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- Oct 28, 2006
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As many of you know, over the past six months or so the idea of creating a custom knife collectors association has been kicked around on this forum and others places.
As a result of pretty intense discussion at Jerry Fisk’s Micro Show last October regarding issues confronting the custom knife industry a group of us started looking into the possibility of starting such an organization to address these issues. As some of you may remember, I started a thread here on this forum to get feedback as to if there was interest, support and need to move forward in developing this endeavor. I got much feedback ideas and opinions as to how and what a collectors association should be and could possibly achieve. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510840
Well over the last six months a project start-up team made up of 15 collectors, makers and a 6 member advisory committee have made quite a bit of progress creating the infrastructure for this organization. Though the roots of the organization are set into the heritage of the forged blade it is and will be a cross functional association created to address the issues confronting the entire custom/handmade industry and we truly hope will be made up and supported by ALL custom knife collectors, makers, dealers, and individuals that support such.
We plan to kick-off the CKCA at this year’s Blade Show and initiate a general membership drive at that time. Though much of the information below is still being developed and finalized, I felt it important to share the direction in which we are moving.
The CKCA will conduct a seminar to introduce the association at the Blade Show so please join us in room #108 @ 10:00am on Sunday Morning June 1.
We will hold a drawing at the seminar for a JR Cook Blue Bayou Hunter similar to the one shown below. With one chance to win going to every paid member of the CKCA.
Feel free to check out our website @ www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com
Please bare in mind that the site is still under construction, however you should get an idea as to the direction we are going.
We feel that this organization will benefit the entire custom knife community and truly hope we will get everyone’s support and help in getting it off the ground.
We invite you to ask questions, comment and/or state your views as to our future direction and progress via this thread.
Or contact us @ customknifecollectorsassociation@yahoo.com
**************************
Here's a document detailing our progress so far.
It list our LLC Partners, Project Start-up team members, Advisory Council members, the beginnings of a suggested 24 month start-up plan/structure, membership criteria and our list of potential accomplishments and goals.
Mission Statement:
The purpose of which is to recognize and promote the artistic significance of handmade knives in the 21st century, to advance their collection and conservation, and to support the craft and creative expression of the individuals who design and make them.
CKCA LLC Partners
The association has initially been set up as a Limited Liability Company however will be converted to a Non Profit Corporation at an undetermined date. The LLC partners will serve as acting board of directors for the first 2 years or until conversion.
Collector’s Association Project Start-up Team
This team will work to draft and implement association policy/procedure, infrastructure, manage start-up/operations and address start-up concerns and/or problems of the association for the first 2 years.
After the first 2 years an elected Board of Directors will replace and resume the responsibilities of the LLC Partner/acting board.
After 18 months The Project Start-up Team and acting board will form a nomination committee to nominate prospective board members. The entire Project Start-up Team, LLC Partners and the Advisory Council will vote on the nominations to elect an eleven member Board of Directors. This eleven member board will elect from among themselves a Chairman; Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasure. This process will repeat every 12 months thereafter, nominating and electing a new board and officers.
CKCA LLC Partners
Kevin Jones
Larry Bailey
Steven Garsson
Jerry Fisk
Lin Rhea
Project Start-up Team Members:
Kevin Jones (collector) – Project Lead
Roger Pinnock (collector) – Membership Committee
Keith Montgomery (collector) – Membership Committee
Mark Segars (collector) – Legal Council
Steven Garsson (collector) – Art Director – Membership Committee
Jim Treacy (collector) – Finance Committee
Bob Starkey (collector) – Chairman Website/Electronic Media Committee
Paul Kessler (collector) – Finance Committee
Larry Bailey (collector) – Special Events & Projects Committee
Chuck Kerwin (collector) – Membership Committee
Murray White (collector) – Membership Committee
Chuck Ward (photographer) – Director of Photography
Jerry Fisk (maker) - Chairman Special Events & Projects Committee
Lin Rhea (maker) - Special Events & Projects Committee
Burt Foster (maker) - Website/Electronic Media Committee
Collector’s Association Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is made up of 4 to 6 custom knife industry leaders to advise the Project Start-up Team/Board of Directors. Advisory Council members will serve an undetermined term and will be full members.
Advisory Council Members:
Daniel Winkler (maker) – Advisor Membership Committee
Steve Shackleford (editor) – Advisor Special Events & Projects Committee
Les Robertson (dealer) – Chairman Finance Committee
Bob Neal (dealer)
Phil Lobred (collector)
AG Russell (dealer) – Advisor Finance Committee
Membership Criteria:
• ALL custom knife collectors will be invited to join FULL membership and all responsibilities and benefits associated with such membership.
• ALL custom knife dealers will be invited to join FULL “Dealer” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (2*) dealer members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Dealers can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• ALL custom knife makers will be invited to join FULL “Maker” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (3*) maker members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Makers can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• Editors and/or writers will be invited to join FULL “Media” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (1*) Media members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Media members can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• Sheathmakers, engravers, scrimshaw artist, carvers, blade temperers, photographers etc. of custom knives will fall under the same parameters as set for custom knife maker memberships.
*Non collector members can hold no more than a total of (4) board of director seats at a given time.
The association Project "start-up" team will examine each membership application to determine which membership category the applicant should be assigned too. Example: will rule as to if a specific collector applicant is actually a collector who sells a custom knife from time to time or a dealer.
Potential Task, Accomplishments and Goals:
• To increase awareness and acceptance of custom knives and the collecting of such as a respected and appreciated art form.
• To create a worldwide united and organized group of custom knife collectors, makers and dealers to assist in getting corporate, media and art community support for the betterment of the industry.
• To seek out and interact with related groups and organizations in attempt to create new interest and to help in recruiting new custom knife collectors.
• To educate and mentor new custom knife collectors and makers.
• To form a network of custom knife makers and collectors to promote the industry and support one another.
• To create ways in which for custom knife collectors to better market and connect with other collectors in regard to buying/selling/trading their knives on the secondary market?
• To create more open dialog between customs collectors and makers in regard to education, knife design, knife construction and sound business practices.
• To possibly create an industry wide data base to track maker’s knives as they change hands from collector to collector.
• To create a database that could rate transactions between members. It could rate both the knives and the business practices for both parties. This would give all members a public goal to strive for. I also think it would be important to have the comments amendable. Example: A new collector from Colorado buys an ivory handled knife from a maker in Florida. The Ivory handle cracks around a pin. The new collector may negatively respond as to the quality of materials used not knowing that this can happen when extreme humidity changes take place with certain handle materials. The negative response could then be changed after the maker has a chance to address the issue.
• To represent members and the custom knife community’s interest regarding issues and government policy which could have a negative impact on the custom knife industry as we know it today.
Membership Dues Schedule:
One year membership: $50.00
Three year membership: $100.00
Charter Five Year Membership: $500.00 *
Charter Lifetime Membership: $1000.00 *
* Individuals donating/jointing at both these levels would be designated as founding members.
We invite you to ask questions, comment and/or state your views as to our future direction and progress so far.
As a result of pretty intense discussion at Jerry Fisk’s Micro Show last October regarding issues confronting the custom knife industry a group of us started looking into the possibility of starting such an organization to address these issues. As some of you may remember, I started a thread here on this forum to get feedback as to if there was interest, support and need to move forward in developing this endeavor. I got much feedback ideas and opinions as to how and what a collectors association should be and could possibly achieve. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510840
Well over the last six months a project start-up team made up of 15 collectors, makers and a 6 member advisory committee have made quite a bit of progress creating the infrastructure for this organization. Though the roots of the organization are set into the heritage of the forged blade it is and will be a cross functional association created to address the issues confronting the entire custom/handmade industry and we truly hope will be made up and supported by ALL custom knife collectors, makers, dealers, and individuals that support such.
We plan to kick-off the CKCA at this year’s Blade Show and initiate a general membership drive at that time. Though much of the information below is still being developed and finalized, I felt it important to share the direction in which we are moving.
The CKCA will conduct a seminar to introduce the association at the Blade Show so please join us in room #108 @ 10:00am on Sunday Morning June 1.
We will hold a drawing at the seminar for a JR Cook Blue Bayou Hunter similar to the one shown below. With one chance to win going to every paid member of the CKCA.
Feel free to check out our website @ www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com
Please bare in mind that the site is still under construction, however you should get an idea as to the direction we are going.
We feel that this organization will benefit the entire custom knife community and truly hope we will get everyone’s support and help in getting it off the ground.
We invite you to ask questions, comment and/or state your views as to our future direction and progress via this thread.
Or contact us @ customknifecollectorsassociation@yahoo.com
**************************
Here's a document detailing our progress so far.
It list our LLC Partners, Project Start-up team members, Advisory Council members, the beginnings of a suggested 24 month start-up plan/structure, membership criteria and our list of potential accomplishments and goals.
Mission Statement:
The purpose of which is to recognize and promote the artistic significance of handmade knives in the 21st century, to advance their collection and conservation, and to support the craft and creative expression of the individuals who design and make them.
CKCA LLC Partners
The association has initially been set up as a Limited Liability Company however will be converted to a Non Profit Corporation at an undetermined date. The LLC partners will serve as acting board of directors for the first 2 years or until conversion.
Collector’s Association Project Start-up Team
This team will work to draft and implement association policy/procedure, infrastructure, manage start-up/operations and address start-up concerns and/or problems of the association for the first 2 years.
After the first 2 years an elected Board of Directors will replace and resume the responsibilities of the LLC Partner/acting board.
After 18 months The Project Start-up Team and acting board will form a nomination committee to nominate prospective board members. The entire Project Start-up Team, LLC Partners and the Advisory Council will vote on the nominations to elect an eleven member Board of Directors. This eleven member board will elect from among themselves a Chairman; Vice Chairman and Secretary/Treasure. This process will repeat every 12 months thereafter, nominating and electing a new board and officers.
CKCA LLC Partners
Kevin Jones
Larry Bailey
Steven Garsson
Jerry Fisk
Lin Rhea
Project Start-up Team Members:
Kevin Jones (collector) – Project Lead
Roger Pinnock (collector) – Membership Committee
Keith Montgomery (collector) – Membership Committee
Mark Segars (collector) – Legal Council
Steven Garsson (collector) – Art Director – Membership Committee
Jim Treacy (collector) – Finance Committee
Bob Starkey (collector) – Chairman Website/Electronic Media Committee
Paul Kessler (collector) – Finance Committee
Larry Bailey (collector) – Special Events & Projects Committee
Chuck Kerwin (collector) – Membership Committee
Murray White (collector) – Membership Committee
Chuck Ward (photographer) – Director of Photography
Jerry Fisk (maker) - Chairman Special Events & Projects Committee
Lin Rhea (maker) - Special Events & Projects Committee
Burt Foster (maker) - Website/Electronic Media Committee
Collector’s Association Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is made up of 4 to 6 custom knife industry leaders to advise the Project Start-up Team/Board of Directors. Advisory Council members will serve an undetermined term and will be full members.
Advisory Council Members:
Daniel Winkler (maker) – Advisor Membership Committee
Steve Shackleford (editor) – Advisor Special Events & Projects Committee
Les Robertson (dealer) – Chairman Finance Committee
Bob Neal (dealer)
Phil Lobred (collector)
AG Russell (dealer) – Advisor Finance Committee
Membership Criteria:
• ALL custom knife collectors will be invited to join FULL membership and all responsibilities and benefits associated with such membership.
• ALL custom knife dealers will be invited to join FULL “Dealer” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (2*) dealer members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Dealers can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• ALL custom knife makers will be invited to join FULL “Maker” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (3*) maker members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Makers can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• Editors and/or writers will be invited to join FULL “Media” membership, which has all responsibilities and benefits of a collector membership however no more than (1*) Media members can serve on the Board of Directors at a given time. Media members can also be appointed to the Advisory Council.
• Sheathmakers, engravers, scrimshaw artist, carvers, blade temperers, photographers etc. of custom knives will fall under the same parameters as set for custom knife maker memberships.
*Non collector members can hold no more than a total of (4) board of director seats at a given time.
The association Project "start-up" team will examine each membership application to determine which membership category the applicant should be assigned too. Example: will rule as to if a specific collector applicant is actually a collector who sells a custom knife from time to time or a dealer.
Potential Task, Accomplishments and Goals:
• To increase awareness and acceptance of custom knives and the collecting of such as a respected and appreciated art form.
• To create a worldwide united and organized group of custom knife collectors, makers and dealers to assist in getting corporate, media and art community support for the betterment of the industry.
• To seek out and interact with related groups and organizations in attempt to create new interest and to help in recruiting new custom knife collectors.
• To educate and mentor new custom knife collectors and makers.
• To form a network of custom knife makers and collectors to promote the industry and support one another.
• To create ways in which for custom knife collectors to better market and connect with other collectors in regard to buying/selling/trading their knives on the secondary market?
• To create more open dialog between customs collectors and makers in regard to education, knife design, knife construction and sound business practices.
• To possibly create an industry wide data base to track maker’s knives as they change hands from collector to collector.
• To create a database that could rate transactions between members. It could rate both the knives and the business practices for both parties. This would give all members a public goal to strive for. I also think it would be important to have the comments amendable. Example: A new collector from Colorado buys an ivory handled knife from a maker in Florida. The Ivory handle cracks around a pin. The new collector may negatively respond as to the quality of materials used not knowing that this can happen when extreme humidity changes take place with certain handle materials. The negative response could then be changed after the maker has a chance to address the issue.
• To represent members and the custom knife community’s interest regarding issues and government policy which could have a negative impact on the custom knife industry as we know it today.
Membership Dues Schedule:
One year membership: $50.00
Three year membership: $100.00
Charter Five Year Membership: $500.00 *
Charter Lifetime Membership: $1000.00 *
* Individuals donating/jointing at both these levels would be designated as founding members.
We invite you to ask questions, comment and/or state your views as to our future direction and progress so far.
Last edited:
we need you to be a part of this Riad 
Thanks, Lin Rhea
