A Message from the Communications Committee
One of the difficulties maintaining a blacksmith organization of our size and variety, is maintaining a common sense of community and ensuring members’ voices are consistently heard. That task is all the greater in the time of CoVID19 – especially since the fairgrounds where the MC’s located are currently closed to public gatherings.
While the NWBA has received feedback that our Digital Demos have provided a boost to our blacksmith community in turbulent times, we also recognize these online demos aren’t enough, nor do they compare to standing around a fire, catching up on the state of the NWBA and life in general with fellow members and friends.
Since our ability to gather around a real fire is hindered for the time being, we invite all NWBA Members to join our first Fireside Chat on Tuesday, June 2nd at 7pm for community talk and feedback. Please know, joining these fireside chats will help set the agenda for the next General Meeting on June 27th. While financial and budget questions will be taken note of at the FCs, financial feedback and concerns will be addressed at the General Meeting on Tuesday, June 27th.
Unlike Digital Demos, our members will be the focus of these FCs, with options for video and mics to be engaged so attendees can be seen and heard as they choose. These chats will be held every first and third Tuesday of the month until we can gather around a real fire again. While the FC schedule might change overtime, that’s the plan for now.
If you’re unable to join any of these meetings but still have questions or feedback to share for the committees or board to address, please send them to nwbainfo@gmail.com!
The NWBA wants to offer a special thank you to Jerry Zygmuntowicz, as he’s offered to host our first two Fireside Chats on June 2nd and June 16th. We also want to thank NWBA members who’ve offered feedback to our organization, as the seeds they planted have developed into these Fireside Chats. Finally, we want to thank our members who are putting considerable effort into organizing and facilitating these online meetings, as the intention behind them is to help our members’ voices be heard!