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An effort has been underway for several years to merge AESF into the MFSA & NAMF trade groups. The boards of the three associations approved the final plan, and "all that remains" is for the AESF Council of Delegates to sign off on it at Sur/Fin.

However, a critical mis-step was made years ago and never corrected -- the membership of AESF was never asked their opinion!

Even after patiently listening to the consolidation presentations and drumbeat for years, the membership apparently remains opposed. Now some proponents of consolidation are saying "(Sigh) I wish you said this years ago."

• Item: The Philadelphia Branch has voted unanimously against consolidation repeatedly for years and everyone in power knows it.
• Item: We have copies of almost countless e-mails, going back years, sent from members of other branches noting their strong opposition to consolidation.
• Item: Over two years ago finishing.com made a donation of $1600 to AESF with a letter to the board that the donation was to remind them that many AESF members were strongly opposed to consolidation. This donation should have funded a postcard or telephone poll of the membership, but it didn't happen.
• Item: In the last two years, many former members 'voted with their feet' either after explaining that they had been marginalized by an AESF that doesn't care what they want, or simply because it wasn't a pleasant environment anymore.

But now a group of volunteers calling itself "AESF for the Future" is pledging to defeat consolidation and recharge AESF as an individual membership society rededicated to fellowship, tradition, and -- most importantly -- education in surface finishing.

Their management plan for this rededicated and independent AESF has been available for some months now. More recently they commissioned a critical review of the consolidation documents that the Council of Delegates will be asked to vote on; this is on-line for your inspection. AESF for the Future stands ready to keep AESF independent, with a full slate of candidates for President, VP and the four open 4 board seats pledged to that cause; I am proud to be one of those candidates. -- Ted Mooney

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