" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Greg Burdette" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Rick Garrison" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, "Matt Gillis" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Subject: Editorial Oversight
Reply-To: <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>


Mr. Davidson,

It has come to my attention that you have once again published unsuitable material in the AFA’s Professional Farrier magazine, specifically the “Letters to the Editor” from Lee Hop and Bruce Worman. While members have every right to send their views to the magazine, you as Publisher have a responsibility to determine that the facts are complete and accurate and that the officers, directors, or staff have an opportunity to respond in the same issue to any letter which contains information critical of the Association and/or its leadership.

You have chosen to exclude information you do not like, while publishing comments and opinions critical of the leaders with whom you have fought an ongoing battle since you took over publishing Professional Farrier three years ago. Examples include your recent treatment of Dave Ferguson, Myron McLane and others, actions totally inappropriate for a publication owned by the AFA.

Your repeated failures of judgment in this area make it necessary for me to require that starting with the November/December 2006 issue, all editorial copy intended for publication in the Professional Farrier magazine be sent electronically to the office for review and approval before it is submitted to the printer. This will permit proper review of material being published in the AFA’s official publication to ensure that it is accurate, and does not defame the Association, its officers, directors, committees or staff. Those with agendas which do not consider the best interests of the AFA will no longer be given carte blanche in the Professional Farrier.

This new policy might have been unnecessary had you not refused repeated efforts by the Executive Committee to meet with you and resolve concerns about the ways you have abused your editorial discretion. Because you would not negotiate a better working relationship with the AFA, it is necessary for us to unilaterally control the material which is published in the AFA’s name.

If you would like any clarification of this policy, please put your questions in writing and send them to my attention.

Sincerely,

Mike Nolan
Acting Executive Director
American Farrier's Association
4059 Iron Works Pkwy, #1
Lexington KY 40511
859-233-7411

OUR MAGAZINE

SAID:

Dear Mr. Nolan

Thanks anyway.

While we appreciate your willingness to “unilaterally control the material which is published in the AFA’s name;” Ink and Anvil will continue to conduct itself, as it has in the past, as the producer of Professional Farrier Magazine - a member produced publication, dedicated to educating and informing members, and as a venue for the free exchange of ideas among our readers.

We regret that you feel that the input of well respected professional Farrier’s such as Lee Hop and Bruce Worman are unsuitable submissions for members of the AFA to read in it’s member publication. As I’m sure you will agree, it is of the utmost importance that each member is aware of your efforts to insure that members, “opinions are accurate, and do not defame the Association, its officers, directors, committees or staff.” We are happy to provide you this venue of communication by publishing your letter in the next issue of, Professional Farrier Magazine.

Always serving the A.F.A.©



Scott Davidson, CJF
Publisher, Professional Farrier
CEO, Ink and Anvil, Inc.


Cc: Lee Hop, CJF; Bruce Worman, CF; AFA BoD




YOU DECIDE !!! what is censorship??

REALLY FOLKS IT ALL NEEDS TO BE KNOWN!!!

---

Original Message

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From: Mike Nolan
To: 'Scott Davidson'
Cc: 'Rick Garrison' ; 'Matt' ; 'Laura' ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 'Bob J. Earle' ; 'John Blombach' ; 'Walt taylor' ; 'Greg Burdette'
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 9:16 AM
Subject: RE: Editorial Insight

Mr. Davidson,

My letter was not a suggestion. There will be no Professional Farrier mailed to the membership which has not first been approved by this office. You have demonstrated repeatedly that you have no qualms about ignoring the best interests of the AFA. That was proven again this past weekend when you urged Chapters to abandon the AFA, and when you made the empty threat that you would leave Professional Farrier and start a competing publication if the Board did not support your efforts to remove the President. Fortunately, the Board confirmed its loyalty to the AFA and ignored your bullying.

There will be no AFA mailing list, there will be no postage payment, and could be legal action should you not to have the editorial copy approved before attempting to send out an issue of the magazine This is not an action taken lightly, and it was taken after consultation with the Executive Committee. Every member of the Executive Committee concurred with the directive. The Professional Farrier is the AFA’s magazine, and the AFA, not Scott Davidson, will control the editorial content of the magazine.

Michael Nolan
Acting Executive Director
American Farrier’s Association
4059 Iron Works Pike
Lexington KY 40511
859-233-7411

No popcorn in the pantry: tortilla chips, salsa, and Dos Equis okay with y'all?

Chicken wings tonight, this is going to be good! Better tape "LOST"

TRUTH SEEKER-REALLY FOLKS IT ALL NEEDS TO BE KNOWN!!!

F^K- I just re-upped!!!

sensorship, yippppeeeee. We are still seeing the ship "founder"!!!!!



A new rag would be nice, some new insightful information besides a "Hunter Shoe" that is worthless on a $250k show hunter




The "Good Ole Boys"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless you pay money and aggravate people with non-solicited e-mails after purchase wrote:Non-payment an sensorship vs. capitalism and liberty?
Controlling the media is controlling your populus---- iow, keep in the dark and feed them sh^t


Maybe there will be an Academy Award Mike?????? Lexington is a long way from Hollywood.

Moral- keep the membership in the dark, control what they read and then pursue closed door agendas. Whether truth and or fact has been mis-construded, eidted editorials from membership to constrew mindset is socialism,IMO.
Had the same thing happen in a rebuttal in Equus magazine years ago , Equss published half of the truth.

TRUTH SEEKER wrote:

OH IT GETS DEEPER!!!

THE LETTER:

September 25, 2006



Dear Board of Directors

As your newly elected BOD representative it is my duty to keep you informed of the goings on within the Executive Committee. Barely one month into this job and I am already disgusted with AFA politics. I do not like being lied to, and I will not lie to you. I have been told to submit reports to the EC for approval before sending. I believe very strongly that I answer to the BOD not the Executive Committee. I am not interested in political correctness, only the truth. At the risk of losing my appointment, I am sending this to you the board without prior approval.

First – There is a heated issue on the table with Ink & Anvil Inc. For those that are not aware of the history, ending our relationship with The AFJ saved us about *$80,000.00 per year. Dockery Publishing was next, and they severed ties with the AFA after one or two issues. Ink & Anvil inc. agreed to produce a magazine for us at no charge to the AFA. After a huge learning curve and somewhat of a bumpy start, Professional Farrier Magazine was recently awarded the highest achievement for their size in the horse industry.

The September / October issue of PF was held back by the office for two weeks. It contains two letters to the editor from members unhappy with the performance of Dave Ferguson and the EC. Mr. Ferguson has since replaced Rick Garrison, CJF Publications chairperson with Mike Nolan. As directed by the EC, Mr. Nolan now insists that he pre-approve all content before it is sent to the membership. It is no secret that Scott Davidson and Mr. Nolan have had their differences in the past. it is obvious that this change has created a hostile work environment and hindered progress of YOUR magazine. All parties have agreed to a sit down meeting in November to discuss these issues. However, I&A have insisted that Rick Garrison, CJF be reinstated as project manager only until the November / December issue is complete. To date, Dave Ferguson, Mike Nolan and the EC have denied Ink & Anvil’s request.

Second – As of this date we still have no sponsors for our 2007 convention. Margie Lee Gustafson has agreed to step in at this late date and try to find last minute sponsors.

Third – We still have no presentation team for the Equine Affaire this November in West Springfield Mass. We have had a relationship with Equine Affaire for several years, and have taken advantage of the opportunity to educate horse owners about the AFA.

Fourth – No steps have been taken to hire a permanent Executive Director. Mike Nolan was hired by Dave Ferguson and approved by the EC as a temporary until a suitable replacement can be found.

Greg Burdette, CJF

THE OFFICE RESPONSE TO THE BOD REP TELLING THE TRUTH:

From: Mike Nolan
To: 'Butch & Connie'
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 8:51 AM
Subject: RE: Letter from I&A

Butch,


The EC met by phone last night, and Greg Burdette will be sending another letter to the Board to correct some inadvertent misinformation that was contained in his last message. I do not wish to speak for him, but since I do not know how soon he will be sending his information (his computer is down, which is why RT sent his original letter), I want to give you a few facts before your Board meeting.


1. Greg was lied to, but not by the EC. Nor was there no effort be Dave Ferguson to censor him. There has been a great deal of misinformation circulating about AFA and the EC over the past few weeks. I believe you will have a much more accurate picture of the state of the AFA when you receive Greg’s next message.


2. Arrangements have already been made to replace Ink & Anvil, and there should be little or no disruption to the magazine schedule. Further, we believe the new publisher will quickly be producing an even better publication for the membership.


3. The resignation of Mr. Davidson will go a very long way toward resolving not only the magazine problem, but other problems plaguing AFA as well. While he has produced a good magazine for the AFA, there have been other problems which have not be publicized by the office or the EC, including his threats during the Mid-year meeting, efforts to persuade several chapters to drop their memberships, spreading misinformation alleging a serious decline in membership (membership is stable), collapse of the Certification program (it is in good health and growing stronger), and other failures charged to me and/or the EC. We hope that the new magazine and new programs will prevent perceptions created with misinformation from being turned into a reality.


As always, I am available to answer any questions you may have.


Mike Nolan


NO NOLAN // BURDETTE WON'T COW TOW WITH THIS CORRECTION LETTER!!!

AS OF TODAY HE RESIGNED AS BOD REP>>> Probably did not want the ulcer that the office wants to give himm... Go figure some people would rather shoe horses than live the political merry go round!!! A GOOD MAN DISGUSTED WITH THE LIES AND BULLYING OF NOLAN AND FERGUSON!!

Well I Will Post My Name But I Can't Yet!!!! Hey It Took Deep Throat A Little While Too!!

Thruth Seeker,

I have to take the unusual step of insisting that you post under your real name. The content and nature of the subject matter do not allow the luxury of hiding behind a screen name. If you refuse to "come out," I will have no choice but to remove this thread. I'll give you until midnight tonight (east coast time).

Baron

Oh c'mon Baron, Let him/her speak. I'm an AFA member, I want to know and all I get is a gag order from the office...

I'm all for truth, justice and the American way, but there comes a point where accountabilty must come into play. I've been called and accused of letting these Forums become a bully pulpit for those who only want to complain about the AFA, and bad mouth it by airing rumors and half-truths. Although I believe in the freedom of expression, and that a bright light is the best disinfectant, if these forums are going to remain true bastions of free expression by people of ALL points of view, those views must be presented without reservation or hesitation as to their source.

Those are the guidelines. Evereyone has to abide by them (or they can go somewhere else).

Baron

Cyber Farrier wrote: Here , Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I voted for Ridley. And from what I read, can I expect my magazine next month or not? And we lost our new BOD rep?

If only it was fishing weather....

I get the feeling some in the AFA are telling lies about this forum. Just a gut feeling.

Truthseeker reveal your identity. Then others can debate you and reveal there identity.

This is a credible forum that holds us all accountable.

I want my damn magazine, I paid for it damn it send it to me or send me a refund.