????????????/

I didn't hear that. Where do YOU think you heard it?

I heard it, too.

I didn't hear that. I will be in Atlanta and if I hear anything I will let you guys know.

Mike H

I heard it and so did everybody else at the Derby City Lights Club Meeting. http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum6/HTML/000106.html

Bill said that they really hoped to be able to announce the location by Atlanta.

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Is that Atlanta, Georgia?

Bill said that they hoped to announce the next reunion location by the time of the Atlanta 2000 Collectibles Expo May 4th - 7th at the Georgia World Congress Center which is downtown Atlanta, Georgia. And just where did Bill say this? At the Derby City Lights Club Meeting in Louisville, KY on the 9th of April. http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum6/HTML/000106.html
And why did Bill say this? Because everyone there threatened to hold him hostage until he told us and Bill hadn't slept in more than 24 hours.

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Gee Paul,
I thought he meant Atlanta, Indiana. That would have been about half-way between you and I and we couldhave been the only two collectors at the announcement.
tic, Dave

Thanks, Paul, I knew I saw it somewhere! tic Really couldn't believe it was overlooked by most Forum readers? lol
I thought I dropped some new info from my meeting with BY back on Oct 31, and it really went by the boards until I made an issue of them.
Thanks for the info Saint Paul!

WOW .....This is really exciting, I can't wait to hear the location. I wish I was able to be at the Atlanta 2000 collectors show so I could hear it from the man himself. It will be nice to be able to start planning with a specific location in mind.


Kat

Bill did say they "hoped" to announce it.

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

I really enjoyed this thread and the links, too. I look forward to being able to make definite plans for another reunion and being able to see all of the HL family of wonderful collectors. Thank you all.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

Paul are you becoming an "attorney" - now?
LOL
Yes, I know you said 'hoped' - all along!
I think most of us are 'wishin' n 'hopin' n 'thinkin' n'prayin' and maybe 'plannin' real soon!
Last Chat said Kim was out prowlin' for the site.

The latest word is that it isn't going to happen by then. Maybe Dave's right and Bill meant that it would be by Atlanta, IN, we both promise to let everyone know where it is going to be if that is the case. LOL

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

Aaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I'm starting to feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy's football??????
Better send Derith in on the Snoopy's Sopwit Camel.

but only after we secure the first two registrations to the reunion!

Dave

No matter when it happens, It will be nice to
know where we will all be gathering next year. Any new guesses as to the location???

------------------
Randall Ronne

Well, I guess we can rule out San Diego and Providence right away. It will have to be in the Great Lakes area or somewhere on Chesapeake Bay.

Bob

Think 250 miles of scenic shore line
Think cherry trees and woodland trails
Think antique shopping and oodles of art galleries
Think boat tours and maritime museums
Think 10 historic lighthouses

Think Door County!

__
/im
[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 04-27-2000).]

My guess is that it will be Baltimore in the summer. Is there a prize for the correct guess here too? Maybe one of those hats?

I like Door County also!

Mombo brings up an interesting point when she mentions a possible summer reunion. I felt they would have it after the summer season. That way kids are back in school and the peak summer vacation time is over...less crowds...less aggravation....more rooms for HL fans.

What do you think?

Bob

My kids always go with me lighthousing. I will probably feel differently after my own kids leave home, but for now, I'd prefer the summer reunion.

------------------
-Art

I really don't know why I said summer as it wouldn't matter to me if it were fall and less crowded. Must have been so that Art could bring the boys! And then there's always Jakers who wouldn't think of missing a day of school!

[This message has been edited by mombo (edited 04-28-2000).]

I went to St. Augustine today and I toured the old San Marcos fort. It led me to thinking about Pirates and then, I thought about the reunion. With all the pirate themes that HL's has come up with, I started to think that maybe the reunion would have a pirate theme too. Maybe they'd pick St. Augustine, Jacksonville or even Tampa, near Gasparilla for the reunion. Just a thought.

Joanne

Could be Joanne... or maybe the home of the infamous pirate, "Blackbeard"? But then, they are having a special dedication service near there.

Tim - Keeping the flame lit...

If the reunion was in Wisconsin you would almost have to have it in the summer, because in the spring and fall there still too many snowmobilers out yet, and they are dangerous, as most of them have been drinking (about 93%) I don't want to dirty the good name of the fine Wisconsin people, so I will point out that most of those people are from other states (IL-38%, IN-17%, IA-3%, WI-42%) MI and MN have plenty of snow and woods and don't need Wisconsin anyway. So having said that, I am in favor of a summer reunion too since I have a child in school too.

Mark
Did anyone see where I left my sled ?
[This message has been edited by Mark Wagner (edited 04-30-2000).]

This year in Wisconsin, we had 75 degree weather in February. There was very little snow and the Birkerbeiner in Cable, Wisconsin (very northern part of Wisconsin) was cancelled due to lack of snow. My daffodils were blooming in March.

Those guys must be "under the weather" if they're snowmobiling in the fall. What do they do in the winter, waterski?

would you believe ice fishing? :-)

Rgds,
Saint Lutefisk

If the lakes aren't iced over, yes they do waterski on the lakes here in Madison! There are a few people who boast that they have waterskied on Madison Lakes 11 months out of 12. Of course there are also lots of people ice fishing right up until the lakes thaw.

You keep those stinky fish Tim! And I'll even send you the lefse that's been in my freezer since Christmas to go with 'em! Or maybe I'll save it and bring it to you in Baltimore, lol.

Smeltless in Ontario

[This message has been edited by mombo (edited 05-02-2000).]

Hey Tim - In keeping with the possible pirate theme you were talking about; do you think they might hold it in Pittsburgh????

Rich

------------------

Think warm and comfortable!
Good lighthousing weather and area.

Going on what Bill said in his "seminar, that's not really a seminar", announced in Atlanta, there is a possibility of "TWO", yes two reunions this year. One on the west coast and one on the east coast. Collectors would only be able to attend one reunion location of their choice.

No definite locations were given, although a few have already been marked off the list. Bill did mention the possibility of Savannah, GA as one of the perspective east coast locations, but nothing written in stone.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how this will develop.

I can't wait myself!!!

I for one, hope there aren't going to be two reunions and or a collector can't go to both! The one national reunion with the opportunity to be with my friends from both coasts and the apparently forgotten middle of America collectors, is what made the first two reunions so special.
I also don't feel that 2 reunions would be the best use of Harbour Lights employees’ time, twice the work while not working on new lighthouses.
I shouldn't even need to mention where I am on the idea that the Great Lakes would be the best place for the third Harbour Lights reunion (national).
I know that I will be in a small minority on this (East and West Coast reunion) idea but really feel that a single reunion concept has worked great twice and it will continue to work as the best way.

Paul L Brady

...even though I live on the east coast, Paul...I have a tendency to agree with what you're saying. I guess its a difficult decision, either way one looks at it.

I would have to disagree with the two Reunion method. To be forced to choose what collector friends I want to enjoy this experience with is not fair. I think one all inclusive reunion would be more special to collectors and would give them more memories and stories to come away with. With two reunions, there is always the chance that something could happen at one that didn't happen at the other, leaving people feeling left out or disappointed.

I agree too the having to hold two would cause an awful workload for the employees at Y&A. I am sure they are up to the task, but I think Paul is right on when he says it will take time away from working on new product.

Personally, I like the old way of just one Reunion. Regardless of where I would like to see it, this in my opinion is the best way.

-Todd

I vote for one reunion not necessarily on the east coast or the west coast; would love to see some inland lighthouses -- seen lots of coastal lighthouses both east and west

I think some of the reasoning behind the two reunion theory is twofold. 1.)Mr. Younger expressed a hard time in finding a place to hold the event because of the ever growing family of collectors. 2.) Along the same lines as comment 1, He (Bill) would be able to communicate on a more personal level to a smaller group of collectors.

Please understand this is not particularly my choice as well, I am just relaying the information, the way I perceived it at the convention.

Mark

[This message has been edited by digitalman (edited 05-07-2000).]

To clarify - Bill said that Michigan had been recently ruled out as a site because they just couldn't find a venue. He asked what the audience thought would be the maximum number of people who would come if it was wide open. He stated that they'd like to get back to the smaller group of about 500 they had at the San Diego Reunion vs. the almost 1000 at Providence. Mainly for the intimacy and contact those attending could get.

Then he asked what the audience thought about two Reunions (not this year, but 2001) one on the East Coast; one on the West. And you couldn't attend two. The reception to the idea was somewhat positive, but with some concerns expressed too.

That's how I saw and heard what went on at Saturday's Seminar, anyway. And without Kim's (very important) point-and-counterpoint to Bill's, it just wasn't the same as similar sessions.

How do you determine who goes East and who goes West?

That sounds like a nightmare. Do you submit an application and then they tell you which one you can go to.

What if your on the West Coast and want to go East, vice versa.

What about dates, I can go East but not West, vice versa.

What about those unscrupulous people that will use other Family or Friends Society Membership Numbers to register to get to both reunions. Oh boo hoo, my Aunt Martha got sick at the last moment and she wanted us to go in her stead. You think this can't happen? I have a bridge for sale.

Now that I have joked around. If Harbour Lights can make a two reunion venue work its better than being turned away. If it has to be done in two locations to get me there well so be it. I will miss seeing a lot of friends. And this will certainly make the reunion much less appealing.

I hope they can work something out to keep it at one location. I had no real concerns with the reunion in Providence. We also enjoyed the Bus Tours John arranged and Harbour Lights eventually sponsored. They were lots of fun and I would like to see those be considered again.

Thanks John,

Sean

The Wackos( and other forum people) would definitely want to go to the same Reunion, as would the chat participants, local club members,...
I'm looking foward to meeting in person all the great people I've had the opportunity to share an idea or opinion with.
I'd be very disappointed if I or one of them got shut out of participating.

Just back from Atlanta and had a great time.
We need to post pictures of the NEW BILL "PIRATE DOLL" ( a 1000 stories to go with that very limited ((216)) edition item)

Further discussions with Harry on the reunion indicated that HL is also considering one site but 2 weekends so all attendees would share the same lighthouses and activities would be similar for both sessions.

Size of one massive reunion was/is a major concern. I like the 2 weekend idea.

Lots of pictures were taken by John C. and we look forward to their posting and all the stories to go along with them.

The HL "family" and staff that worked the show booth did a great job making all the collectors feel welcome. I am sure many other trade show visitors have been "hooked" on the great HL products.

Seeing the Fresnell Lens up close...it looks great and is the first in a series according to Bill. Also the "on the move" is fantastic in detail and well worth the long wait. See you on the Chat line this week.
Terry

I would greatly prefer the single reunion concept. While the size does make it hard to meet and get to know fellow collector's, at least you have a chance to look for and chat
with however you want. This would be lost with two reunions. Plus, there would be differences between the two reunions. That is inevitable. First and foremost is the reunion
event piece. Based on the first two reunions, this piece has been closely tied to the reunion area. You would have to have two different pieces. Thus, no one would be able to get both pieces since the statement is you can only attend one of two. Thus, some of us wackos would have to acquire it on the secondary market or HL would have to let you
buy one of each to be fair to everyone attending the two reunions.

As Paul pointed out, mid-america seems to be a forgotten land in all this process. My wife and I live in Colorado. To be able to attend the reunion requires saving, foresight and planning on our part. Since neither of us can
afford to take time off or the money to visit the collector's shows, we already miss out on some unique things that HL does (doubloons, "Pirate Bill"). We never see the first public unveiling of new pieces. During these two events each year, we both are a little disappointed because of what we miss out on.
It is only through John's great work on the web site that we are able to keep up on the goings on. Without that, who knows when we would have heard about the Frensel lens.

Anyway, my point is, many collector's already miss out on opportunities to see other collectors and the neat things HL does
at different events and shows. Don't add to this sense of loss by doing two reunions.

------------------
Randall Ronne

I like that idea Sean! Always can make some time for lighthousing. I've got an annual cruise in my area for 300+ that could be planned for the future. It's the first Saturday in June every year.
I'd be interested in going to other areas to see lots of lighthouses in a short period of time, and meeting all the Wackos.
Why don't you start a separate Forum Topic for your idea?

I am going to close this thread and move the discussion to two other threads because of the number of posts. http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum13/HTML/000025.html http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum13/HTML/000024.html



[This message has been edited by JimJohnson (edited 05-09-2000).]