Mike- I would love to go to Louisville as well. But I am sure economics dictates like Dean says.
They should fix your Forum description- a Life Member should be honored!!!

The economy has been playing havoc with us all. Who knows I may just jump in the car and go for a road trip. Be nice to see the usual suspects again.

To All

I was events chainman for many years , a thankless job, and no matter where you selected a spot for the annual meeting, it was never the correct location. A fact--Louisville, KN is the geographical location of the overall membership of the PGCA, east or west of the Mississippi River---over which 76% of the PGCA membership live EAST of the Mississippi. The last Louisville show was POORLY attended, I know, because I organized it !! I always considered a 500 to 600 mile radius as a days drive to have the event, a major consideration. Also what does the area have as interest ? Not an easy task!! I think the current BOD is doing their due diligence .

According to the By-lawyer, I see nothing that states that there is not room to have another get together ,wherever, that does not conflict ---just needs someone to take the bull by the horns and put in the countless hour to organize the function. Be ready for you know what, it will not satisfy all.

Regards
Allan

We always have an open invitation for Parker members to join us for dinner at Pheasant Fest and to come by and talk. PF is Feb 19-21, this year in Kansas City. It's been in MSP, Omaha, Des Moines , Milwaukee, Madison. We have 7 people working the exhibit and have a great turn out of maybe 10 members come by and a couple have dinner with us.

We have had events west of the Mississippi for years but with little to no interest. Some years ago we listened to Texans talking about how the PGCA never came to Texas so we did and had maybe 10 people turn out and others who beat the drum and lived less than 50 miles away not show.

So with all that history , it's not even worth having any concern about it whatsoever.

As a previous officer in other organizations I can appreciate the thankless job that volunteering for an organization can be. To all who toil to make the PGCA the best, I salute and thank you.

This year's annual meeting promises to be a great one in part because it is tied with one of the top gun shows in the country. And while the meeting is a little over a month away, the cutoff dates for our hotel special pricing is much sooner. The special pricing for the hotels expires at the Hampton Inn on February 26 and at the Sheraton it expires on March 2. The prices rise considerably above our $109 rate at both hotels. Both hotels have put cutoff dates because they know they will sell out at the higher rates. The Baltimore show has very high attendance.
So, make your reservations sooner rather than later.

I've seen prices at other conparable hotels in the area at $249/day during this Baltimore Arms show weekend.

And remember to send your check for Annual Meeting Banquet tickets as soon as you can....

Remember, seating is limited!






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What Bruce said - (can I get an 'AMEN'!) Reminds me of the very first Greenwich CT show where Bill Murphy and I paid for a table and 'declared' it a PGCA display, show-and-tell, and ask questions opportunity for Parker owners to come by. When we requested member support before the show to sit the table to spell us for bathroom breaks, time to cruise the show, eat lunch, etc. we got zip; zilch, nada by way of response. After the 4th or 5th member came by to 'visit' after the show opened, we decided to put out a sign-up sheet for purposes of recording who 'visited'. As I recall, we had 31 members sign up, the vast majority of whom lived within 50 miles or less of the show. Like the line from the Eagles' song, we "had to each our lunch all by ourselves."

Kevin, that's just how it goes in most organizations where the is no requirement of membership to work or 'pitch in'. The tiniest minority does the vast majority of the 'heavy lifting'.






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VERY true, Dean, and it will go on as long as its tolerated.