A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Your 38th Annual AFA Convention proved to be a busy, busy week of education, fellowship, and forward movement. I would be remiss if I failed to thank the volunteers who worked so hard to make this convention such a tremendous success. But, as with many things that happen in the AFA, the volunteer list is too long for me to manage a proper “thanks” to all who deserve it.
Our volunteers, our chapters, our sponsors, and our supporters were in their finest AFA form in Chattanooga, and we appreciate all they do. We couldn’t function without them! You’ll find the first reports on our Chattanooga activities on our convention website: www.afaconvention.com. More information will be posted soon, including planning information for your next convention: the AFA’s 39th Annual Convention in Portland, OR.
We left Chattanooga with new officers, new Board Representatives, and new vitality. It used to be that an AFA President found out at convention that he had been elected. He then went home and spent weeks and even months working to make the transition. With our new structure, I’m able to hit the ground running (as much as can be expected from an old, short-legged Cajun).
During convention, I made a solid attempt to visit with as many members as possible. If I missed you, or if you missed the opportunity to join us, I’ll be working to catch up with you.
Plato said if you want to become someone’s worst enemy you should tell him the truth. A lot of what the old guy said holds true, but I hope this doesn’t, because that’s the whole basis for what I intend to do in our conversations and throughout my term as your President. I intend to shoot straight and simply tell you the truth.
The first truth is that the AFA is the greatest organization going. The second truth is that, despite the first truth, the AFA needs work and maintenance. We’re coming up on our 40th anniversary, and we have foundational and organizational concerns that need to be addressed.
The AFA has five foundational tenets: Education, Communication, Certification, Research, and Innovation. Unfortunately, we’ve spent way too much time and effort on only one of those tenets… Innovation.
Everyone wants to be innovative, to start something new, brilliant, and big. And that’s okay; in fact, it admirable, as long as we first work to deliver on what we promised. Subsequently, during my term in office, I intend to work with the elected officers, the Board of Directors, the committee chairs, the chapters, and the individual members to focus the AFA on four of our five foundational tenets. Innovation can wait.
I have little interest in generating new ideas, developing new approaches, launching new projects and initiatives, or creating new committees. Instead, I want to focus our efforts so we’re working to deliver on what we’ve promised before we invent a new wheel.
Throughout my career, I have found that every problem I encounter is solvable by looking to the basics, by going back to foundational elements, and by not shying from hard work. And the AFA needs team players to join in and work as we tighten our structure, clearly outline our policies, streamline our committees, and build the AFA and its membership.
Join me in the coming year as we focus on education, build upon certification, and open up our communications. I’m always ready to visit with folks about our association and how we can improve upon it. Call me, email me, send me cards and letters. If you want to work for the betterment of farriery, the AFA and I will provide you with an opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work with me.
Again, I thank each and every one of the dedicated individuals that worked so hard on this convention, and I’m looking forward to working with all of you in the coming year.
Dick Fanguy, CJF
AFA President
Phone: 859-699-3109
Email: DickFanguy@gmail.com