I would like to thank all of those caring people who generously donated to the ABANA Relief Fund. I am speaking for all of the recipients of the much needed help including myself. In many cases it makes all the difference in being able to rebuild our shops, our businesses and our lives. I will post an ongoing progress report of the rebuilding of my shop on the ABANA web site.

Make your reservations now for the exciting classes and tours available at the 2006 ABANA Conference! Sharpen your skills with a panel of four of ABANA's accomplished professionals in the Professional Development Workshop. Topics include financial planning, contract law, proposal estimates, successful studio habits, and winning commissions. The price for this wealth of information is $20.

If you have never been to Seattle you may want to take an amphibious tour of Seattle in a historic World War II landing craft lovingly call a "Duck." The The Duck Tour is conducted by a Coast Guard-certified maritime Captain who will take you on a sweeping tour from the conference site to several of Seattle's hot spots and back again by land and water for only $30.

You definitely do not want to miss your chance to see Samuel Yellin's gates at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in a guided tour led by ABANA's own Clare Yellin. During the Yellin Gate Tour Clare will offer in-depth discussion of her grandfather's work in Seattle and the history behind its creation. Besides the fabulous Yellin gates you will get to view one of the finest Asian Art collections in the world for only $25. To make reservations for any of these programs, call Marcus Vickery in the ABANA Conference Office at 706.310.0323.

Also don't forget to vote for the best 2006 ABANA Conference poster. To vote visit: www.metalsmithinghowto.com then click on "ABANA posters".

Remember that ABANA counts on the Auction to help fund programming. Please consider sending an auction item even if you can't attend the conference. Complete shipping details, as well as complete information about the conference, are at abanaseattle2006.com

Dave Mudge, Affiliate Liaison
Member Services Division
Chairman Internet Committee
985.735.0049
davemudge@abana.org