Don't get me wrong, the people were great and the one's we met outside of our own club were outstanding. But the long time collectors seemed to have their own friends and special interests and newbies like us were not ignored but not entirely comfortable among groups who already knew each other.
Hi Rick, ...The first reunion I attended was in Providence RI in 1998. I knew no one in person but made it a point to try to say "hi" to most everyone I met through the old AOL HL Board and the then new (correct me if I'm wrong) Collector Forum. I met with Fred Kuhlman, John Chidester, Paul Brady, Sean Thompson, Ken Reese, Mark Wagner, Tim Aucerman, Rod Watson, and a few other people who I had conversed with on the Net. I also took advantage of the different functions sponsored By HL to sit with different people and strike up a conversation. Everyone was friendly and more than willing to talk. I left that reunion weekend feeling quite inspired about about my then small HL collection and the wonderful people I had establish friendships with. I found everyone to be extremely friendly.
I also attended the Baltimore Reunion and basically tried to speak with those people I had met at the previous reunion in Providence. I did manage to speak with many other new people who I mostly identified by Wacko Badges and recognized their names from participation at the CF. With such a large group of people heading in two different directions at the same time, it was difficult to break into some club groups. People did stay with the group they normally hang with probably because they enjoy their company. The Baltimore Reunion covered a lot of functions in a short period of time. There just wasn't much time to seek out total strangers and try to engage them in conversation.
The fact people stayed within their club groups is not surprising because of the extremely demanding itinerary. Perhaps a forced mingling could help out at future reunions. By this I mean, assigned seating with people you don't know. Break up the clubs and have them sit with people from other parts of the country. There is no way you can speak with 850 different people on a one-on-one basis in a couple of days and nights, but you can surely make new friends with part of the group. I know it's difficult to leave the people you are traveling with but it can be done.
There will be another reunion. What it will be, I do not know. Where it will be I can only guess but the Great Lakes is due as a venue. How many people will be able to attend or be accommodated? I guess that depends when and where they have it. My suggestion to all those people who attend is not to be shy. Look for wacko badges and introduce yourself as a fellow CF member and show them your wacko badge (if you don't have one, get one!). The badge is the key that separates you from total strangers who do not visit the CF and have no idea who all those people are with the badges.
I've never met a person with a wacko badge that wasn't ready to talk and find out who you are. Those who keep to themselves and are shy about taking the initiative about striking up a conversation will not mix as well as those who extend their hand to another.
Does the above make sense?
Bob