Dear ABANA Chapters,

Circumstances have forced me to address one of the issues of the relationship between ABANA and its chapters, that of following the policies and rules of ABANA. Much time in the past month has been taken up with addressing anvil shoots by a small minority of ABANA Chapters. Many know that this is a practice banned by ABANA. For those who do not, this letter serves as the official notice of that ban, based on my responsibility as noted in the 2000 ABANA Board Meeting Minutes (Motion 18 of that meeting). This letter will also be posted on the ABANA web site along with a press release and other information regarding anvil shoots. A version of this letter and the press release will also be in the next issue of The Anvil's Ring. The official policy as stated in 1997 (and approved in motion 346):

WHEREAS, ABANA officially condemns the practice of "Anvil Shoots" whereby an anvil is caused to fly into the air by use of explosives for the purpose of entertainment.

NOW therefore be it and it is hereby resolved:

No Anvil Shoot or like form of public entertainment by propelling anvils into the air will be scheduled, conducted, allowed, or directly or indirectly advertised, publically announced or noted:

1. At any ABANA sponsored public or private event;
2. At any event sponsored by any other individuals or organizations who have used ABANA's name in their promotion of the event;
3. At any event, Chapter function, school or demonstration sponsored by other individuals or organizations that borrow, rent, or use ABANA's Mobile Teaching Station at the event of any other ABANA equipment or property.

This prohibition was not enforced in the past by Board action, but now it must be. ABANA would be legally liable if it does not enforce its policy on anvil shoots and harm of any kind occurs, and that liability would cripple and could ruin ABANA. ABANA simply cannot accept the liability for the risk that anvil shooting presents, an activity that it cannot control and might not even be aware of. The unacceptable risk and legal jeopardy that anvil shooting exposes ABANA to in this present day and age forced the Board into prohibiting anvil shoots at any ABANA function, including chapter functions.

One of the Board's legal responsibilities is to enforce all the policies of ABANA. Organizations live or die by following (or not) their by-laws, procedures and policies. When chapters join ABANA they agree to "….abide by the applicable ABANA by-laws and other structured operating procedures" (Article III-A, Section 2, f). The Board, representing the membership of ABANA, asks the chapters to follow motions of 1997 and 2000 and not hold anvil shoots at chapter events. Any ABANA Chapter that feels anvil shooting is more important than their relationship with ABANA is free to leave our organization and we will wish them well and hold no ill feelings towards them. However, if a chapter holds an anvil shoot at any chapter event, then based on their failure to abide by the ABANA by-laws and the unacceptable risk their actions pose to ABANA, the chapter must be removed from the roll of ABANA Chapters effective the moment the fuse is lit. This is the legal responsibility of the ABANA Board of Directors, and one we do not take lightly. I respectfully but strongly urge all chapters and their membership, both those who are ABANA members and those who are not, to seriously consider the issues that are at stake for ABANA and your chapter, and not hold anvil shoots. We all have much to do to continue the advancement of blacksmithing, for our membership, present and future, and in the eyes of the public. Let us unite and use our limited time and resources to move blacksmithing forward into the 21st century stronger than ever before.

Safe and productive forging.

Doug Learn, President
Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America, Inc.
121 Pebble Woods Drive
Doylestown, PA 18901-2907
(215) 489-1742
cjfdlearn@mindspring.com