The Michigan Artist-Blacksmiths Association wishes to share this successful activity with all affiliates. Steve Alling, President, hopes you will find this information to be valuable. (Steve is at allingjan@yahoo.com for more information, mention ABANA in the subject line.)

What is this successful activity?
MABA holds an annual “election of officers-Christmas party.” The highlights of this meeting are three fold: Election of officers, gift exchange, auction and breaking bread together.

Why use this activity?
This annual meeting gives the opportunity to elect officers, thank the outgoing officers, raise money, enjoy a Christmas party, and most of all, to promote the growth of relationships between members.

Description of the successful activity.
When. MABA holds this daytime meeting on a Saturday in early December. The meeting starts at noon and ends at 5:00 PM. The officers arrange for a hall with kitchen facilities.

Family. The member’s entire family is invited and encouraged to attend the meeting—this is important. This family activity makes for a pleasurable experience with MABA that leads to greater identification with MABA. All this results in the member participating more fully in MABA. The family participation is one of the most important parts of this meeting.

Dinner. The members and their family enjoy a meal together. There is something about breaking bread together that makes for a feeling of closeness with one another. It promotes a feeling of harmony and togetherness. Anyway, it’s just plain fun. MABA provides meat, coffee and pop, the rest of the dinner is potluck. How nice it is to enjoy the variety of food prepared by so many people. The dinner ranks in importance with the aspect of being a family activity.

Gifts. People participate in a gift exchange of a hand forged item. The publicity for the event needs to stress the giving of hand-forged items. The reason for this is that ill feelings have occasionally occurred when someone gave a hand forged item and received a purchased item. Upon delivering their item, the persons name is attached to the item and that person is given a number. At the time of the exchange, the numbers are drawn at random and the holder of that number chooses an item. This process needs to be monitored carefully so that things come out even at the end.

Auction. The auction is a money-raising event for MABA. They stress that while items do not need to be hand made, they should be worth auctioning. Suppliers are asked to donate items. A professional auctioneer is hired because a professional does a better job than an amateur. A blacksmith then needs to assist the auctioneer to describe the items, etc.

MABA will add a new twist to the auction this year. The auction will be open to the public so they may see the beautiful work. The reason for the open auction is to (1) educate the public about quality blacksmithing, (2) highlight the individuals work, and (3) raise more money for the club.

Officers. The officers for the coming year are elected. The out-going officers are recognized for their work and effort.

Christmas. The officers arrive early to place Christmas decorations around the room. These decorations usually consist of tablecloths, Christmas tableware and a small Christmas tree that is lightly decorated. These decorations add a spirit to the meeting that is confluent with the time of the year.

How may you use this activity?
Read this description again. Think about how it might relate to your association. Is there a way that you might adapt this activity to one of your meetings? Be sure to discuss this activity with your board of directors.

Does MABA believe this activity to be successful?
Despite the uncertainties of mid-winter Michigan weather, this is one of the best attended functions of the year.