Well, it is all said and done, the 2004 HPOCA Winter Convention is a memory.  Like most memories there are good parts and bad parts.  Here are my observations.
I got to meet many of the fine posters to the forums, so many that, if I miss you, I&#039;m sorry, my memory isn&#039;t great sometimes.  CookieOliverMan, NYSOLIVER, and others, really nice to meet you all.  Now I can place a face to the post..
Next, I noticed some old boy with his dog, inside the hotel, looking at the displays.  I don&#039;t believe this was a seeing eye dog.  I should have shook this guys hand, because it takes intestinal fortitude to break health department rules outright.
Skimming down the old memory bank, I was pleased to have met Ollie Shaeffer there.  He seems very much like a down to earth guy and if I ever get to his neck of the woods I want to look him up.
Of course I met Sherry.  Nice person as well.
The general membership meeting ruffled my, as well as other members feathers, it seems.  I hope that there isn&#039;t a vast exit from the club, but the feeling I got after the meeting was that the general HPOCA membership was displeased. 
I also met the gentleman that was curator with the Smithsonian and the President of the I &amp;amp; I club.  Both of these men were very much into the restoration of the HP number 3.  Thank you gentlemen.
One of the more exciting parts of Saturday was the 2 hours that Ollie Shaeffer was stuck in the coat  closet, being grilled by some HPOCA leaders.  Thankfully the Smithsonian curator, and the I &amp;amp; I Club president, as well as many of the general members were close at hand to defend Ollie as shouting turned into pushing.  When Ollie was finally released from the closet he was unscathed and this episode gave club members the realization of how the club is operated.
The banquet was a nice event, food was plentiful and the joyful atmosphere was only briefly interrupted when club President Terry Allen got up to speak and only 1 table applauded him, being mostly those in leadership positions.  A comment was expressed at my table &amp;quot;and they think there is no problem.&amp;quot;  IMAGINE THAT.
When Landis Zimmerman stood to speak, applause practically took down the roof.

Well, enough memories for now.  Let&#039;s hear other memories from forum members.

Ed



[Edited on 2-29-2004 by edward.tabor]