Last year I took it on myself to put together a list of the "Top 10 News Events at Harbour Lights". This time I'd like to ask for nominations first, then ask you all to vote on them here at the site.

First please use this thread to name news events which OUGHT to be included in the list to vote on. Please don't duplicate items already posted in this thread, add to the thread if there is an item you think should be added. Please post one or two ideas so others can add too. Don't worry about ranking them, that's what the poll will do.

I'd like to close this nominating thread out next Sunday, December 20, then put up the voting poll until the end of the year.

So - what are the top news events from Harbour Lights for 1998?

News Events... hmmm

Not ranked, just numbered:

1. The decision to sell the '99 Reunion piece to non-Reunion attendees. (this may have been made in late '97 but sales went on the books in '98).

2. The conversion of the privately operated Harbour Lights Collector's Information Center website into the official news organ of Harbour Lights. HL finally gets on the Web.

Rgds,
__
/im

[This message has been edited by JTimothyA (edited 12-14-98).]

1. The prompt decision to retire Chatham after the internet detective work by the collectors had discovered its "incorrect" dormer designs.

2. The discovery of the Grays Harbor variation, and resulting collector's scramble to find one at retail.

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-RodW

Attn: Timbo - 1. The inability to follow explicit instructions. LOL

1. The decision by Harbour Lights to create an open edition Coquille, and to then table the idea due to collector concerns over a statement that may, or may not have been made, that there would never be an open editon Coquille.

2. The low number of pieces that retired this year

One or two noteworthy, newsy HL events in 1998? Not mentioned yet, would be:

1 - The 2nd Collectors Reunion. Including all of the debate over the method used to allot the reservations in Providence and for the 3rd Reunion.

2 - The changes in the Anchor Bay line.

1. Donation by Harbour Lights to the preservation of Tybee Lighthouse.

2. Announcement that the little "Harbour Lights People" will be shipped by Christmas 1998. These have to take the prize for being the pieces that took the longest to produce, in the history of Harbour Lights.

News Worthy events in 1998:
1.) The change in the Old Field Point sculpture from the bare tree to the evergreen which ended up covering the cute red sled.

2.) Starting the Signature Series

The reversal of trends in big and little with the announcement of Hillsboro Inlet: an advance backward in edition size, a whopper of a piece physically. Gotta love it.

Certainly we can't overlook the Fighting Lightkeepers championship season.

Augie
[This message has not been edited yet by Augie Fresnal (12-19-98).]

The unmistakable signs of the maturing of the HL line.

Dealer shelf space shrivels to nothing as GLOWs invade in record numbers and sales of LE's slow down.

Continued creative improvements: metalwork used in new ways, lantern room railings get fancier, trees.

7 LE's from 1996 retire.

Last call for nominations. So far, in no particular order, the nominees for "Top 10 Harbour Lights' Stories for 1998":

Rose Island RI Reunion Exclusive - version made available to Society Members

Conversion of Harbour Lights' Collectors Information Center web site to the "Official" HarbourLights.com site

Discovery of Gray's Harbor WA Variation

Early Retirement of Chatham MA when collectors pointed out sculpting error

Relatively low number of retirements in 1998

Decision to 'table' a GLOW Coquille River OR

Changeover of Anchor Bay line to 'limited edition'

Reservations for Providence Reunion sold out in 3 hours - and the method used to take registrations

Shipment of "Keeper & Friends" finally happens after more than a year

Role of Harbour Lights and collectors in restoration of Tybee Island Lighthouse

Start of "Signature Series"

"Tree Surgery" to Old Field Point NY 1998 Christmas Edition

Announcement of Hillsboro Inlet FL edition size of 6,500 - reduction in edition size and increase in sculpture size.

Improvements in sculpting techniques and materials, railings, etc. As demonstrated in Grand Haven MI and Sturgeon Bay Canal WI

'Record' number of GLOWs

'Maturing' of Harbour Lights Line


We'll use the nominees as of 12/31/98 to create an on-line poll.

John

OK, I'll throw in two:

1. Establishment of Collector Forums and decline of AOL Lighthouse Collectible Board.

2. Coverage of Edison & Rosemont Collectible Shows & 1998 Reunion on-line.

0 :>)