I sent the following notice today to the ABS Board of Directors:
Board Members
I just got off the telephone with Joe Keeslar in France and advised him of what I am now telling you. Sally and I have been involved full time with first the development and implementation, and then the management of the ABS Website, Membership Application, and numerous related ABS internet services since December 2008. I wanted to tell you that effective June 8th Sally and I will be retiring from all of these positions. We have worked for the ABS as volunteers while absorbing all of the costs for computer equipment, software, training, and many related services. It has been our privilege to serve the members of the American Bladesmith Society and to help promote the educational mission of the ABS.
I will be sending a detailed description of our past duties to you so that arrangements can be made to hopefully maintain all of the current services offered to our members and the public. I will make a formal announcement to our members in the coming days.
I look forward to continuing my work on the Board of Directors and will continue to be available to work on any new tasks assigned to me for the ABS. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Board meeting in Atlanta in June.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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You know my feelings Dan. Go for it.
Brion
Brion Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
ABS Mastersmith
Thanks a MILLION Dan and Sally for all you do and have done!
Not sure this is the place for unsolicited commentaries re nonprofit missions and personnel management, so I'll refrain.
ALOHA and MAHALO (love/respect and thanks), Phil
Thanks Dan and Sally. I guess we will have to make due. We will still get input from y'all from time to time on the forum right?
Thank you Brion, Phil, and Jared.
Yes, Jared! There are many tasks that I perform and will continue to perform that are largely behind the scenes that serve the members and advance our mission of education.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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Thanks to Dan and Sally, for all that they have done for the ABS!! Enjoy your retirement from your current work; though I know that you will continue to support the ABS and the forged blade.
I look forward to seeing some more Dan Cassidy knives!
Dan and Sally,
You two have done an amazing job. I don't know if anyone else could have done it, but what is more, I don't know if anyone else WOULD have done it. Your hard work, technical prowess, and generosity is humbling. Thank you so much.
Lin and Kay
Dan and Sally,
In the short time I've been a member, I've come to appreciate all that the two of you do for the ABS. God Bless you both!
Bob
Thank you Dan!
Thank you Sally!
Your generous donation of your time and skills to better the ABS is much appreciated -- you are quite a team <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Brian
I've never met you or wife, but have been very thankful for the work you do. And I only know a few of the things in what is a long list of responsibilities. Thanks so much for all you've done.
Jeremy
Jeremy Lindley, Apprentice Smith
Thank you Steve, Lin, Kay, Robert, Brian, and Jeremy!
Sally and I really appreciate your comments and it has been our pleasure to work for you and the rest of our ABS members as volunteers.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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Sally and I received this email from Jim Batson this morning. Thank you Jim.
Dan & Sally,
I have been away from my computer for a while. That is the reason for being tardy with this e-mail.
One of my horror dreams when I was president was that you and Sally would drive off one of those Colorado mountains and leave us with the website and all that you and Sally were doing.
I had no clue how to enter the website or what to do. I had no idea how the ABS could recover from such an event. I new this day when you and Sally would retire would come.
You and Sally's work in establishing the ABS website in time of need was monumental. The construction of website not only furthered the art and craft of the forged blade but modernized the operation of the ABS. The maintenance of the website, monitoring of the forums, responsibility for membership year after year would be tiring. You and Sally deserve a rest.
As past president, I want to thank you and Sally for all you did during my term to further the goals of the ABS. We tried a lot of things some worked some didn't. I want to thank you for your support in those efforts.
I had no idea when I first met Sally and you in Ohio that you all would have such a large impact on the ABS.
I guess simply said, Thanks for a job well done. You and Sally's presence in these endeavors will be missed.
God Bless,
Jim Batson
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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Thank you both for all you've done.
Dale
Dale Huckabee
Journeyman Smith
dalehuckabeeknives.weebly.com
Thank you Dale!
And thank YOU for all of your work and contributions on the ABS Forum over the years.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Sally and I just received the below email from Jay and Nancy Hendrickson. Thank you Jay and Nancy!
Dear Dan & Sally,
God bless you both, for only He knows the effort that both of you put into the ABS. Congratulations on your retirement from our web management job.
You may get a chance to work in the Shop more often now that the work load is off your shoulders. Looking back, I believe only you two, within the ABS could have pulled us out of the disaster that we faced a number of years ago.
As a fellow Board Member, I want to personally thank you for a job well done. Looking forward to seeing you at the Blade Show.
With our best regards,
Jay & Nancy
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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