Result Summary: ABANA e-mail Survey

ABANA e-mail Survey - Through 12-28-2007
Answers to the open-ended comments question (#35) can be found here.

1. How do you classify yourself? (While many might apply, please choose the best fit. Feel free to assume "part time", "hobbyist", or "amateur" as a prefix to any of these choices.)
		Response Percent	Response Count
Blacksmith		48.2%	410
Metalsmith		13.3%	113
Artist		13.4%	114
Fabricator		4.5%	38
Craftsman		7.5%	64
Collector or Patron		0.7%	6
Other (please specify)		12.4%	105
	answered question		850
	skipped question		9

2. How would you classify your ability?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Only an observer/Just interested		0.5%	4
Beginner/Novice (learning)		11.9%	101
Apprentice (some skills/still learning)		29.4%	249
Journeyman (lots of skills/still learning)		36.4%	309
Advanced (skilled to demonstrator levels)		21.5%	182
Patron/Collector		0.4%	3
	answered question		848
	skipped question		11

3. Are you engaged in blacksmithing or related activities for a substantial part of your income?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		39.9%	339
No		60.1%	511
	answered question		850
	skipped question		9

4. What are you interested in doing or learning about? (choose one or more)
		Response Percent	Response Count
Forged household items, candlesticks, fireplace tools, etc.		45.4%	381
Furniture, lighting, screens, larger scale built-in pieces		35.2%	296
Tool making, hammers, chisels, blades, etc.		38.7%	325
Raised vessels, repousse, armor, etc.		17.4%	146
Architectural work, gates, railings, etc.		37.9%	318
Artistic work, sculpture, etc.		34.2%	287
All of the above		46.0%	386
Other (please specify)		7.7%	65
	answered question		840
	skipped question		19

5. What are you MOST interested in doing or learning about?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Forged household items, candlesticks, fireplace tools, etc.		17.8%	149
Furniture, lighting, screens, larger scale built-in pieces		16.1%	135
Tool making, hammers, chisels, blades, etc.		14.1%	118
Raised vessels, repousse, armor, etc.		3.9%	33
Architectural work, gates, railings, etc.		17.4%	146
Artistic work, sculpture, etc.		24.1%	202
Other (please specify)		6.6%	55
	answered question		838
	skipped question		21

6. Age Group
		Response Percent	Response Count
Under 20		0.6%	5
20-30		3.1%	26
30-40		13.1%	110
40-50		20.7%	174
50-60		35.4%	298
60-70		21.6%	182
70 plus		5.6%	47
	answered question		842
	skipped question		17

7. Gender:
		Response Percent	Response Count
Male		93.4%	781
Female		6.6%	55
	answered question		836
	skipped question		23

8. Are you a current member of ABANA?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		99.2%	839
No		0.8%	7
	answered question		846
	skipped question		13

Questions 9 through 12 were only presented to those not currently members -- as this particular survey was sent only to current members the numbers are very small so they are omitted in this summary. Questions 9 - 12 closely paralleled the following few questions.

13. Please grade ABANA with your satisfaction level?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Excellent		26.2%	219
Good		53.5%	447
Fair		17.7%	148
Poor		2.6%	22
	answered question		836
	skipped question		23

14. Which magazine do you appreciate the most?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Hammer’s Blow		10.7%	89
Anvil’s Ring		13.5%	112
I appreciate them both equally for different reasons		75.8%	629
	answered question		830
	skipped question		29

15. How long have you been a member, in total?
		Response Percent	Response Count
One year or less		15.1%	127
2-5 years		34.0%	285
5-10 years		26.2%	220
10-20 years		15.5%	130
Longer than 20 years		9.2%	77
	answered question		839
	skipped question		20

16. Please indicate the areas that are most troubling to you. (choose as many as apply)
		Response Percent	Response Count
Cost of Membership		10.2%	84
I can get most of the information from other sources		11.8%	97
I don’t relate to Anvil’s Ring content – too advanced		7.3%	60
Anvil’s Ring has insufficient discernment or design quality		7.5%	62
Hammer’s Blow is not fulfilling my needs		4.5%	37
Without a 2008 conference there's no need to be a member		9.2%	76
None of the above / ABANA is doing an acceptable job		53.6%	441
Other (please specify)		28.4%	234
	answered question		823
	skipped question		36

17. Please indicate the ONE area that is most troubling to you.
		Response Percent	Response Count
Cost of Membership		7.4%	60
I can get most of the information from other sources		6.4%	52
I don’t relate to Anvil’s Ring content – too advanced		4.1%	33
Anvil’s Ring has insufficient discernment or design quality		3.5%	28
Hammer’s Blow is not fulfilling my needs		2.0%	16
Without a 2008 conference there's no need to be a member		6.1%	49
None of the above / ABANA is doing an acceptable job		46.5%	376
Other (please specify)		24.1%	195
	answered question		809
	skipped question		50

18. Do you have a computer with Internet access?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		99.4%	829
No		0.6%	5
	answered question		834
	skipped question		25

19. If your e-mail address were kept confidential would you like to receive communications from ABANA?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		91.7%	760
No		8.2%	68
I do not have a computer or email access		0.1%	1
	answered question		829
	skipped question		30

20. If you have a computer, how often do you visit ABANA’s website?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Often (Once a week or more)		8.9%	74
Occasionally (Roughly once a month)		41.4%	345
Rarely (A few times a year)		46.0%	384
Never		3.7%	31
	answered question		834
	skipped question		25

21. Rate ABANA’s Web site on access to information you want and need?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Excellent		9.2%	71
Good		49.9%	386
Fair		34.6%	268
Poor		6.3%	49
	answered question		774
	skipped question		85

22. If you have Internet access, would you be interested in receiving the Anvil’s Ring and/or the Hammer’s Blow by the Internet?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		11.6%	97
Yes, but only for the Hammer's Blow		5.9%	49
Yes, but only for the Anvil's Ring		0.5%	4
No, I prefer hard copies		82.0%	685
	answered question		835
	skipped question		24

23. Would you like to see the Journeyman Program revitalized?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes, and I am willing to help		20.3%	140
Yes, but I cannot help		43.3%	299
No		3.2%	22
Don’t care		33.3%	230
Comments (please specify)			214
	answered question		691
	skipped question		168

24. What do you think of the Scholarship/Grant Programs of ABANA?
		Response Percent	Response Count
OK as they are		39.1%	284
Too restricted, difficult to get, etc.		11.6%	84
Did not know ABANA had a Scholarship/Grant Program		43.7%	317
Needs changes (Please add comment)		5.6%	41
Comments (please specify)			149
	answered question		726
	skipped question		133

25. Should ABANA Board Members have term limits?
		Response Percent	Response Count
No		19.7%	160
Yes		45.3%	369
Does not matter		35.0%	285
Comments (please specify)			130
	answered question		814
	skipped question		45

26. Are you a member of an ABANA affiliate?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		64.0%	529
No		36.0%	298
If yes, how many? (please specify)			461
	answered question		827
	skipped question		32

27. Are you a member of any other (not affiliated with ABANA) organization, guild, association, etc. that is involved in blacksmithing?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		20.8%	171
No		79.2%	650
If yes, name of organization (please specify)			149
	answered question		821
	skipped question		38

28. If you are a member of a group that is not an Affiliate, why have they not applied to become an ABANA Affiliate?
		Response Percent	Response Count
Uncertain of the benefits of being an Affiliate		22.2%	55
They function well as they are		34.3%	85
Other (please specify)		43.5%	108
	answered question		248
	skipped question		611

29. If you are not a member of any blacksmithing group, why not?
		Response Percent	Response Count
I live too far away		26.8%	75
I don’t like groups		5.7%	16
I like learning on my own		8.6%	24
Other (please specify)		58.9%	165
	answered question		280
	skipped question		579

30. Do you think ABANA conferences should:
		Response Percent	Response Count
Continue as before with different locations every two years.		85.5%	577
Continue as before, every two years, but have one central location.		14.5%	98
Other (please specify)			187
	answered question		675
	skipped question		184

31. In addition to galleries and domestic demonstrators, the ABANA conference should include: (choose as many as apply)
		Response Percent	Response Count
International demonstrators		64.4%	490
Professional development lectures		65.2%	496
Teaching stations		81.2%	618
Open forges		56.6%	431
Other (please specify)			119
	answered question		761
	skipped question		98

32. To help ABANA plan conferences, what is the maximum Conference admission fee you are willing to pay?
		Response Percent	Response Count
$100 to $200		51.1%	375
$200 to $300		38.3%	281
$300 to $500		10.6%	78
Other (please specify)			114
	answered question		734
	skipped question		125

33. Conference planning should provide? (Choose as many as apply)
		Response Percent	Response Count
A room and board package		63.3%	482
Camping on-site		53.5%	408
Camping and motel/hotel directions		72.6%	553
A meal package		44.0%	335
On-site food vendors		69.0%	526
One banquet style dinner		40.9%	312
Other (please specify)			122
	answered question		762
	skipped question		97

34. A reasonable budget for accommodations and meals for an ABANA Conference?
		Response Percent	Response Count
$100		9.9%	71
$200		24.5%	176
$300		34.1%	245
$400		21.3%	153
$500 and up		10.2%	73
	answered question		718
	skipped question		141

35. Please let us know about anything that will allow ABANA to serve your needs better or anything else you would like to share with ABANA.
		Response Count
Responses to this open-ended comments question (#35) can be found here.		335
	answered question	335
	skipped question	524

36. Contact information is totally optional. If you would like us to get back with you please provide your name and an e-mail address and/or a phone number. Name:
		Response Count
		444
	answered question	444
	skipped question	415

37. E-Mail Address:
		Response Count
		452
	answered question	452
	skipped question	407

38. Phone Number:
		Response Count
		318
	answered question	318
	skipped question	541

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