Carolina Farriers Open Forum & Idea Exchange Mid-March 1996 * Issue #3 CCBWFA Official Newsletter *** Welcome to the Forum *** Its an active time for the CCBWFA and the farrier industry right now. Big changes are on the horizon, and a full season of events are planned. And the Forum is here to try and get you up to date. First a little old business. Our Presidents report from the BWFA National Convention last November in Wichita. It may shed a little light on the news that follows. ~~~~~ *** CCBWFA Presidents *** BWFA Convention Report (9 Nov 1995) After registration I went to the Convention where I met up with BWFA President Jim Church. The first thing I asked him was how the Board Meeting went. Jims surprising answer was that the Board had tabled his agenda and Ralph Casey would not let him attend the Meeting because he was a BWFA Officer, but not specifically a Board of Directors Member. Scott Ledbetter was barred from the meeting on the same grounds. The meeting was apparently closed for some very secret reason. As I understand the BWFA By-Laws, the Board operates through the President, and the President is allowed to break any tie votes that come before the Board. It hardly seems possible for him to perform those functions if he can be barred from the Board Meetings! I was unable to determine just how much of the (at least ninety minute) Board Meeting Jim and Scott were barred from. And after talking with a couple of the Board Members, I still dont have a clear view of what the BWFAs political policies are. Clearly Roberts Rules of Order, by which all the BWFAs Board Meetings are supposed to be conducted, were not applied here. Believe it or not, after all the political hassles were over Ralph went to the Convention and was rather pleasant. The attendance was very low compared to previous Conventions, but everybody seemed to have a good time. The auction brought in a lot of money for the Injured Farriers Fund and the BWFA. I learned a lot from demonstrations and the other farrier in attendance. It was good to see representatives from several schools at the farrier student contests. The General Membership Meeting went well. My proposal to bring the 1997 Convention back to NC was well received, and I hope we get it. The Marketplace was small, but I picked up information on several new farrier products. All and all, the Convention was small, but informative. I would like to see the Membership get involved to resolve the political conflicts of this organization and stop the alienation of key members of the farrier industry. It would be a shame to see everything the BWFA has achieved undone by internal politics. Thank you, Jeff ~~~~~ ** BWFA President Resigns! ** BWFA President Jim Church has announced his resignation from the office and from the BWFA effective 29 Feb 1996. I offered him the opportunity to address the membership without censorship in this Forum, but due to the threat of legal action, he chose not to. The loss of Mr. Church as President may well be the end of any hope for the BWFA to be moved toward legal and membership-representative operation according to valid by-laws. This does not bode well for the future of that association. ~~~~~ *** Seeking Apprenticeship *** William Wheaton of Mars Hill, NC has completed the EES correspondence course in horseshoeing and is looking for a farrier to apprentice under. Contact him at: (704) 689-3833 Rt. 2 Box 59W ~ Janes Ridge Road Mars Hill, NC ~ 28754 *** CCBWFA Going Strong! *** Although the future of the BWFA may appear uncertain, the CCBWFA is growing strong and breaking new ground! (See Marcus article, which follows.) The CCBWFA is prepared to continue serving working farriers and the horse owning community, regardless of what happens in Villanow. Remember, you do not have to be a BWFA Member to join the CCBWFA with full privileges! The CCBWFA is planning events and activities both for education and to provide our members the opportunity to market themselves. This association exists for the benefit of its members, and we want you to get involved and take full advantage. If you have ideas you want to share, send them to the Forum. Contact the CCBWFA Officers about participating in our events or putting on a CCBWFA event in your area. Attend our Board Meetings as a guest... no closed meetings here. Of the four Farrier Associations of which I am a member, the CCBWFA is by far the most active when it comes to serving its members. Please keep up your membership and let us know how we can serve you better. ~~~~~ *** History *** You know I enjoy the history of a lot of different things. Horseshoeing. Auto Racing. The War Between the States. I think we can learn a lot from history. I just got my copy of the Season Preview of NASCAR. They have so much in sponsorship from Busch Beer to Jackaroo Barby Sauce. Who would have ever thought that it would become so big? Back in the late 60s NASCARs only sponsors were the big three motor companies. When they suddenly pulled out, everyone just knew it was all over. But up came Winston and R.J.R. and the rest is history. What has all this got to do with Horseshoeing Associations? Well, a lot if we ever want to grow up and be someone. Yes, I know I have talked about this before. And some people even cared and put it in print. But I would just like to tell you about a small step forward... Its just a small step, but I think we should take a look at it. The CCBWFA is coming right along, slow but real sure. Scott Childres got up with the good people at BIO-ZIN and Mobile Milling Service. They came to a few of our clinics and liked what they saw and wanted to get involved. Scott and President Jeff Crane talked more with them about Sponsorship. It all got worked out and now BIO-ZIN is an official sponsor of the CCBWFA. Part of the money will go to help our Carolina Farrier Team at the Educational Symposium and U.S. National Championship Farrier Competition. What makes this a big little deal? Well, most farrier events have the horseshoe and nail companies come in to help. They will just say: We need you to help, and sometimes the companies come through. Its not like a business deal. Sponsorship is a two-way street. Its a give-and-take deal. The more you give, the more you get. BIO-ZIN puts money into the CCBWFA. The members of the Carolina Farrier Team put BIO-ZIN emblems on their farrier rigs. (Just like STP and Richard Petty!) Dont laugh. You have to start somewhere. At least one Team Member will go to each trade show to help the BIO-ZIN people talk to tack stores and people about their product. This is also good exposure for the CCBWFA, and helps us with our membership. When the Team Members go to farrier events, they wear their BIO-ZIN hats and shirts. Its a good deal for BIO-ZIN and the CCBWFA. It seems that most Farrier Associations think that only nail companies or the like can help them... Just like NASCAR didnt look past the auto makers back in the 60s. Now you see everything from Hardees to Batman on their cars. Think about all the people who would come in on our Associations if we would just ask. Look around. Why do we, as Farrier Associations, have the lowest number of members when compared to other horse-related organizations? Dont we want to get bigger? Are we really a closed shop? A club for a chosen few? I hope not. Are we keeping ourselves small for a reason? I dont know, but I hope we find our way real soon, because everybody else is growing. Are Scott and Jeff on the right track? YES! Sponsorship has to be give-and-take. Not just taking all the time. These two young farriers are going at it like a business. If our leaders would look at it like that, we could grow to where we should have been 15 years ago. We have come a long way and done a great job in most areas. Why not go at it all the way? We can learn a lot not only from our history, but from looking at other organizations and their histories as well. Thanks, Marcus Pierce ~~~~~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pierce Farrier Supply 1-800-452-2593 Family owned & operated VISA & MC accepted 9705 Pierce Road Indian Trail, NC 28079 Sponsor of the Born to Forge Farrier Contest May 4 at Brandywine Stables Brands carried by Pierce Farrier Supply: Champion Titanium St. Croix Forge Kerckhaert Iron Works Dutchtown JB Aluminum Horseshoes Emerson Anvil Brand Victory Cooper Capewell Mustad Delta Equilox Level-It DS Tools GE Tools W-Brand Save-Edge Simonds Bellota Castle Plastics, Inc. Thera-Flex Sorbathane ShockTamer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *** CCBWFA Political News *** At the recent CCBWFA Board Meeting, the letter of resignation from founding Vice President David Orr was accepted. (David resigned for personal reasons. No political in-fighting involved.) As outlined in the by-laws, the President appointed, and the Board confirmed a new VP... Mike Philbeck, a farrier and former Board Member. CCBWFA elections are coming up this summer. The President, Secretary, and Treasurer offices will be up, as will be the Board of Director seats currently held by Mike Stine, Shirley Campbell, Deb Stuart, and Smokey Puckett D.M.V. . President Jeff Crane, Secretary Debbie Crane, Treasurer Betty Orr, and Board Member Mike Stine have announced their intention to seek reelection. Anyone wishing to be a candidate for office should contact The President or Secretary by May 1st. Any candidate wishing to present a (reasonably brief) announcement to the membership may do so through the Forum. ~~~~~ *** Calandar of Events *** March 24 Young Riders 4-H Clubs Saddle-Up for St. Jude Trail Ride Brandywine Stables Call (704) 882-3699 March 30 NC Tool 5th Annual Open House & Clinic with Myron McLane & Danny Ward NCHA Meeting Contact NC Tool at (800) 446-6498 April 25-28 Tennessee Spring Classic and US Farrier Championships Contact Bucky Hatfield at (615) 653-4341 May 4 Pierce Farrier Supplys Born to Forge Contest at Brandywine Stables Contact Ben Pierce at (704) 753-4358 May 18-19 Carolina Pet Expo Charlotte Merchandise Mart. Contact CCBWFA Secretary. (704) 843-1466 May 23 CCBWFA Board Meeting Sagebrush Contact CCBWFA Secretary. (704) 843-1466 ~~~~~ *** CCBWFA in Cyberspace! *** Starting with the last issue, the CCBWFA Forum is now available on the World Wide Web of the InterNet. Those of you who know what that means can find it at: http://www.macbroker.com/:cserve/horseshoer/ Those of you who dont know what the WWW and Net is all about... Well, its time to learn. Youll be amazed at how much horse and farrier oriented information there is waiting for you there. When youre ready for a tour, let me know. ~~~~~ *** Press Release *** Farrier Bruce Daniels publishes first book; Sunday on the Farm is now available. Gloucester, MA--Farrier Bruce Daniels of Mullica Hill, New Jersey is the author of a book now available to readers in the United States. SUNDAY ON THE FARM is a collection of amusing and informative remembrances of Bruce's early years as a farrier, when he shod horses at harness tracks in the northeastern United States. Moving from South Carolina to New Hampshire with the race meet schedule, Bruce encountered many unforgettable characters and circumstances, which he has collected between the pages of this book. The 1960s were tough times in America if you were a farrier. Learning was by doing, observing, and experimenting. Bruce developed an acute sense of character judgment as he was developing his forging skills, which need to be considerable in order to make it at the harness track. Very few machine made shoes were available to him, stock had to be swedged by hand, bar shoes were commonly called for, and trainers paid painstakingly close attention to the angles and shoeing modification on each and every foot. It's hard to imagine that the shoers had much time left over for fun, but they obviously did, and Bruce recalls those days with undisguised fondness. He credits much of his later-life accomplishments to the work ethic and skill values he learned on the backside of tracks like Yonkers, Roosevelt, Freehold, and Rockingham. Along the way, he tells tales of shoeing legends like Buddy Benner, Henry Benner Sr., Tim McCarthy, Elmer and Ray Kephart, Andy Siwiec, Hank Wonsey, and many more. Designed to entertain as well as to inform, this book includes actual photographs of the farriers at work, and will give even the most casual reader a taste of a day gone by, a sport that may be fading, and a profession that would later blossom, thanks in good part to the role of Bruce Daniels in encouraging other farriers to better their skills. SUNDAY ON THE FARM was written in its entirety by Bruce Daniels, with editing by Henry Heymering. It appears under the imprint of St. Eloy Publishing and will be available on a retail basis through the mail-order bookstore of Hoofcare & Lameness Magazine. This special book is a "small press" edition and quantities will be limited. To order, send $30 per book plus $4 per book ($7 per book in Canada; $15 per book elsewhere) for postage and handling; make check payable to Hoofcare & Lameness and mail to: PO Box 6600, Gloucester, MA 01930 USA. Fax Visa/Mastercard credit card orders to (508)283-8775. Send US funds only. ~~~~~ ** Forum Advertising ** The following rates apply to all Forum ads with the exception of the CCBWFA membership application: Full Page = $40.00 Half Page = $20.00 Quarter Page = $10.00 Eighth Page = $5.00 To purchase ad space, contact the CCBWFA Secretary at: 7101 New Town Road Waxhaw, NC 28173 (704) 843-1466 If your ad contains a picture, reproduction will be best if the image is black & white (not grayscale or color) on paper, or a Macintosh or PC graphic file on a 3.5 diskette. E-mailed graphic files or FAXed-in ads can also be arranged. ~~~~~ ** Participating in the Forum ** The Forum will be distributed the 15th of every other month. All materials for an issue must be received by the first day of the month of publication. The Forum cannot take responsibility for materials sent in. If you would like something returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can send your print or 3.5 diskette submissions to the Forum through the mail to: Millwater Publishing P.O. Box 461 Locust, NC 28097 Or you can send E-mail to: 71214.2340@compuserve.com This paper exists as an avenue for communication for your benefit. We hope you will use it often and well! ~~~~~ Carolinas Chapter Membership Application --circle one-- Farriers $20 Suppliers $20 Veterinarians $20 Associations $20 Horseowners $17 Trainers $17 Youth Membership $10 Name: Phone: Address: City: State: Zip: Date of Birth: Organizations you are a member of: Please make checks payable to: CCBWFA --send to-- Debi Crane, Secretary 7101 New Town Road Waxhaw, NC 28173 (704) 843-1466