Well, I just got back from Chicago and while the events are fresh in my mind I want to again say (and join Tim is saying) that these friends made online and nurtured in our very infrequent face-to-face meetings are what makes this collecting hobby so much more.

Met several people for the FIRST time this weekend. (Please forgive me if I miss somebody -- and chime in here if I do.)

Lainey and husband Joe
Mary and Jeff Meyer from Holland
Don Waller
Suzanne Murphy (Proud Momma)
Digger & his Lifesaver Becky Ervin
Frank Barnhardt
Tom and Joyce Abbott

And those I've met before and sure enjoyed seeing again:

Tim & Sue Aucremann
Paul & Sue Brady
Dave & Susan Hannum (And daughter Heather)
Mike & Patty Kaiser
Sean Thompson
Jim Johnson & Jim Johnston ('Get the hook')
Sue LeFever (aka Mombo)
Derith 'Nana' Bennett
Paul & Cheryl Sostaric & Wonderboy Stephen
Mrs TLC - fellow Arizonan Ruthie Cooper
Judy 'Sunshine' Rath
Francis (Kim) Fuller & spouse (He's goona kill me)
Randy Kremer & spouse
Mark Wagner (& Dad)
Ken Reese
Mary & Herm Heuvelhorst (Brighteyes)
Gary & Kay Toth
Jake & Gloria Toering
Roy & Carolyn McBee (celebrated their 9th anniversary on Sunday)
Pam Cook

(OK, who did I forget?)

And last, but not least, some of the greatest people in the world - who ARE Harbour Lights:

Bill
Maureen
Harry
Michelle
& the Rep crew
(And Blair Andrews)

Thanks everyone for making this past weekend truly a memorable and fun one!

Got home too late last night to post anything and then it was off to school this morning. I agree with John these face-to-face meetings are GREAT!

We just needed more time to spend with each other doing the following things: talking about lighthouses, laughing, joking, teasing, making future plans, sharing meals and just having one of the best gatherings we have ever had.

Thanks everyone for the GREAT weekend!
Derith

[This message has been edited by Nana (edited 06-18-2001).]

You met Mike Walsh (Cana Fan) also John. I sat to your right at dinner, just never got the chance to formally introduce myself.

Mike

[This message has been edited by Cana Fan (edited 06-19-2001).]

I'm now coming up with a total of 54 that were with us at some point during the weekend, including spouses, parents, the newlyweds and Jim Johnston's Pottawatomie buddies. This does not include the HL folks.

Also on my list of attendees I had rynomatt (Karen and husband), Rock and Chris G. but I don't think I saw them?

What a great time we had! Thank you Harbour Lights for such a great weekend! It was so good to see everybody and be able to get together like that! My only regret was that I did not get to buy one of Digger's paintings! (None were left!) Hopefully in the future I can get one for my own!
**** Only 3 and a half months till Baltimore!****

Don't know if you saw me or not, Mombo, but I was the one who asked Bill if the Spyglass Series was dead at Sunday's seminar.

[This message has been edited by Rock (edited 06-19-2001).]

Rock, why didn't you tell us it was You!

Will we see you in Baltimore?

Derith

Geez, Rock. Ditto to what Derith said. I remember the question - didn't know it was one of our WACKO Forumites.

Yes, what a weekend it was!

We had 45 at dinner Friday night. Not bad, considering it was set up via the Collector's Forums, and only a couple of weeks before the show! As ususal, HL came through with some great gifts and drawing prizes, and the Connected Collector family came through with their active participation in the drawing. It was a very enjoyable evening of fun and interaction among great friends. Someone looking in at us would have thought it was old home week, even though many had never actually met in person, face to face!

Sunday morning we started with 33 on the cruise and added 3 (guess someone always has to be late) more before we left. Not bad for a spur of the moment thing that wasn't really publicized other than speaking with each other Saturday evening!

Thank you John for lining up the very reasonably priced hotel for all of us. I would guess that this was a contributing factor to som many of our connected family coming to the show.

While the show itself was kind of a bust, the "family get together" portion was most excellent! How will we top ourselves next year?

Dave


[This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 06-20-2001).]

While we have not reached WACKO status (probably the longest running Newbie in the history of these forums)we were in attendance also and celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday (6/17). Unfortunately, we missed all the WACKO get togethers since we didn't stay at Club Quarters.

However we had a wonderful time enjoying Navy Pier, Bill's Seminars,and the Regional Event. All were awesome!

Well, Harbor Beacons, Happy Anniversary! You don't have to have the coveted official wacko status to hang out with all your fellow connected collectors. We are actually a pretty decent group of folks (with a few exceptions, of course [tic]) - we will let almost anyone join in our fun times. Even newbies, registered members, non-registered lurkers or just about anyone. (One major exception here would have to be the so-called workers employed at Navy Pier.)

Please be sure to join us at future events - maybe you will make it to the coveted official wacko status by then! Hope to see you at Baltimore if not sooner.

Dave

Sorry Nana and John...I promise to make up for it in Baltimore! I missed out on just about everything WACKO last weekend...

And by the way, was it just me or did anyone else notice how empty the festival hall seemed? And wasn't there supposed to be a swap-n-sell? I guess giftware really is hurting these days...

John said it all! It was great to see everyone again and to finally meet those that I only have chatted with online!

Next stop Baltimore and maybe the New England Regional. Hope to see some of you there!

Harbor Beacons...we had a gorgeous view for dinner Saturday night, didn't we?...you mentioned that you need to hit the forums more...so welcome to the forums...and Rock, I'm glad that we did see you for a little while on Sunday, and during the seminar!!!

Watch out Baltimore!!!

Memories flood the corners of my mind!

A week has now passed since we came home from Chicago and the memories are still fresh in my mind. What a fantastic time we had meeting everyone!!!

This weekend we were up north paiting in our cottage and can't believe how different it is there from the hustle and bustle of Chicago.

We really look forward to Baltimore in the near distant future!

2beacons

We will be attending the Baltimore Reunion also...checking on flights yet today.
Even though it will be a rushed trip as work is a problem we wouldn't miss it. Harbour Lights knows how it put on an event!

Yes, the view was awesome Bright Eyes. I believe I've posted the most ever tonight but time is definitely a problem (work, church, house, elderly parents, the list could go on.