American Homebrewers Association Files for 501(c) Status

[julia_1]

Hello, friends and followers of the American Homebrewers Association. I want to share important and historic news. If you have opted to receive AHA email then you just received an announcement on AHA filing for incorporation in the state of Colorado as a step to become an independent nonprofit. Wow and exciting.

For deeper background on this move please see this news post.

For the high level see the press release here.

Cheers to you each, cheers to the HomebrewTalk network, cheers to homebrewing, and cheers to the AHA as the world’s leading homebrewing organization and its bright new future with members leading and driving what we do.

Julia

 

[shoengine]

Were the AHA's and BA's visions no longer aligned?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I’m especially looking forward to the return of the educational convention, and hope to attend.

 

[julia_1]

Were the AHA's and BA's visions no longer aligned?

Did you read the Chair/ED news post? https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/american-homebrewers-association-files-for-501-c-status.735461/

Both orgs have grown and believe in each other and for AHA growth, we need to innovate and experiment in new ways. Independence is a step towards that.

 

[Bobby_M]

I think it's a step in the right direction, but I won't be an AHA member again until an in-person conference is booked. I went when it was alongside 500 other members and continued to go up to when it was 3500 other members. Certainly a compromise can be made to nurse it back to health before inactivity seals its fate forever.

The conference, and its integration with the competition, was the only real member benefit I cared about. If I wanted to commune with other brewers online, and I do, I do that here.

 

[505-Brewer]

Sounds like good news to me! Excited to see this develop.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

There is good discussion over at /r/homebrewing and AHA forum on this topic.

For example (/r/homebrewing link) and related to conference(s)

eta: also link to another topic over at /r/homebrewing.

 

[IslandLizard]

Moderator's Note to those who want to reply:

• Please be respectful in your posts.
• Do NOT bring politics into the discussion.

A few posts have already been deleted...

 

[dbeechum]

I think it's a step in the right direction, but I won't be an AHA member again until an in-person conference is booked. I went when it was alongside 500 other members and continued to go up to when it was 3500 other members. Certainly a compromise can be made to nurse it back to health before inactivity seals its fate forever.

The conference, and its integration with the competition, was the only real member benefit I cared about. If I wanted to commune with other brewers online, and I do, I do that here.

If you see my reply on reddit that BrewnWKopperKat posted, you can be assured that getting the conference running again is a top priority for the board. Julia tried to get one for KC this year to coincide with the final round there, but timing and other forces made that not possible. So, onto next year for an in-person event.

Conferences of all ilks, stripes and sizes are getting absolutely hammered in terms of attendance and cost. Even at it's highest growth, HomeBrewCon was always a "by the skin of the teeth" thing in terms of turning a profit. Before COVID, the last conference to lose money was the 2006 Orlando, but it was always a close matter. Both Philly and SD were below projections and with the BA also feeling the pinch in the market it put added pressure on the whole deal. I always got the feeling that "not the biggest" was failure for the BA. (My first conference was 2001 LA when we felt special because it was like 300 people)

 

[Yooper]

If you see my reply on reddit that BrewnWKopperKat posted, you can be assured that getting the conference running again is a top priority for the board. Julia tried to get one for KC this year to coincide with the final round there, but timing and other forces made that not possible. So, onto next year for an in-person event.

Conferences of all ilks, stripes and sizes are getting absolutely hammered in terms of attendance and cost. Even at it's highest growth, HomeBrewCon was always a "by the skin of the teeth" thing in terms of turning a profit. Before COVID, the last conference to lose money was the 2006 Orlando, but it was always a close matter. Both Philly and SD were below projections and with the BA also feeling the pinch in the market it put added pressure on the whole deal. I always got the feeling that "not the biggest" was failure for the BA. (My first conference was 2001 LA when we felt special because it was like 300 people)

I know that it’s an issue. People are needed to ensure it’s not a money loser; but some of us stopped enjoying it when it became a big huge party atmosphere instead of a conference with evening events. Some of the later conferences were so loud and dark that we couldn’t speak to the brewers serving at club night. I found myself leaving and going up to my room just to get away from it. The social club where we enjoyed sampling and talking and resting got moved in the middle of the ‘expo’ so it wasn’t as easy to pop in as it was open when the expo/sponsors were working.

My favorite was the smallest I went to, actually. About 800 people, in Cincinnati in 2008 (well actually, not in Cincinnati and short of in no-man’s land, which was the only bad thing about it). The bigger it got, the more ‘party-like’ it became, like a two-day beer festival, the least I liked it.

I know it can’t maintain itself being a money loser- but making it so large was part of the downfall. It went from being an engaging learning experience with like-minded folks to an ultra expensive beer festival.

 

[dbeechum]

My favorite was the smallest I went to, actually. About 800 people, in Cincinnati in 2008 (well actually, not in Cincinnati and short of in no-man’s land, which was the only bad thing about it). The bigger it got, the more ‘party-like’ it became, like a two-day beer festival, the least I liked it.

I know it can’t maintain itself being a money loser- but making it so large was part of the downfall. It went from being an engaging learning experience with like-minded folks to an ultra expensive beer festival.

There's a lot of vibe amongst the board of getting back some of the "Mickey and Judy putting on a show in the backyard to raise money to save the orphanage" energy that was in those earlier conferences. It was understandable why the BA went the event planning route that they did - keeping a volunteer crew on task for putting on the show was always fraught with challenges and different levels of polish realized. When you have the crew that puts on both the CBC and GABF right there, why not use them and put on something with a ton of spit polish?

But yeah, the energy of the conferences changed as it became more "mini-CBC" as opposed to "homebrew party" and there were lots of us "old timers" who were talking years ago that it was less homey and warm as it got larger and larger.

 

[Bobby_M]

@dbeechum thanks for participating in the thread.

I think most of the die hard brewers that came up in the early 2000's and earlier liked the vibe of the smaller conferences that didn't feel like a rave at a frat party. At that time, the day was dedicated to education led by the leaders in the space both homebrewers and pros that came up through the homebrew ranks. That slipped significantly in recent years.

What happened to "pro night"? Were there fewer breweries willing to participate? Was it the local laws? Will the divestiture from BA help or hurt in bringing that night back stronger?

 

[Bobby_M]

When you have the crew that puts on both the CBC and GABF right there, why not use them and put on something with a ton of spit polish?

Primarily because it sucks and wasn't what the attendees really wanted

Homebrewers are a lot of things, but polished isn't one of them. We just want to serve homebrew to other homebrewers and watch em smile, for the most part.

I remember back when clubs could still hand out food and being so psyched that a Chicago club was serving hotdogs and then it got one-upped by another club that brought in the pallet of white castle sliders. The whole thing got too corporate and homebrewing for a lot of us represented a respite from the white button ups of our day jobs.

 

[agentbud]

... We just want to serve homebrew to other homebrewers and watch em smile ...

Sometimes you read a sentence and just want to say "amen, brother".

 

[dbeechum]

Quick reminder everyone - last call for comments about the direction we should be steering this tugboat of beer!

https://brewersassociation.wufoo.com/forms/z1prrkcz1vagwld/

 

[madscientist451]

The link provided by Drew is for current members only. Isn’t that part of the problem? Why not invite comments from all?

 

[dmtaylor]

The link provided by Drew is for current members only. Isn’t that part of the problem? Why not invite comments from all?

@dbeechum @julia_1 See above, this is a good point.

 

[mac_1103]

Why not invite comments from all?

Probably would get too spammy too fast. But no reason they can't take note of non-member comments posted here for instance.

 

[dbeechum]

Yeah, I would go ahead and add your comments. I prefer feedback.

Reminder - comments by end of today!

 

[dbeechum]

Just wanted to give everyone a brief update - the new AHA Board met earlier this week in person in Boulder to began the process of hashing out what the future of the AHA looks like. Lots of excitement and energy even while digging through statements about financials and fiduciary requirements.

Lots of great feedback from the community and it's being incorporated! You can expect Julia to say more as things get solidified!

 

[hout17]

I think they have taken a step in the right direction. I've since renewed my membership that I let expire over a year ago to throw support their way.

 

[dbeechum]

I think they have taken a step in the right direction. I've since renewed my membership that I let expire over a year ago to throw support their way.

Thank you!

If you want to read the "formal" results of our first meeting, Julia sent out an announcement today: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/news/update-on-ahas-independence-and-call-for-member-comment/

If you want to ask Julia and the board questions directly you can do so today at the AHA Forum- https://forum.homebrewersassociatio...mt-forum-q-a-with-the-founding-board/37514/23

 

[MaxStout]

I renewed a couple weeks ago, mainly to see which direction the ship is being steered. Disappointed they no longer offer a 3-year membership, as I would've opted for that. But in any case, I want to stick with it a while.

Just spitballing here re the unwieldy size of past conventions. Perhaps do 3 or 4 smaller, regional events each year, instead of one big one? East coast, west coast, south, midwest. Book smaller venues, keep a smaller footprint for each. Tap into (pun intended) local clubs to help with some logistics. Only complication might be that some sponsors wouldn't want to go to numerous shows. But it could be nice for a lot of members to have a destination within a day's drive or a short flight.

 

[dbeechum]

I renewed a couple weeks ago, mainly to see which direction the ship is being steered. Disappointed they no longer offer a 3-year membership, as I would've opted for that. But in any case, I want to stick with it a while.

Just spitballing here re the unwieldy size of past conventions. Perhaps do 3 or 4 smaller, regional events each year, instead of one big one? East coast, west coast, south, midwest. Book smaller venues, keep a smaller footprint for each. Tap into (pun intended) local clubs to help with some logistics. Only complication might be that some sponsors wouldn't want to go to numerous shows. But it could be nice for a lot of members to have a destination within a day's drive or a short flight.

- On the multi-years - those got suspended during this transition and are a thing being discussed for bringing back. (Says the lifetime member)

- On conventions - right now the plan is that the AHA is putting out an RFP to event planning companies to create a national event for a smaller audience (think under 1000). First priority is to get it back on track. The problem with smaller shows is not just the sponsors - each event, even with volunteer committees (which are also on the table for return because most of the board agrees that it's better with real local flair), takes a ton of work! First things first - getting the band back together!

 

[madscientist451]

Looks like you have to be a current member to leave a comment, ( I tried the above comment link) so I'll just comment here: Nothing in the short meeting notes makes me want to pay the AHA for a membership or go to a convention.

 

[dbeechum]

Looks like you have to be a current member to leave a comment, ( I tried the above comment link) so I'll just comment here: Nothing in the short meeting notes makes me want to pay the AHA for a membership or go to a convention.

Addressing the first part - you have to have an account on the AHA Website, but you don't have to be a member. That's always been the case.

Second part - Keep in mind these are the first moves of the new group - which is all about establishing the base of how we're moving. We're planning on regular updates showing what's happening, what the priorities are and what's next. So if today's update (which is mostly about "hey, we're here, we're talking and we're filing") doesn't excite you, all I can say is we're working on it!

 

[madscientist451]

. So if today's update (which is mostly about "hey, we're here, we're talking and we're filing") doesn't excite you, all I can say is we're working on it!

Thanks for the quick reply Drew. I tried to use the link provided in your original post several different ways and I just could not get it to work. But since you're on the AHA board and apparently monitoring this thread, commenting here seems to be somewhat effective. Thanks for all you've done for homebrewing. My next brew is going to be your Oat Mild recipe ( I decided that several weeks ago before this comment).

 

[dbeechum]

Love that Oat Mild. I'm getting ready to test a new malt from Gambrinus - Mars Malt. (kinda sorta a dark munich adjacent malt). Calling it "Mars Needs Milds" because I'm just that sort of person.

And regarding accounts: I just checked here and clicked the "No Account? Register Here" link just below and to the right of the "Log In" button. Walked through with a burner email and it took.

 

[madscientist451]

Hey I tried it again it it worked! I suppose I was just too impatient the first time. Never heard of Mars malt, thanks for the tip.

 

[dbeechum]

This is the Mars malt - first time using it so we'll see. Skipping a lot of the usual mild ingredients I use.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Gary Glass on Basic Brewing Radio

http://www.basicbrewing.com/index.php?page=radio

 

[dbeechum]

Tonight is the night to hear from the new AHA Board and ask questions of us - 5PM PT on Crowdcast and unlike other Zymurgy Live sessions - this one is open to everyone! - https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/zymurgy-live/town-hall-what-an-independent-aha-means-for-you/

 

[dbeechum]

You can watch the replay of the crowdcast last night by going to https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/zymurgy-live/town-hall-what-an-independent-aha-means-for-you/. The video should be embedded in the page, if not try going via incognito mode!