Officially an Apprentice

[kbaknife]

Be aware there is no specific "waiver" to cover your time delinquency.
If there was to be some consideration in your favor, what you might do is contact the current "NEW" chairman, Jim Batson, and beg for a little leeway.
But I would NOT waste any time!!! I would NOT wait until test time - get it on the books now.
I had a little "glitch" on my membership as well, even though I waited four years to test, but I took the issue straight to the then-Chairman, Greg Neely in 2007, at the Blade Show and got it in writing a year in advance.

[Roughcountry]

Congrats Lowell & Jeremy. Theres a master smith about halfway between you guys, in Walla Walla WA. Very nice guy and has always been very helpfull.

[gudspelr]

Karl-
Just got another email and was told there was no guaranteed waiver and its up to the Chairman.  She said with similar short time frames, the waivers have been granted in the past but I think I like your plan of contacting the Chairman now to get something concrete.  Would definitely make for a bad day to have done all the prep and be ready just to find out at the last minute I couldn't test.  Being so new to the association, is there a "proper" way to contact the Chairman?  Don't feel like stepping on toes unnecessarily...

Jeremy

[jpsowers]

Thanks, you inspired me. I have been to one hammer in and had been considering joining so I did too - last night.
-Jim

[kbaknife]

You wouldn't find out "at the last minute" anyway, you need to inform the board well in advance of testing with proof of membership, performance test completion, etc. along with your intent.
Go to the ABS website and look under "Bladesmiths" on the home page. Go to Mastersmiths and Jim Batson's email and phone number are right there.
Learn about that web site.
If you have questions and such about you new gig as an ABS Apprentice, post them there, not here.

[gudspelr]

Will do-thanks.

Jeremy