I want you all to relax this week and have a cold one or three. ;D
Just for you, buddy, I’ll do it! 
…but you know there’s no rest for the weary. 8)
One of the things I would love to see, is Audio of the presentations at NHC be provided as well as the powerpoints.
So much information is given in these presentations that are not on the slides, or are presented in a format that “clicks” better than reading a slide, that I think it would be a significant addition.
Presently, there are a number of Podcast groups that attend NHC, I would think that a collaborative arrangement could be made.
The audio component need not even be hosted on the AHA website. Instead, the audio could be hosted by the Podcast group that generates the audio, and the AHA could simply provide a link to the Podcast group. This would generate traffic to Podcast websites, and possibly point AHA members to informational opportunities they were not aware of. I think it could be a huge “win/win” situation, but it would take some organizing.
I like that idea–I’m more attuned to visual rather than aural input. I’m not one who listens to pod-casts.
But I’d love to be able to access powerpoint presentations (w/ or w/o audio) and text of all presentations.
The visual component is important (especially with respect to diagrams or designs or techniques).
It’d be a shame not to share the wealth of knowledge with those who cannot attend.
Both audio and video captures of presentations are ideas that have been discussed and I’m willing to bet will be implemented at some point. Powerpoints are available going back a few years. Text might be difficult. I know I don’t have prepared text for my presentations and I don’t think many of the presenters do.
What is the possibility of the AHA trying to gain more public awareness or recognition? Where I live, a person may as well be speaking a foreign language when they ask if they’ve heard of the AHA. When legislation is passed, by and large, it goes un-noticed by the public… as well as the AHA. Jmo… I think the AHA should put the association a little more forward, especially when they have helped accomplish something for homebrewers.
Its good to know someone has my back… do they? I’m sure many wonder “what if”. Is it asking too much? I think it would help the AHA grow. Jmo…
How can you have text for your presentations, Denny? When I was in Cincinnati, you spent a large part of the time answering questions.
Having said that, a youTube Channel might be a good idea. The problem, of course, is the expense of recording and editing the sessions.
Yeah, just what I was getting at. And besides the questions, I was just making most of it up as I went! ;) After having spent the last 30 years in the production biz, I have a real feeling for the technical difficulties involved. I think that’s what’s holding up the whole thing now. But we’ve discussed ways to get around that, and I hope those discussions continue in the future.
Dean, that’s a good thought, but how would the AHA do that? Do you have any ideas of what you;'d like to see?
Yes, Denny. The AHA could solicite the major broadcast news channels local to those areas when and where legislation in favor of homebrewing or brewing period is passed with the AHA mentioned as a supporting party in the decision. Awareness is or should be a key item for the AHA. Even if legislation is defeated, the Issue as well as the AHA should receive some recognition of awareness so people understand any given battle lost does not mean the loss was permanent.
Dean, that’s a great idea, but you need to understand that the AHA’s role in those situations is to support the local groups working on getting laws changed. The AHA itself doesn’t instigate anything. So, those local groups need to get publicity and get the AHA name out there.
I’ve been thinking about what you said all day and I still can’t understand why the AHA wouldn’t want to seek some sort of exposure if they had been institutional in some way for any legislation that has passed regarding homebrewers. Honestly… now it has me wondering what the AHA did? Yeh, I’ve read about bills being passed but thats it? Just trying to understand the reasoning for staying under the radar when its obviously something any AHA member would be proud to say they helped with.
I’m not saying the AHA should instigate anything… its not about that, its about legalities etc… otherwise it might as well be just another watering hole. ??? I just don’t get it now.
Well, I could be totally wrong. I’ll see if I can get Gary to weigh in on this.
:D Sorry if I put you on the spot Denny, I’m just curious what they actually do and why I never hear anything in the news ect. And believe me the news channels will cover just about anything these days.
Not a problem, Dean. I just don’t know how to explain it any better, so I called in the big guns. In a nutshell, though, what I’m getting at is that the AHA provides the support for the people who do the things you’re talking about. And since the AHA is an organization for homebrewers, I don’t know that the public at large would really care about it. But I also think maybe you’re underestimating how many people know about the AHA. For example, I know of at least 2 other brewers from this forum besides myself who have been interviewed by Forbes magazine recently about homebrewing. That’s because Forbes contacted the AHA, and I’m willing to bet that the AHA will figure in to the final article. To me, that’s pretty good coverage.
I’ve been active in my professional association for over 20 years (and it’s a second career). My take, based on my experience there (and in several other organizations), is that the AHA is a member organization, and “they” is “we.” The small staff at the AHA HQ can facilitate, but they can’t do it all.
IMHO, for the staff they have, the AHA does a heck of a lot, and in the last couple of years I’ve seen a lot more. They orchestrate national events and conferences, promote homebrewing, maintain and build a strong digital presence, produce an excellent industry magazine, and so on.
But ultimately, we are the AHA. If, for example, we want homebrewing legal in every state (including the Territories), it’s up to us to make it happen. They can help, if we ask them… but they can only do so much on their own. My 2 cents, anyway.
Maybe I’m just looking too hard at the legal side of it. I guess I’m wondering how the AHA fits into helping with legalizing homebrewing in states or territories then. Maybe someone from one of the more recent states to have laws passed favoring homebrewing that knows what and how will chime in? I’d like to understand what they did or do in that scenario.
Yeh, I know the AHA is “us”, and I definitely wouldn’t want to see the committee members working it like a job… its a hobby which means its for fun… at least to me anyway. I thought maybe the AHA kept some reserve monies available for homebrewers that might be brought up on charges etc? Not that I think many of us really worry about it, but hey, there have been plenty of videos on youtube etc showing just how far the law can run with it.
I’m not on one of the crews that got laws changed recently, but I have been watching pretty closely. The support the AHA provides is multi-part: helping direct groups to appropriate contacts (say the Small Brewers Guild for that state, others who are running similar groups, etc.), helping advise on what sort of pitfalls are out there (aka try and get the distributors on your side early or they’ll torpedo the bill out of concerns of it mucking with their status) and probably the biggest one is Gary’s direct involvement in testifying before various state legislatures and being an all around homebrewing spokesman to various media outlets when they pick up the story about the legislative effort.
As for a homebrewer’s defense fund, I don’t know if it’s ever even come up. I think in most places where homebrewing is illegal, it ends up being a ticket-able misdemeanor. The last time I even heard of a homebrewer getting in trouble was Scott Oberman in Alabama when he received a visit from the state ABC after appearing in an LA Times article all about the legalization effort and showed off all of his gear, etc. Apparently, out of concern for his job-related security clearance he stopped brewing at home for at least a while, but nothing legally happened except a stern talking to.
And its really important when thinking about what the AHA does and doesn’t do. There are 3 full time staffers for the AHA (Gary, Kate and Janis), a handful of people shared in part with the BA, 15 of us on the Governing Committee and approximately 20,000 of “you’s” out there. I’ve always run on a platform of this organization needs to be run as a member’s driven group. I think just by looking at response levels to this year’s GC election and the demographics survery the effects of more open communication are showing results. The reality remains that the AHA needs all of us to get things done and that’s only going to be even more important as we find ways to increase member involvement. The 20k of us I fear could quickly swamp our intrepid trio!
Bingo! Thats what I wanted to see, buddy, for a new commitee person you got some cahones. It isn’t that hard to say, I also pm’d Fred and he basically told me the same thing. I don’t know why it was so hard to get somebody to say that … easy peasy. Bet more people join now that they know a little more about the AHA. I’ll re-up, but you know I’m gonna twist on them for a better price. ;D Thats what I do, can’t help it, thats who I am.
Good On You, Drew.