Last Quarter of 2010

We have experienced a steady growth of our membership since our beginning and have had over 70% of our members sign on for another year. And a busy year it will be. We have six forges open around the countryside and it's pretty hectic trying to spend time at each one. We have a small group of members willing to travel into the country to spend from four to six hours demonstrating forging and blacksmith skills.
We also have some of our members collecting, donating and lending equipment, so that we can have enough gear to hold workshops and begin teaching and fostering the skills of blacksmithing and forging. We should have our base set up in a couple of months and hold regular workshops with a training program in place.
Last month we held our first A.G.M and while the same members were nominated we also have two extra members to help out with committee duties. Our website is a little slow in getting off the ground, but we will get there eventually.
I have just published my fifth edition of 'The Bellows', with articles on the Riverton forge and designing the ideal Tuyere by Malcolm Paine. Malcolm came over with his good wife, Audrey, to hold a workshop for us over two days. The subject was Forge Welding, to which most of us succeeded. We all need a lot of practice to be confident with this particular aspect of forging. It requires a lot of things to be set up properly for success. There's the fire set up the scarfing and preparation and the knowledge to know when it's time to act.
It's also good to know that blacksmithing is going strong around the country in WA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. We all touch base over the weeks with news and events.
Our first Adelaide Royal Show was enlightening and a success for all who competed. Next year will be even better with more entrants from ABASA to fill out the events.

There doesn't seem to be a lack of work available for those who want it. It is nice to know there are people tracking down our members to commission hand made work, and not the tinny chinese stuff being offered up these days.
In conclusion, we have two more meetings before the year is out. We will be planning on having a social get together in December to finish off what has been a great year for the Artist Blacksmiths of South Australia.