Texas knifemakers association

TKA UP DATE

there has not been much on here lately , but its coming together. We have acquired the bylaws from the TK&CA and also two other organizations in other states. We are in the process of forming our own bylaws. I would love to get as many interested parties together in the near future.
I know this would be a monumental accomplishment do to the size of TX. Any ideas??? Group phone call, text??
 
WOW! Great comments all around. I just read the comments and found this thread on the forum. Thanks Jim for getting it going. Thanks for all the comments. I agree with just about everything being said. Right now we have a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TexasKnifemakersAssociation?ref_type=bookmark,
a facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1495105217376351/, and
a website: http://www.texasknifemakersassociation.com/. We have a contact list of interested people. We are working on the bylaws and trying to set up an organizational meeting. If you send me your email and name, I will include you on all correspondence. I am getting pretty excited about the group.

My email is vancehinds@gmail.com. Below is the content of the last email that I sent. I will try and check this forum frequently. I will also try and start a thread on some of the other forums.

"What I am thinking is breaking the state into 3-5 regions. Each region has its own regional group. We have an annual show that travels to each region. The regional group is responsible for hosting the annual show. Board made up of 2-3 people from each region with an overall President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary voted by all members at the annual show. Term limits of 2-3 years. Each region handles how they pick their board members and activities throughout the year. Regional activities involve shop tours, hammer-ins, regional shows etc. State Board and officers duties include managing website, annual show, membership, recruitment, education, etc. These are my early thoughts. I am very interested in what you are thinking etc."

I think we are all on pretty much the same page. We need to spread the word and get this thing going. The first big divisive issue that I see starting from the comments is the fact that some people are wanting a guild/ABS type qualifications for knifemakers and others are wanting a group for all knife people whether they are knifemakers or not. I am a more the merrier kind of person. We might need to consider a general membership for all members. but special qualification levels for knifemakers (like journeyman/master designation). I think we can handle both sides in the bylaws. Send me your email address and name, spread the word, and keep this thing going.

Vance Hinds
vancehinds@gmail.com
 
Texas Sharp said:
The first big divisive issue that I see starting from the comments is the fact that some people are wanting a guild/ABS type qualifications for knifemakers and others are wanting a group for all knife people whether they are knifemakers or not. I am a more the merrier kind of person. We might need to consider a general membership for all members. but special qualification levels for knifemakers (like journeyman/master designation). I think we can handle both sides in the bylaws.

Vance Hinds
vancehinds@gmail.com
Click to expand...

I'm just going to suggest that the certification levels could be more like Boy Scout Merit Badges than membership levels. All members should be on an equal level but they can earn certifications as a point of reference to their skill and dedication. If handled in this manner, it would also allow for additional awards to be added such as "Knife of the Year-2014" or "100 Volunteer Hours".

Bob
 
I agree with that. On the Knife of the Year award, I was thinking similar to Blade SHow Awards at the annual show. But I love the general membership and certification idea.

Vance
 
I just had an interesting thought and the idea came from here in our own community at BF. How many knifemakers do you think there are in Texas? I would suggest there are many more knife collectors than makers. If the organization is for knifemakers only, we are limiting ourselves to a small group of people spread over 266,874 sq. miles. If we include collectors we have a larger audience and a stronger organization. Shouldn't we appeal to both. The title of our organization lends itself to a very select group to begin with. The TKCA failed but I think that was due to internal squabbling and mismanangement by a few. I've read a few times they had too many chiefs and not enough indians. Someone needs to make decisions and others need to do the work. That's another argument for later.
What I'm saying is that all the ideas to build and grow the org are great but we're targeting a select few people in a huge state.

Ask yourself the question. If you're a knife guy at any level, and I think we all agree that collectors keep makers in business, why would you join the "Texas Knifemakers Association" when you don't make knives and have no intention of doing so. You 'might' do it one day, but you might not. On the othe rhand, you love blades and use them, collect them, etc.
Shouldn't the title convey that we're about makers and collectors? The 'Texas Knifemakers and Collectors Association' to appeal to a broader group of people.

Look how many forum topics we have here on BF. Knifemakers is one of many subforums. Just another .02.
 
We have received many comments about the membership being equal among members, whether knifemaker, collector or other. I am for membership being equal with merit/qualification badges/awards to be given to the members. My thought on using the same name as the prior group might have some legal consequences. I would recommend using something other than the same name as the prior organization. I would like to post your comment in the fb group and send it to the email list if that is ok?

Vance
 
Absolutely you can post my comments. I'm rarely the brightest bulb in the lamp but I figure if we get as much input as possible from all sides, the new org has a greater chance for success.
 
By the way Texas Sharp, I do agree with the levels of certification for actual knifemakers. I just want to get the collectors and lovers of knives in there somehow so we have a larger presence in the state.
A large org with many levels has a much better chance of success than a small one with very selective membership. I believe one our core goals is going to be to promote knifemaking AND knives in general. Look at all that BF has to offer for everyone and look how successful THIS great community has been.
I'm excited just to be in the conversations and I volunteered to help become a founder on the facebook page.

Let me know if there is anything I can do here in Houston.
Just a quick thought. A table at the gun shows here runs about $80.00 for the weekend. I wouldn't mind volunteering a space next to my own table to promote and sign up members when we reach that point, or even just adding the literature to my own table and promoting the org. There are a million opportunities there. I can have one of my sons help man the booth. It gives an immediate presence once we get started. Maybe some other members could help so we have a presence at every gun show (We have some type of show almost every weekend here). Our gun shows are also in Conroe, Pasadena, etc. It's not uncommon for the big shows to attract 30,000 people over a weekend. Lots of exposure. Just throwing ideas out there.
 
Things have been busy this summer, but we are workig towards having a orginasation meeting in September. So far the best sounding date and location is the Dallas Gun And Knife Guild show on 09/20-21/2014

We need to hear some feed back from you

tables are $70 perhaps we could get some under the TKA name and members could display or sell thier knives

what do you think?.
 
Jim McGuinn said:
Things have been busy this summer, but we are working towards having a organization meeting in September. So far the best sounding date and location is the Dallas Gun And Knife Guild show on 09/20-21/2014

We need to hear some feedback from you

tables are $70 perhaps we could get some under the TKA name and members could display or sell their knives

what do you think?.
Click to expand...

Sounds great Jim.
 
Jim McGuinn said:
Things have been busy this summer, but we are workig towards having a orginasation meeting in September. So far the best sounding date and location is the Dallas Gun And Knife Guild show on 09/20-21/2014

We need to hear some feed back from you

tables are $70 perhaps we could get some under the TKA name and members could display or sell thier knives

what do you think?.
Click to expand...

This works for me. I could probably even do a table (or split one if that is an option). How would we organize a meeting if makers have tables to maintain? Looking at a couple long days I suspect.

Bob
 
Jim, that meeting date is totally doable! I would love to help in this as much as possible! After we get a name nailed down I think a very important aspect that I'm not seeing discussed here is branding. Maybe it's just the creative side of me that's more into that than the average bear, but I think an attractive brand can really add to the viability of an organization. My good friend runs Hole in the Roof marketing here in Waco and is working with me to re-make my brand.

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Although I’m trading a knife for the work, he normally charges about $80 to create a brand and he can then put that brand on anything you want from stickers, tshirts, and flags to coozies and sunglasses. He prints all his own tshirts for his retail business, Congress Clothing. I think this step is one that's often overlooked in a grassroots organization but it can really pay off if you make merchandise (especially stickers and t-shirts) that people are proud to wear and display. I know I have signed up for some things before just to get a shirt- even if I still had to pay for it.
 
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Our organizational meeting is October 25, 2014 at the Fort Worth Gun Show. We will meet at 5:15 p.m. at the tables in front of the snack bar. I will have a table for anyone that wants to display their wares. Attached is the flier. I look forward to meeting you all.
 
texas-knifemakers-association-page001.png


Our organizational meeting is October 25, 2014 at the Fort Worth Gun Show. We will meet at 5:15 p.m. at the tables in front of the snack bar. I will have a table for anyone that wants to display their wares. Attached is the flier. I look forward to meeting you all.
 
I won't be able to make it to FW that day, but I'm definitely interested in helping or being involved in some way.
 
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