The Salute convention was a grand success. Good games and a lot of people. The only part of the convention that is lacking is a good flea market area. However, I think this is problematic for the entire hobby. My guess is that people are just putting it online and selling it there, instead of keeping it for the cons. Anyway, it was a good convention and a lot of fun for me and several others. If you weren't there you missed a great time. Oh yeah, the McDonalds up there still doesn't know how to make a good breakfast burrito. And, I still haven't won a decent door prize.

Our auction was quite successful. We moved a ton of material and made some money. I'd like to extend thanks and gratitude to American Eagles Tacoma for hosting the auction site. Special thanks to the South Sound Grenadiers for their efforts. Thanks to Dick Larsen for serving as our auctioneer (until his back gave out). Thanks to the people who spent so much money on so many items and especially those who spent so much money on so few items. A good auction, all around. Thanks to all.

It is now April and in June we will be at Enfilade. Please, get your events in soon. Some members of NHMGS may be concerned that in the past eleven years we have moved Enfilade from Lynnwood (a Seattle suburb) to Fife (a Tacoma suburb); the auction was in Tacoma this year; and Breakthrough is looking for a new venue up North. This migration is the result of the high cost of doing anything in Seattle. The days of low cost anything in Seattle will not return. The days of gaming concentrated only in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, and Burnaby are also gone. There are now more gamers in more venues spread throughout the NHMGS geographic area. Resenting/lamenting/cursing the migration of NHMGS functions to venues further from Seattle won't help. Enfilade in Lynnwood was only 10 minutes from my home, Breakthrough in Marysville was only 25 minutes from my home, the auction at the Bear Room was only 25 minutes from my home. Not many other NHMGS members were as well positioned as I was to attend these functions. Times change. The moves were necessary to find adequate space that meets our needs at a price we can afford to pay and still provide a quality experience to our membership/attendees. The governing body of NHMGS sets out to use the financial assets as effectively as possible. Non-profit doesn't mean we spend freely to keep the events in Seattle, regardless of cost. We look for the biggest bang for the buck.

I'd like to see a convention on the Oregon or Washington coast. That way, should I suffer the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" on the table top I could always go outside and throw shells in the ocean, kick the sand, and curse my Zulus who wouldn't close on the square. The Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, Oregon has wonderful space available at a very small cost. Unfortunately, it's also about a four hour drive from Seattle. There are many places I would like to see these events other than where they are today, but in the real world they are where they are for good, sound reasons. I'll attend no matter where they are - I'm a gamer, It's a personality defect.

The VP Central, Steve Puffenberger, is looking for space to hold regular historical miniatures gaming meetings. He is looking in the South Snohomish County area. Any help or ideas would be most welcome. Tables are available at Fantastic Games and Hobbies, but he is looking for someplace that would not have the distractions.

As an aside, unrelated to anything more or less. In downtown Tacoma on the outside of a building there is a bronze plaque. The plaque is dedicated to the site where people stood up for the very first time while the National Anthem was played. How many of you knew that? The good citizens of Tacoma started the tradition of standing up for the playing of the National Anthem.

Good gaming to you all and I look forward to seeing you at Enfilade 2001.