Having been fortunate enough to attend both reunions, we feel that the two reunion format is a great idea.

Providence was great, but in our not so humble opinion, San Diego was so great it would probably be impossible to recreate. I know Maureen and crew are going to give it one heck of a attempt though.

We feel splitting it up would make it more workable for the logistics for Maureen and group. (And if we don't kill them off with one big reunion, maybe they will consider doing another or two more sooner.) It makes for a more intimate group. We wouldn't get to meet everyone, but with the size of the big group that wouldn't happen anyway. The time we spend together would certainly be more intimate and a lot less chaotic. It gives more collectors a chance to attend. It would be less hectic (as was the first in San Diego). We could all stay in one place. In Providence, we personally were at a remote location and it really took away from the time we would have had with our fellow collectors while we were going back and forth. And when you are all in one place, it lends to chance meetings of those people you might otherwise not meet. We saw that prove out a number of times at the first reunion. Hanging out in the halls or at the coffee bar or the Mezzanine during the odd hours was great fun. That's how we got involved in being part of the research team for Kilahua (that all happened about 2am Sunday morning.)

Anyway, that is our ever so humble opinion.

Karen and Michael