I retired from the ABS Board of Directors at the Atlanta Board meeting last Friday (June 1st) and all of my volunteer jobs, duties, and responsibilities with the American Bladesmith Society. In the coming weeks I will be phasing myself out of these positions and duties.
This is what I told the Board at end of the Atlanta Board of Directors meeting:
I was contacted in the Fall of 2008 by ABS Chairman Greg Neely and asked if I would serve on the ABS Board of Directors and be the webmaster for the ABS. I agreed to serve our members and advance our Mission of Education.
It was a full time job from the beginning for not only myself but also my wife (Sally) when we took over the development of the ABS website which had already been in development for a year before with another team. After about 18 months of full time work the new website went online and Sally took over membership and I became the Webmaster for not only the new website but also the ABS Forum, Monthly email Newsletter, Google Apps, ABS YouTube Channel, and soon thereafter ABS Twitter and ABS Pinterest. Sally and I served in these positions for many years without a salary or reimbursement for our expenses for software, hardware, training, and travel.
We assumed all of these duties with enthusiasm and were honored to have had the opportunity to serve the ABS and our members. I have worked hard to make a difference and only hope that both Sally and I have made a difference.
I believe strongly in term limits and do not believe that any position is a lifetime appointment. It has now been almost nine years that I have served as a Board member and as nothing lasts forever my time is now coming to a close. I am retiring from the ABS Board of Directors and all of my duties as of the close of this Board meeting tonight.
Just because I am retiring tonight from the ABS Board of Directors does not mean that I am slowing down in any way. I have many interests that I want to pursue and devote time to including travel, photograph, videography, writing, and work on another Board of Directors that I serve on in Colorado to name just a few.
It has been my privilege to have served the members of the ABS and wish each of you the best in the future.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Dan, thank you and Sally for all the efforts and sacrifices you have both made. Please know that I say this with all sincerity. I wish you much happiness and success in your endeavors.
Chris
Dan / Sally
Thank you for all of your work. You will be missed but I understand.
Anthony
One of my duties was to serve as the ABS School Coordinator for Heavin Forge Knife Making School in South Africa which is operated by Master Smiths Heather and Kevin Harvey. I want to share their email to me from today and appreciate their kind words.
Hi Dan
We wish you and Sally all the best. Thank you both for all your hard work with the ABS.
We want to thank you personally for all the help and encouragement you have given us. We would not have been able to get our school off the ground if it wasn’t for your help.
We hope that you can both now have time to enjoy all your other interests.
Please keep in contact.
Kind regards
Heavin
Heather and Kevin
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Dan and Sally, thank you for all you've done and best of luck with your future endeavors.
Dale
Dale Huckabee
Journeyman Smith
dalehuckabeeknives.weebly.com
Thank you Chris, Anthony, and Dale for your kind comments.
I appreciate your participation and all of your posts on our Forum. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge, ask questions, and further our Mission of Education.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
You know my feelings Dan, but I will say them here also. It has been a pleasure working with you on our ABS projects. Without you and Sally we would not have this forum or our vastly improved website. Thank you both for everything you have done for the members and the ABS. You will be missed.
Take care and enjoy your passions.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
thank you for all you have done Dan, I know it was at times a thankless job, but you did it well and deserve our thanks.
MP
Dan,
Thank you and Sally for your long service to the ABS! Y'all have done an outstanding job!
Bob
Dan & Sally,
Thank You simply does not cover the debt we all owe you for bringing an ABS presence to the internet. Without you, there would be no ABS presence on the net.
I can also tell you that there is no such thing as "retirement", you just get very busy doing something else! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Ed Caffrey, ABS MS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
www.CaffreyKnives.net
Thank you Brion, Matthew, Bob, and Ed. I really appreciate it.
I also appreciate what each of you have contributed in your own way on the ABS Forum. This is an established community that contains reliable information and where serious questions are asked by our ABS members and expert advice is provided.This is the reason that fellow knife makers and knife enthusiasts in 125 countries around the world have come to view this Forum seeking expert information that they know that they can depend on and have now viewed our Topics more than 21,000,000 (21 Million) times.
The participation and generous sharing of information and techniques on the ABS Forum by our members and outstanding Moderation Team fulfills our Mission of Education. I am sure that our Founder Bill Moran could never have imagined the worldwide reach of this internet asset and would be proud of your efforts. I know that I am proud of you.
Please take a moment to watch this one minute video clip of ABS Founder Bill Moran to see my point.
[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iIFwYAjDQk [/media]
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
I will be pursuing my interests in landscape and travel photography and videography. Below are links to my Instagram and Vimeo sites.
https://www.instagra...adoproductions/
Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/user37614508
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Thank you and your wife for all the diligence Dan! Thank you for sharing your talent and being such a huge part of ABS.
Dan,
Most folks don't know how much work it really takes to accomplish what you and your wife have done. I appreciate what you two have done and look forward to meeting you one day.
God Speed on your new endevors,
Matthew Orr
A big thanks to you and your wife Dan. It seems you have done an excellent job and good luck in your future endeavors!
