BAM IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN LEARNING, TEACHING, PRESERVING, AND PROMOTING BLACKSMITHING. MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF SKILL LEVEL OR ABILITIES. IT IS AN AFFILIATE OF ABANA, THE ARTIST BLACKSMITH'S ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA, ALTHOUGH ABANA MEMBERSHIP IS NOT A REQUIREMENT FOR BAM MEMBERSHIP. IT WAS ORGANIZED IN 1983 BY BOB PATRICK AND A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN THIS ANCIENT CRAFT. SINCE THEN THIS GROUP HAS GROWN TO OVER 500 MEMBERS IN MISSOURI AND OTHER STATES. BAM'S MEMBERS VARY FROM FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL BLACKSMITHS TO WEEKEND HOBBY BLACKSMITHS, ALL FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS. EXPERIENCE LEVELS VARY FROM SEVERAL DECADES TO JUST STARTING. BAM HAS ORGANIZED AND HOSTED BLACKSMITHING EVENTS RANGING FROM REGIONAL WORKSHOPS TO NATIONAL LEVEL CONFERENCES WITH INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATORS. A STATEWIDE CONFERENCE IS HELD ANNUALLY.