Harold Oney Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Does anyone know of an active blacksmith assoc. in Kentucky. I would perfer one in Central KY but any would be great. I have tried to contact both that can be found on the net and have had no respons. Thanks in advance, Harold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I think the Kentucky blacksmith association is gone..The only one i really know of is a small association..South East Kentucky blacksmiths.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Hall Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I live in southern Indiana and have a friend in KY who is actually a memeber of the Indiana Blacksmiths Association because of this I beleive, not sure how far away we are, but we meet the second saturday of every month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptree Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 The last meeting of the KBA was held in my Floyds Knobs Indiana shop some years ago. The IBA is very active and has groups all around Indiana. The 2 closest to Louisville are Vernon Indiana, and Paoli. If you look at the IBA just look at the various groups. All interested are welcome and we only ask that safety glasses be worn and that after 2 meetings you join. The IBA is a bargain as well.. I drive to Nicholasville from time to time as I have a brother that lives in that area. The Paoli meetings would be about a 3 hour drive. In Paoli is The Southern Indiana Meteorite Mashers, with Billy Merrit, the "King of Junkyard Damascus" as Forgemaster. Many knife makers and several general smiths in that group. The Vernon Group is very friendly as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Chambers Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I was kinda sad myself when I saw the last time the KBA website was updated or used at all lol I'm more of a solo artist but it would be nice to have something, I'm thinking we might be able to do a hookup with the Kentucky Horseshoeing School and rebuild a KBA of sorts or maybe something new. I built the facility for the shoeing school and its massive so now the only trick would be talking Mitch the owner into this idea Ill make some calls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I would love to help get something moving. Seems like Kentucky has a pretty sorry show for blacksmithing organizations. I know of about five people plus myself who might be interested in attending meetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fciron Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I was secretary of the KBA when things went kaput. I still have a mailing list and I've saved the email addresses of people who have contacted me about blacksmithing. (I am afraid that I am somewhat irregular about replying to these inquiries, but I try to answer everyone eventually.) I can share the list or forward information if any events are organized. It may even be within my responsibility to use the groups stamps for a mailing. Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Oney Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 Ok boys, Lets get this thing rolling. I'm in for the new organization. What about you folks??? When and where can we meet to discuss its future> Harold :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Ok boys, Lets get this thing rolling. I'm in for the new organization. What about you folks??? When and where can we meet to discuss its future> Harold I'm with you! I think we have the man power here to set this thing on it's feet again. I'm not sure what caused the last one to fold....all I've heard is "passed-way-down-the-line" rumors and those aren't reliable. However, in my opinion it might be better to start and entirely new organization. If there was any ill will when the last group bit the dust, that might hurt our active membership. With a new organization maybe we could get an "all hands on deck," fresh start, situation. Hey wait.....maybe I aughta join ABANA before I start advising the reconstruction of an abana group! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Oney Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 I will do some homework. I understand Wesley will be out of town for a couple of weeks and with marching band my weekends are full so when Wesley gets back, say early October, lets set a meeting place and work this out. Harold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Sounds great! We need to figure out a pretty central location idealy. Who is willing to host a meeting? My shop is large enough and I currently have four forges and two blowers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Hey wait.....maybe I aughta join ABANA before I start advising the reconstruction of an abana group! LOL Just so you know; there are no "ABANA groups". We are all totally independent and not connected to ABANA in any way. They used to have what they called "chapters" of ABANA but they changed to "affiliates" due to potential liability. Kinda like "friends with no benefits". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fciron Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 The KBA still has money in the bank and a suspended 501C3 status as a non-profit educational organization. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Oh OK! Sounds like I'm a little behind on ABANA stuff. LOL FC: sounds like we should stick with KBA then. What were annual dues when it was going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Oney Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 I'm all for bringing the KBA back to live. Maybe we can round up some old members. 501c3 is huge ( having some expirence with getting one!) Firey, you shop may be a good place to start and then we can look at a meeting place. I have an idea and a location that I may want to throw at the group but it is a team effort. just getting it started back is the primary goal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Barter Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 It seems there hasn't been a response to this since 2011. Did anything happen with this? I am for resurrecting the KBA too. I am planning on joining the Indiana Blacksmith Association because I know how active they are. I have even been to a couple of events years ago. I am interested in taking my blacksmithing past the hobby stage and would love an active Kentucky group. I will try to be more active and responsive via IForgeIron. I have been away for a few years. ( Sorry, Glenn :) ) If anyone wants to contact me, drop me an email at Rick.Barter@gmail.com. Thanks, rvb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Lutes Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Rick did you get any response to this post of sept 2012. I am a newbie so to speak but would be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtnmanky Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Looks like this may be long dead, but is anyone out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I'm in Adair Co! Full time smith and not enough time to host or organize anything. When anyone offers to start a group the interest is high and attendence low. I think we are all too spread out and no one is able to step to the plate to boost enthusiasm, and organize group events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 There use to be a lot of industrial smiths around the Louisville area, that's why the association was formed there..Many are retired now and many don't have the time it seems and like Dave said are so thinly spread out over the state it makes it hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Spread out is probably our biggest problem where attendance is concerned too. In most cases there are maybe 3-4 members living close, say within 50 miles, the rest live more than 100 miles away and some have to fly or take a ferry. Alaskan ferry rides tend to be all day affairs unless we're talking Haines to Skagway, or catching the one to the airport at Sitka. Anyway, between paycheck jobs and distance we're doing well to get more than 10 guys show for a meeting. Reality can be Soooo disappointing can't it? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMaelstrom Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I just moved to the Louisville/Lexington Kentucky area from New York. I work in New Albany, and would be down if something were to start up. I'm living in Lawrenceburg atm and don't have my set up redone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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