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Richard “Dick” Fanguy, CJF (AFA #2146) For those who don't know me, my name is Richard Fanguy, better known to most as Dick Fanguy. I'm 61 years old and an AFA CJF. I grew up around horses and have never left them. I learned the basics of horseshoeing from my grandfather and sought advice and instruction from Lawrance Lenardy as I worked to develop my skills. I started shoeing for the public in 1970. I put myself through college (earning a B.S. in Business) shoeing horses before starting a career as a Business teacher. I then continued shoeing in order to afford being a school teacher. I heard about the Southern Farriers Association in the early '80's and joined as soon as I could. From there, Scott Colson and Jim Linzy dragged me into the AFA in 1987. This was when my education really got a jump. These men, and the association they introduced me to, changed me from a back yard horseshoer to a farrier. Randy Luikart, then AFA President, gave me my first AFA job when he asked me to chair the AFA's Business and Ethics Committee. My job was to come up with a business plan for the association and to monitor problems of ethics. The business plan took a backseat, as I spent all my time trying to separate egos. I served in this capacity under Randy, Allen Smith and Lim Couch. I sure got a lot of experience mediating problems, mostly between and among officers and board members. I served many years on the Board of Directors, served on the Constitution and Bylaws committee, and have served as an Approved Tester in the certification program since its second year of existence. In 1999, I was elected by the Board to serve as their representative on the AFA's first Executive Committee, during Emil Carre's tenure as AFA President. So, I bring you, the members, many years of experience and much knowledge of the history of the AFA. I'm proud of my service, and I'm most proud of having received the AFA's Humanitarian Award in 2005. I see this as our strength; each and every one of us is a humanitarian, trying to do what's right for the horse, for farriery, and for the organization we belong to and promote. Occasionally, though, we tend to lose that focus, and I can tell you for certain that I see the major problem of today's AFA centering on issues of trust between the officers and the Board of Directors. Funny, that was the same problem 10 years ago, and it was the same 20 years ago. If you don't believe that, ask any old timer. I firmly believe that open communication is the first step in building or re-building trust, and getting us back to treating each other in a humanitarian manner. So, my first and foremost campaign promise is that I will work to open lines of communication from the top down and the bottom up, and I'll do everything I can to make sure that we're all talking to each other and, more importantly, listening to each other. I've given a lot to the AFA, but I have received much more: education, certification and a network of farriers that I can call when I need help. But, in my 19 years in the AFA, I've found that when a farrier really needs help—when there's a true crisis—you usually don't have to make the call. More often than not, a fellow AFA member is already calling you, asking how he or she can help. That kind of helpful and supportive attitude needs to extend upwards into our governance as well, so that our association reflects what kind of people we really are and how willing we are to pull together. Throughout my affiliation, the AFA has always been in one hurricane or another. But natural forces aren't the cause for our association's storms. Our storms are generally blowouts and blow-ups of our own doing. And, to be blunt, individuals blowing hard most often cause them. We see a lot of personality conflicts among the officers, who always seem to bring their egos to work. If we gave up our egos and pitched in to help the AFA in the way we help each other, we'd be stronger and better as an association. So, I guarantee you I'll check my ego at the door and work with the other officers, the Board of Directors, and all parties internal and external to promote and advance the AFA. It's been said that farriers are like a bunch of monkeys in a tree. The ones on the top limbs look down and see a lot of smiling faces. The ones on the bottom limbs look up and see a lot of rear ends. I want to be a part of changing that perception in the AFA. I want to work with you as we learn from the past and develop our future together. Like most members, I have strong feelings about what's best for our association. I support marketing efforts and public relations; I frown on licensing but support voluntary certification, and I'm happy to tell you my personal beliefs and positions on these and other AFA issues. But it's not about what Dick wants or what Dick thinks is best; it's about the express wishes of the membership. Our AFA Bylaws set forth the specific tasks that I will be charged with, but it really boils down to the fact that an elected officer in the AFA should be supporting the wishes of the membership and the Board of Directors and facilitating those parties in developing, building, and promoting the AFA's future. If you vote for me, I promise to work for balance, fit, and finish in every job I do. If you're looking for someone who's going to listen to member voices and work his tail off for the betterment of the AFA, I won't let you down. Thanks for your time, and if you'd like more of mine, please don't hesitate to contact me at 225-315-1100 or rfanguycjf@aol.com. Dick Fanguy |
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