It is with regret that I inform you that we are unable to continue our relationship with the Sea-Tac Marriott for 2004. I contacted Kelli Fromhold at the Marriott immediately after the con vention and she explained to me that a dog show was booked into the space Memorial Day weekend 2004, and that little space was available during any of the weekends between May 14 and June 6.

By cobbling together three rooms we could have had space during the weekend June 4th-6th, however it was inadequate, the configuration unmanageable, and there was a significant increase in the cost of our sleeping rooms, from $76 per night to $89 per night.

Though I worked hard to secure a future for Enfilade at the Marriott for 2004 and subsequent years, the cost of acquiring space modestly larger than what we had this year was beyond our means. This caused me a certain amount of distress because our experience there was so positive, and the feedback so supportive for retaining the Enfilade at the Marriott.

What to do next?

I began considering a search for a new site within a couple of weeks of Enfilade. I was contacted by Kathy Sullivan with Red Lion Hotels. They were searching for a guest for a couple of recently acquired sites for Memorial Day Weekend. Their hotels in Silverdale and Bellevue were inadequate to our needs. However, their site in Olympia has a 7,600 sq. ft. ballroom. I visited with Ms. Sullivan and the events coordinator Laurie Hogan on June 23rd.

The ballroom is reminiscent of the Fife BWEI, but a bit nicer and more updated. Having attended a week-long conference at the hotel, I was a little familiar with the site and its quality. We viewed the space and the guest rooms and they made a proposal to me. They offered the ballroom, a 700 sq. ft. gaming space for the ASL gamers, and a guest suite for the winner of the Best of Show competition, Ian Croxall. In addition, they were very excited about a buffet. The cost for sleeping rooms is $74 per night, with free parking- no hassles. The total cost for the convention was, to say the least, generous.

I felt that I owed everyone at least one more opportunity for comparison. Knowing that the Fife BWEI was about to re-open, David Sullivan and I met with Jeff Zarelli and his assistant at the renovation site. Prior to the visit, I sent them information about Enfilade, NHMGS and a copy of our 2003 contract. It is still at least six weeks from re-opening and many of the events staff, including the manager were yet to be hired.

I reminded them that we still held unfulfilled contracts-voided by their bankruptcy, and that we were looking for a Memorial Day date. They showed us the changes they were making to the site- significant and for the better. When it came time to talk dollars, however, they were unable to do so. Despite two requests for a proposal they have not complied, and I can only assume that they could not meet our pricing requirements. It is time to move on.

I accepted the proposal from the Olympia Red Lion. It is a drive from Seattle and points north, I recognize that. That is the chief weakness. It has several important advantages:

1. It is a sound financial move for NHMGS, Enfilade, and attendees. It is slightly less expensive for attendees. We'll have a buffet, there is a fine restaurant, and access to fast food, with wide open parking.

2. We need a stable location for this convention. I've asked for a contract with an option for 2005, my last year as director. The hotel wants our business, and would love to be a permanent home for Enfilade.

3. This is a suitable site for the convention. It has sufficient space. Everyone will be in the same room. We won't be shoehorned into our space.

There are going to be complaints about the location, and understandably so. It would unquestionably be better if we could have stayed at the Marriott, but only from the standpoint of location. That is not an option, the space is not available to us.

There are very few spaces in the Puget Sound region that can meet our space requirements, and none of the others are affordable. It is not my agenda to move the convention every year, it was a decision forced upon me.

It was not done lightly, and I would have preferred to stay where we were. The location of the convention is determined by suitability, availability, and dollars. We could plunk this right in downtown Seattle or the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue, but there wouldn't be an Enfilade 2005 because we'd be broke.

I know the hardest part will be to convince the day-gamers--those who don't stay in the hotel-to make this drive from Seattle and points north. It will be difficult in Friday traffic, I know. However, we are seriously considering a Friday afternoon game session to encourage those who can to take the day off, and we will do everything we can to reduce costs of attendance. I encourage folks to stay in the hotel, at least on Saturday night.

The last, and perhaps most important, selling point I can make is that this is Enfilade. It is about you and your work, as fine as any in the country. To our knowledge it is the largest historical miniature gaming convention west of Texas, certainly the largest on the west coast. This is where the best stuff on the coast happens.

This year, for the first time, we will advertise ourselves as such. Don't miss out, don't be left out. Though we are not and will never be Historicon, people travel thousands of miles each year to attend it in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (also known as The Middle-of-Nowhere). Enfilade is worth the sixty miles from Seattle. I'll see you in Olympia.