Saturday, June 28, 2008

Web worth waiting for......

The AFA is distinguishing itself once again….
See for yourself at www.AmericanFarriers.org

As always, I'd value your feedback.

Friday, June 20, 2008

It's about the Farrier ...

It seems by your comments to my previous post that many of you have misconstrued my statement and are on a mission to seek and destroy rather than grow, educate and understand.

My Statement, "It is incumbent upon us as an association to be the best skilled craftsman we can be, to not just know what we do…but why we do it and be able to articulate it with a clear, concise and unified voice. This will create the next generation of real farriers, …not just installers of keg shoes," is not about the use of keg shoes, it is about the skill set needed by the farrier who is applying keg shoes. No box of shoes can replace the skill and knowledge of an educated farrier. Keg shoes are fine, but they will not do a horse justice if they are not applied as part of a total plan put together by a highly educated hoof care professional who takes into account ALL of the aspects to properly fit and apply that shoe.

So if you feel that you were under attack for using keg shoes, you were mistaken. It is thought, education, skill and understanding that are the hallmarks of real farriers whether applying plastic, plywood, handmade or keg shoes.

Simply stated: It is the Farrier that makes the job not the materials!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Continued Dialogue ... AFA May Board Meeting

Last month in Lexington KY, I had the honor of presiding over my first meeting of the newly restructured AFA Board of Directors. It was a very productive weekend with open and earnest communications strengthening relations between the BoD and elected officials. Prior to this face-to-face gathering I have worked hard to foster a dialogue with the BoD by inviting all to audit the Executive Committee’s teleconference meetings which handle the day-to-day business of the AFA along with any other pertinent and time sensitive matters. As many as 9 BoD members have been on the line during a single call allowing the EC input from the BoD on each and every decision facing the AFA. This is a new and improved level of cooperation among leadership for the AFA, it is this good will that weaves the tapestry of strong foundation for our organization.

In that spirit, the BoD was able to dissect, question and approve the 08-09 budget in less than 4 hours! At the same time the BoD elected John Blombach to fill the Office of Treasurer which was left vacant when Rick Burten resigned in March. John had served as the AFA treasurer for past 3 years and was instrumental in the successful development of the 08-09 budget.

Several By-law changes were passed, the most celebrated being that the Secretary of the AFA no longer must be a member of the BoD. I have appointed Thom Gabel to fill this position during my tenure as President as has done an excellent job for the past year keeping all AFA minutes and agendas in order. Thom also serves as our Member Benefits Chair.

Membership numbers continue to hold steady and were an item of revenue very closely scrutinized in the budget. As an association we must be very aware of what we offer our members and continue to make their investment in the AFA worthwhile. For many of members, including myself, the biggest AFA benefit of AFA membership has always been the education and mentoring opportunities. Not surprisingly, it is one of the least expensive to offer. In the trying economic times that we are facing we should look to strengthen the AFA by designing educational opportunities from one member to another. I would encourage the chapters and all members to pro-actively get involved in sharing our most important asset; the knowledge of our members.

It is incumbent upon us as an association to be the best skilled craftsman we can be, to not just know what we do…but why we do it and be able to articulate it with a clear, concise and unified voice. This will create the next generation of real farriers, …not just installers of keg shoes.

Okay, back to the voice of the Board! When I queried the BoD for their own take on specific AFA matters and they shared their thoughts and feedback with candor -- not all flattering! -- and some very constructive suggestions. Some of the suggestions have already been put into action. Others will take time and, frankly, commitment from those of us who have the power to create positive change. The desire to continue this direct dialogue is what led to the idea for me to write my own blog. Now when it comes to blogs, Web 2.0 strategies and social networking, I confess that I am a neophyte. I can barely keep up when discussing these issues with my millennial generation kids. But the correspondence I have received since taking office -- which came from all over the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Europe -- reinforced my belief that technology and the Internet specifically can change the farrier industry and improve the lives of farriers in ways we never dreamed. So every week or so, I'll be filling you in on my personal farrier experiences and seeking your feedback on AFA issues that consume much of my time.

Tomorrow I fly to Oklahoma for three days of tester updates. Next week, I'll fill you in on some of the subjects we discussed and seek your opinion on the issues that impact you in some way or another.

Stay tuned for more and I look forward to hearing from you.