Metalshapers Association

Purposes, Policies, and Objectives

The Metalshapers Association (MSA) is an international community of members who are interested in learning and sharing of knowledge pertaining to the shaping of compound curves and other shapes in all kinds of metals relating to automotive, aircraft, art and other applications. The association maintains a website of resources for all who wish to participate on any level, and maintains discussion related groups. The MSA web site is designed to serve as a center of information about metalshaping for members, the press, and the general public.

Through the discussion groups, MSA provides a forum for socializing, networking, learning, discussing, archiving, demonstrating, preserving and advancing skills and techniques, in the hopes of expanding the trade to as many eager minds as possible.

In addition, MSA strives to:

• promote metalshaping in general
• provide the professional metalshaper a showcase
• contribute to the recovery of and preservation of the old world methods and to the advancement of materials, machines and methods using today's technology and knowledge base
• facilitate regional, national and international events for the purpose of advancing the trade and all those involved

Strategic Objectives

• To provide the optimum learning environment and support for those in the business of shaping metal and those who do it as a hobby.
• To ensure that those who want to learn - can.
• To increase the world-wide awareness of all forms of metalshaping and services available in the global marketplace.
• To facilitate regional, national and international events for the purpose of learning and displaying members work and supplier's tools, equipment and supplies and other items necessary for operating a successful metalshaping shop.
• To make member, resources, skills, and facilities available to the marketplace to accommodate its changing needs.
• To maintain MSA's fiscal stability in order to fulfill the Association's mission.

Values

Policies of Use

(November, 2004)

Posting Commercial Content in the Forums

We do not accept commercial posts from people who do not regularly contribute to our discussion. Commercial posts in the forums, even from our regular contributors are borderline at best. Such posts from someone who has never contributed at all and who sends such a post immediately upon registration is simply unacceptable.

If you are a participating member of the group and share information with the group (FIRST) then, and only then, limited mentions of your products will be permitted. But even then that mention needs to be in the form of an update or needs to be tempered with information of intrinsic value to the group.

While we do encourage members to post related tools and equipment for sale or trade or to post "pre-ebay" offers to the group or even post their ebay auctions -- we do not allow pure commercial posts to the forums. We don't even allow our Sponsors to make commercial posts.

Commercial Use of the Albums

One of the purposes of this group is to help promote the hobby and the business of metalshaping, so we wholeheartedly encourage members to post albums for the purpose of showcasing your work and your facilities. Please feel free to post links to your other albums, your web site, and your e-mail address. Feel free to include your phone number and address. The MSA web site is for promoting you and your business. The albums and the Pro listings have paid off several times for members.

As for suppliers posting products in the albums, we have asked that only those who participate and share information be allowed to post metalshaping tools in the albums, and to use discretion when doing so. In other words, if your albums and/or forum posts also show how to use the products and share metalshaping techniques, then that will be acceptable (in moderation). But if you use the albums solely to market your products and you have no albums that offer any other usable information... then that is not acceptable.

The bottom line is -- if you post a product in an album -- be sure to offer the group more information that just how to buy your products.