Hello folks,

I have just returned from the Music City Horseshoers Association fall clinic and meeting. It was a fun day with good friends old and new.

As I had said in an earlier post MCHA was to take up the issue of its chapter membership in the AFA at this meeting. I am very happy to tell you that after some considerable discussion that our chapter decided by unanimous vote of the chapter members present, AFA and non-AFA, to remain a chapter of the AFA. I believe that this should put an end to all rumors about MCHA and its shakiness as a chapter. Our President Steve Davis has done a great job of work with our membership to answer their questions and concerns about the AFA and its future.

I've heard about the MCHA but would like to know more about how to become a member and their ideas. I appreciate any info that I can get. Thanks

Ron,

Thankyou again for seeking out the truth and laying that rumor to rest.

John

Frankie,
I would like to give you some information regarding the MCHA. The MCHA had its beginning in 1993 when a group of local farriers in Middle TN got together wanting to educate and promote top notch horseshoeing. Furthermore, these group of guys wanted to do this while promoting a strong association of friends that would work together and motivate each other. It started out with about 15 - 20 members and now there are about 115 farriers that receive our newsletter. In front of me, I do not have the number of farriers that are paid members.
The association usually holds 4-5 clinics per year. The clinics cover all aspects of our industry, from shoeing, trimming, forging, business, and sometimes legal or insurance. We have had about any clinician that you can name come in and help our members. Usually, once or twice a year we will have some of our own top guns do the clinics. Every now and then there may be a basic contest and at some clinics we may give written test to help you understand what you know and/or remember about the certification tests.
This association has a very unique bunch of farriers. In that, I mean that most of the farriers truely want to help you and truely like to see you succeed.
To further what Ron said, the MCHA voted unanimously to stay in the AFA and to help it get stronger in any way that we can. If you have a problem with an association, you only have two choices; 1) quit (not an option), 2) stand firm and start helping to resolve the problem.
Frankie, I hope this gives you some information about our great association. If you have any questions feel free to contact myself or Steve Davis.
Thanks,
Billy Lampley

Dang Billy,

That is just about as much as I've heard you say the whole time I've know you.

billylamp wrote:
Hi Billy quiting is always an option. This is buisness and time is very valuable. If an association starts to become a waste of time and money I have to consider that as a buisness person and also have family to think about. If an orginization or associations have problems gaining new members and retention then they need to figure out what is wrong. The other thing that could happen is new orginizations and associations can start up any time. In addition to our work related associations there are also hobby type associations that take up time and cost. Many of us have other hobbys and belong to other types of associations. Fishing, hunting, shooting, bowling, archery, family. Both my kids had more activities than a person should be allowed and I spend every spare second getting them there and back, helping out and many other time consumeing tasks. So I am going to be pretty picky about my time and what association I will be a member of. If it I think it is a waste of time and money, I will quit. I will not beat myself up trying to be firm about change and beat a dead horse or suffer fooleshness.

Developeing our shoe makeing, shapeing, forgeing and welding skills really need to be done at home as much as possible. Practice, practice, practice. Just finding the time to do this is difficult. I found setting up an area where you can get to work with little set up time is the best way to do it. My point is inorder to get as good as others in the trade we need to spend the time practiceing. I like to practice alone now and then, take the time to figure out how to do things by doing. Technique, skills and speed come with practice. Then we can go out and show our stuff at a hammer in or competition, we pick up pointers and practice some more.

Is the AFA currently haveing retention and membership problems? If they are does the leadership know why? Do some think there is a problem and others think everything is fine?

Identifying problems and solutions is not easy. First you need to identify the problem and if it really is a problem or not. I have no problem with the AFA stateing this is who we are and we only want members who believe in our core values. However I do have a problem with the AFA makeing the claim they represent US farriers and take a leadership role in the farrier trade. This comes across as forceing your religion on me.

Phil Armitage wrote: It's just a sign of the times . . . Matthew 24:6-14
6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7. For nation shall rise against nation, (AFEC) and kingdom (BWFA) against kingdom(AFA): and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,(Katrina and Rita) in divers places.

8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake(BUA).

10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.(I&A Controversy)

11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many(Strasser).

12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Don't leave, stay and fight for change!)

14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

tbloomer wrote:
I'm sure Jesus is impressed with your knowledge of Scripture, Tom.

sweetbranchforge wrote: Ahh yes - a response from he (or is it she) who has no name.

Phil Armitage wrote: So what your saying is "if the going gets tough, the Mainers are gone?"

Phil Armitage wrote:
If you call 1% a mass exoudus then I supose we do. But dispite all the fun and fervolity that has been going on the loss of 34 members ain't to bad.

tbloomer wrote:
Whats the Bible say about kings exchanging dues checks?
You'll notice I'm not much of a theologan

T.N. Trosin wrote: Jesus paid taxes and spoke in favor of paying both tithe and taxes -"render unto Ceasar the things that are Cesar's and unto God the things that are God's." OTOH, he wasn't very nice to the currency exchange folks. As I recall he evicted them from daddy's property. So if you are referring to exchanging dues checks as currency exchange . . . be careful where you setup the exchange.

T.N. Trosin wrote:
T.N., no when the BS gets deep. The going is hardly getting tough. What a joke. Tell me how the going is getting tough. The BS is certainly getting deep and old.

My question as to retention was not an accusation that membership is decreaseing it was a question. For all I know retention is fine and membership is increaseing. Your right 1% loss of members is not bad. 3% of farriers in the US being members of any orginization is interesting.

Phil Armitage wrote:
Phil,
We missed you at the Equine Affaire yesterday, many from this forum were there. The AFA had set up a booth there and AFA and chapter members had the opportunity to greet their customers and discuss with the huge numbers of horseowners what the AFA and it's certification program is all about, along with the educational merit of being an AFA member.

Equine Affaire went off very well with Jim Zieger, Geoff Goodson, Roy Amaral, Myron McLane, just to name a few, who did a fabulous job representing the interests of the AFA and it's members to the horse owning public, all 300,000 of them! Video clips from the TV episodes were played all dayand at one point in the day horseowners were six deep at the booth. Be proud to know that you are being well represented. When you see these folks, please take a minute to thank them for spending the time and effort on your behalf.

Myron McLane was a demonstrator yesterday(Friday) and Andrew Elsbree did so on Thursday. Horseowners were keen and showed great appetite for knowledge in these presentations - there was standing room only.

The AFA plans to move the show to AAEP Convention and on to other venues constantly keeping your Association and what it stands for in the horseowning public's view.

Respectfully,
John Blombach

Phantom Farrier wrote:
John, I stayed home so that my wife and daughters could enjoy the weekend at Equine Affair.

How are these guys representing me on my behalf? Why should I thank them?

You said all 300,000 of them, bit of an exageration isnt it, this would mean all who attended Equine Affair listened to the AFA Reps. are you kidding? I talked to my wife yesterday on the phone and she said the numbers were very low compared to other years because the lack of the well known clinicians.

So tell us John what did the AFA reps at Equine Affaire say to the horse owneing public about the Education and Certification.

How did they explain the need for shoes, what details were giveing about proper shoe fit and trimming. Just currious. Is the information provided on the AFA web site. Might save you some typeing.

The AFA has had a booth at Equine Affaire every year that I have gone. Nothing new.

The BS I am talking about is the politics. How leadership in the AFA continue to fight internaly and then put on a smile while in public. The certification is certainly a challenge it exciteing as a farrier to go for it. What I have a difficult time stomaching is the attitudes and egos.

Just the remark that we farriers need to thank the folks who took time to represent the AFA at Equine Affaire is BS. Does the AFA need to thank me for representing this trade on a daily basis with an open mind, professionalism and the respect I show horse owners and there horses. No they do not, this is my mode of operation and how I choose to do buisness. It is working very well for me without the AFA. As far as continueing education, in my opinion the AFA has really dropped the ball on that and it is puzzleing that this is still a part of there mission statement. The strength of the AFA is certification and that is also lacking.

It is becomeing obvious to me the real authority in the AFA has no desire to change or learn more.

I think a good role model for the AFA is the International Hoof care summit. Truely open minded and willing to accept we do not know a lot when it comes to hoofcare. Also inclusive to new ideas and methods. It was great listening to Dr. Moyer, truely a Vet with tons of experience. Interesting to hear his take on heart bars or frog support period. Would love to see a debate between Myron and Dr. Moyer. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to slam anyone or ideas. I use a lot of the ideas and products available. But we have to admit horses can go lame or get better inspite of us. For anyone to say this is how to do things and reject anything different does not make sense to me. Especially when I hear very experienced Vets and Farriers say we really do not know. I quess my expectations of the AFA is for them to be open minded, stop placeing so much effort and time protecting tradition and really move forward with education and more research. Sometime I see the AFA running scared and trying to protect a way of life instead of what is in the best interest of the horse.