News » Bill Stone Passes on the Lead of Vista Forge
Bill Stone, after leading the Vista Forge at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum at Vista for 16 years, has handed the lead of the group to Pat Downing and Tibor Laky.
Under Bill Stone’s watch, the Vista Forge at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum has grown to the presentation of Blacksmithing classes on four Saturdays each month with Introduction, Level I, Level II, and Forging to Dimension classes. The facility now has 17 forges that are used by the 50 or so smiths that call the Vista Forge home.
Likewise, Vista Forge has contributed to the education goals of the CBA with the hosting of CBA Conferences in 1998, 2004, 2008, and the 2011 CBA Spring Conference in planning.
Pat Downing (858) 926-9193 and Tibor Laky are picking up the lead for the Vista Forge Group at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum.
Please join us in sending a hearty Thank You to Bill Stone for his efforts.
Comments
on July 16, 2010
If Bill calls you and says “JUST SAY YES”
DON’T!
I still love you Bill, thanks for all the great help over the years, I may not have gotten here without your help ((Where ever here is!))
Pat
on July 17, 2010
Thank you bill,
when i first came to CBA, bill made i point to invite me to come back with a smile and a hand shake that can’t be forgotten, no matter how hard i try.
just kidding bill—-seriously, bill made a point to tell me hello EVERY time he saw me, and always asked how i was doing and if i needed any thing or had a question.
as time went on, he noticed my desire to learn as much and as fast as possible, and would encourage me to keep on hammering and call him any time for answers. Besides a good laugh, and a good teacher, he is a good friend. I am blessed to know him.
Thank you for giving of your self, again and again. CBA and myself are better for it.
God bless you in your retirement, although i am sure you will still answer all our questions.
with love and respect,
alex bashta III
on July 20, 2010
Bill,
I appreciate the continued effort that you put forward toward keeping our group of blacksmiths together. That you always asked us to let you know if we wouldn’t be attending the meetings. That you always asked who was going to be preparing lunch the next month. That you always made the coffee and brought the donuts and always brought your sense of humor. Thank you for putting together and teaching the CBA Basic II and starting the Forging to Dimension demonstrations. Thanks for all that and I especially want to thank you for asking me to get involved with the Vista Forge Group.
Dave
on July 21, 2010
At my very first CBA conference where I knew only two CBA members, Bill made me feel included and befriended. He knows no stranger and has set a unique leadership tone for Vista’s Second Saturday Work Day – or whatever the SoCal advanced smiths are calling it. Pat and Tibor will slip or slither into the role just fine and I sincerely hope Bill will continue to show up with his chile, his jokes ’n jabs and his smile :))
on July 21, 2010
I know I’ve missed going to second Saturday in Vista since I’ve been away from that area. Bill Stone was always a big part of what made Vista so special, and I’d like to thank Bill for all his years of dedication and commitment. Bill really did alot for blacksmithing in that area of the world.
on July 21, 2010
Bill Stone, Bill Stone….what can I say about that guy that hasn’t already been yelled out in anger a million times before. This is really a sad day for the Vista Blacksmith Group. What this means is that now that Bill has passed off his duties to Tibor and Pat, he’ll have more time to be a PITA, full-time prankster and major irritant to the rest of us. ;)
In all seriousness, Bill’s enthusiasm for Blacksmithing and endless positive encouragement of others is truly something to be admired. He has given freely of his time, energy and resources for so long, it’s going to be hard to imagine the Vista Group without him at the lead. I personally am a better person and a better metalsmith because of Bill Stone’s encouragement and guidance early on. I suspect that this statement holds true for many, many other aspiring smiths (young and old) that have been associated with the group over the years. Thank you Bill.
PS, if you print this, or tell him I said this, I will deny everything. ;)
on July 22, 2010
A long time ago, around 1997 I think, I decided to start metalworking again, after a hiatus of 14 years. My husband, Dave Vogel told me about the Vista group and encouraged me to join them. I resisted, inhibited by my fear of joining an established group of men who, up until that time had enjoyed their Saturday mornings free from the constraints of having to mind their manners in the presence of one of the fairer sex. I just didn’t want to ruin their fun.
Still, Dave persisted until I finally mustered up the courage to show-up with my hammer and safety glasses. Bill instantly made me welcome and we had a frank conversation about my concerns, coming to the understanding that they would continue to be as randy and rude as they liked, just as long as their intentions were kind. I think now that my fears were probably unfounded; they were all fine, kind men who didn’t need me to teach them manners.
I will always feel grateful and privileged to have been part of that group. I still laugh when I think about the safety demonstrations that he staged with Frank as his straight man. In many ways, Bill embodies what I have found to be some of the best traits of Blacksmiths worldwide, man or woman: the combination of strength and gentleness, an intelligent mind and compassionate heart, a wild imagination and a fearless willingness to experiment. Thank you Bill, for sharing so much of yourself with so much sensitivity and joy.
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