by Maj. Bill Harting
The Mid-South Region of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society is an organization of persons devoted to the promotion of the hobby of Military History and Wargaming. It was created in June of 1988 by wargaming groups from Nashville, Columbia and the Highland Rim of Middle Tennessee. The society is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Tennessee and serving members throughout the country but located primarily south of the Mason-Dixon and East of the Mississippi. Mid-South has, as of this writing, the second largest membership in the nation (only the East Region has more members). The Society functions as a contact point for wargamers by way of the Directory of Members it publishes. This listing, free to all members, contains the names, addresses and phone numbers. In short, most everything that you would need to meet a group of people interested in any given period and enjoy the activities of the society. The society also promotes the study of military history and conflict simulation both to the general public at large and at schools by using historical miniatures to help bring history 'alive'. We also sponsor conventions and demonstration games open to the general public to further our goals. HMGS Mid-South is an accredited Region of the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, one of ten such Regions currently recognized by the National Board of Directors of HMGS. Each Region is responsible for their own activities and membership in one Region is recognized by the others for benefits such as reduced admission to HMGS sponsored events. Normally, additional specific benefits (e.g: newsletters, discounts) accrue only to members of that Region. Essentially, each Region is a separate corporate entity, acting in concert more as a confederation rather than any stronger affiliation. HMGS Sections within the RegionNow that you have read all the P.R. just what really is HMGS Mid-South? As of this writing there are 33 active gaming groups are affiliated with us as HMGS Mid-South Sections where regular gaming takes place. If you wish for your group to be recognized as a Section within HMGS Mid-South and included in this listing, please con tact Maj Bill Harting, 101 Taylor Rd., Estill Springs, TN 37330. The Sections are listed below: Birmingham Wargaming Association, Birmingham AL Our group meets every Sunday around 1:30 in the base ment of Cleveland & Cleveland, 2330 Highland Avenue South, next to Caldwell Park. We also play on Saturdays to resolve campaign battles. Our group plays a variety of wargames and roleplaying games. Our current games of high interest are: DBM, Na poleonics (Empire V rules), Dirtside, and Star Fleet Bat tles. We also play several board games as well. If you are interested in joining our group, or are just in terested in history, wargames or boardgames, please contact Vincent Soft rock at 205-853-5434 or at vsolfronk@mindspring.com or Lee Cleveland at 205-3221811 or at leecleveland@hotmail.com Our webpage is: www.geocities.com/vsolfronk/birmingham wargaming a ssociation.html HARTSELLE-HUNTSVILLE, AL. POC: John Bili, 503 W. Broadway, Hartselle, AL 35640, 205-773-0323. FAYETTEVILLE AR - NORTHWEST ARKANSAS HISTORICALLY ORIENTED GAMING SECTION (HOGS). They meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Of particular interest is Chuck Blouin's 32'x22' game board, raised 4' off the floor. Commanders roll around under in on chairs and come up through holes in the table to move their units (shades of Brigadier Peter Young!) POC: Grady West, 13737 Viney Grove Rd., Prairie Grove, AR 72753, 501-846-3766 MONOCRACY GAMERS Monocracy, MD. Meets the 2nd Saturday (2pm) and last Tuesday (6pm) of each month at Roy Rogers Family Restaurant, Hwy 26 & Trading Lane, N of Frederick, MD. POC: Ken Carter - 301-834-6516, or Jim Butters - 301696-1653. MIAMI, FL - SFGA. The South Florida Gamers Association is our main Section in the ares. POC: Andy Petry, 931 Lyons Rd., Coconut Creek, FL 33063, (W) 904-338-3430. ORLANDO, FL. POC: Jim Boyle, 755 Bernice Ct., Orlando, FL 32825, 407-281-6971. ATLANTA GA - ATLANTA MINIATURE WARGAMING SOCIETY. The oldest gaming group in the Atlanta area, formed by S. Craig Taylor (of Avalon Hill fame) on or before 1972. The group is arrogantly disorganized (their words, not ours), as evidenced that their president moved to Alabama about 10 years ago and has yet to be replaced. POC: Bill McGinnis, 2158 Superior Place, Decatur, GA 30033, 404.321.5826 ATLANTA, GA - ATLANTA SOUTHSIDE WARGAMERS ASSOCIATION. POC: Donald Jenkins 100 Grenoble Rd. Peachtree City, GA 30269 404-487-8781 or Fred Schaller, 1690 Old Rex Morrow Rd., Morrow, GA 30260,404-961-9976. Atlanta, GA - The North Georgia Die-Hards
This section is relatively new but enjoys several dedicated historical garners. The group's main areas of interest are: Napoleonics, AmRev, Civil War,WW2 and Ancients in 15mm. New participants are very welcome. POC: John Martin, (770) 736-1801, njimk@aol.com Atlanta Georgia - PLATO TO NATO www lagrandearmee.com We are five year old Wargaming Club based in Atlanta Georgia. We play all over the metro - Atlanta area as our members live all over the state. Our group enjoys playing a wide variety of historical games and periods. It we haven't played the period we a'e always interesting in trying a new one. It you are interested in a great group of people who like to play and enjoy history then join us for a game. Napoleonics (Empire V) WWI & WWII, AmRev,Civil War, and Ancients in 15mm. New players are always welcome. POC: Scott A Monsour (678) 474-2508 smonsour@mindspring.com METRO ATLANTA Gamers II Dave Clayton is thePOC for Metro Atlanta II, especially the southwestern 1-20 Corridor to Birmingham, AL! They're 20 minutes from Atlanta proper (45 minutes from the north side of town), about 20 minutes from Hartsfield airport, 20-30 minutes from Marietta and around an hour from Birmingham, AL. 15mm Ancients, Nappies, Alamo & Mexican War, ACW, WWII, Arab-Israeli & Vietnam; 20/25mm Nappies; 25/28mm Ancients, Medievals, Renaissance, SYW & AmRev. Anyone is welcome to come by and run or GM a game! A variety of popular & home rulesets are used. Many of our participants are members of other groups such as the excellent PLATO to NATO Group! Newcomers welcome! Reach David at: histcolassoc@earthlink.net or his cell phone 678591-0319. MARIETTA, GA - KENNESAW MOUNTAIN WARGAMERS. These Cobb County garners meet weekly, laid back games of almost any period. The group welcomes anyone who is interested and has a 6'x20' game table. Games are hosted weekly at Bill Amick's. POC: Bill Amick:amick@mindspring.com http://home.bellsouth .net/personalpages/PWP-kennesawmtngamers GAINESVILLE, GA - THE GAINESVILLE GRENADIERS. Formed in 1992 around stalwart Ed Thilenius and the garners in the area Ed states they are expanding their horizons as time goes by. Newcomers are welcome. POC: Ed Thilenius, 415 Adair St., Gainesville, GA 30501, 706-532-8740. \ AUGUSTA AND EAST GEORGIA. The Section holds monthly games at the ROTC building of Augusta College and the section is the hand behind the SIEGE OF AUGUSTA HMGS convention held each January. POC: Chris Damour, 348 Parkway Ct. E, Martinez, GA 30907 (H)706.855-1169 (W)706-791-2511/2327 email: damour@enrmo2.gordon.army.mil COLUMBUS, GA - FT BENNING. Wargaming in and around Ft Banning is actively supported by our man Mike Graziano, who proudly espouses his ancestry to include 'Old Electric Whiskers' of Western Desert fame (or is that infamy?). POC: Mike Graziano, 514 46th St., Columbus, GA 31904, 706-322-3631. BOWLING GREEN, KY - THE BATTERY Originally formed in 1989 by Bart Spikberg, the group meets weekly on Monday evenings. The groups primary focus is WWII armor and naval gaming, as welt as the Spanish Civil War, Other periods gamed less frequently include Napoleonics, American Civil War, British Colonial, and Modern armor and naval. The POC is David Reasoner, 343 Moonlite Avenue, Bowling Green, KY 42101; Ph: 270-745-7386, email: hmsdiomede@aol.com OXFORD MS - N. MISSISSIPPI MILITARY GAMING SOCIETY. POC. Cowan Hunter, 801 Frontage Rd., Oxford, MS 38655, 601-236-2631 Amory, MS -TOMBIGBEE RANGERS Mike Farrar as their point of contact. You can reach Mike at 405 3rd St. S., Amory, MS 38821. They meet on the last Wednesday of the month at a member's home. HATTIESBURG, MS - HATTIESBURG KRIEGSPIELERS. POC: Wayne Trovinger, Box 1854, Laurel, MS 394411854 601-425-4374, email: BigTimeTC @aol.com HATTIESBURG, MS - HATTIESBURG FUSILIERS. Meets Tuesday evenings & occasional weekends. Vince Clyant, 41 Beverly Hills Loop, Petal, MS 39465,601-584-8533. CHARLOTTE, NC The Section meets the last Saturday of the month and no experience is necessary to come and play. POC: Jim Brokaw, 3611 Ouail Ridge Rd., Matthews, NC 28105, 704-846.1652. RALEIGH, NC - TRIANGLE SIM.SOCIETY. Meets one Saturday each month except for the months of Cold Wars and Historicon. Sponsors "Southern Front" wargames convention every Veterans Day. All periods and scales; newcomers are welcome. POC: Preston Buck, At 3 Box 129A, Angier, NC 27501, 919-639-4500. Ctemson-Greenvitle-Spartanburg SC area: The Upstate SC Wargaming Society meets on the last Saturday of each month in various locations in the Clemson-Greenville-Spartanburg SC area. Our gaming sites include public libraries, game stores, and member's homes. Extra game days are often added at other times during the month We play historical miniatures of all scales and periods. Each spring we host the Battle of Cowpens convention. New members are always wetcome! POC: Chris Pagano, 211 Shaftesbury Rd. Clemson, SC 29631 864-868-0839 cpagano@clemson.edu NASHVILLE, TN - THE NASHVILLE VANGUARD The Vanguard was formed at the same time as the first organizational meetings for the Mid-South Region. The real catalyst was the opening in 1987 of Games Extraordinaire (since closed). Some people accuse Maj Bill of being the father of the Mid-South Region. If that's so, then Gavin Gosset and Stu Merrill are the midwives, and much of what this organization is, is due to their efforts and support. The mantle has been taken over by At Gaiser (ask him how he got the gaming monicer of Lord AI) The group is the prime Instigators of NASHCON, MidSouth's Flagship convention. POC is 'Lord' At Gaiser, 2819 Columbine PI., Nashville, TN 37204 Ph: 615-2984010 eddress: Al@gaiserco.com NASHVILLE, TN - NASHVILLE TRACK & HULL CLUB. An offshoot of the Vanguard, as their name implies they are interested is 20th Century warfare, Land, Naval and Air, thou other eras are gamed as well. They meet regularly on 2nd and last Tues evenings of the month and have over 5000 vehicles. plus ships and aircraft available for action. The POC is Joe Collins, 323 Isaac Dr. Goodlettsville, TN 37072-1217. 615-851-6189 Collins@ MLEESmith.com TULLAHOMA, TN - HIGHLAND RIM HISTORICAL GAMERS. Originally formed in 1980 by Bill Harting and Barry West plus anyone else who could be dragooned (usually from the Air Force base). The group has gamed continuously ever since. After Bill's retirement from the Air Force, the headquarters were moved to his home in Estill Springs. Games are held weekly, usually on Thursday evenings. Call ahead as space is limited, although new players can usually be squeezed in. Between Bill and Barry they have over 40,000 miniatures available and a12x5 table. POC is Maj Bill Harting, USAF (Ret), 101 Taylor Rd., Estill Springs, TN 37330, 931-6495366, majorbill @united.net COLUMBIA, TN - MAURY CO LIGHT ARTY. Formed around another 'old grongard', this time Bob Duncan, this group has been in existence since 1983. The group is quite active, with monthly meetings held on Saturdays at a building that Bob owns with a 24' custom built gaming table. The group has over 30,000 miniatures available. Bob is also responsible for starting our WARGAMER'S REUNION convention, held in October-November. POC Bob Duncan, 609 W. 7th St (business), Columbia, TN 38401, 931-388-4418, (W)mauryco @columbia.total-web.net (H)emeraldcity@columbia .total-web.net MEMPHIS, TN - RIVERBLUFF IRREGULARS A shop based group in the Memphis area, Web: http://www,tankrider.com/RBI.htm POC: Charlie Clay, PO Box 19213, Jonesboro, AR 72402. 870 935-7324 E-MAIL: tankrider@aol.com KNOXVILLE, TN. An active group in Knoxville, TN run by Mike Kennedy. POC: Mike Kennedy,10820 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, 423-524-0125. CHATTANOOGA, TN. They are always looking for a few good men, meeting Wednesday evenings 7pm to 10:30 or so at the Constitution Hall at Ft Oglethorpe, which is about a mile from the visitor center of the Chickamauga Battlefield park. The group is held together by the stalwart, Gary Peavyhouse 423-775-7642 or MCsnapshot@aol.com. GERMANY: Ramstein Kriegspielers. Meet every Friday night at 1900 (7 pm for the civilian types) at Building 815, Room 24, in the Ramstein Air Base Housing Area, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Eclectic group of garners playspractically anything historical (even some futuristic stuff every now and then). Sample interests range include 15mm Napoleonics and ACW, 6mm WWI,15mm and 25mm WWII, WWII 1/300th aircraft, 20mm Vietnam, 111200 naval ranging from Napoleonics to WWII, and Full Thrust. Garners are drawn from the US armed forces and their family members. in the area, but anyone with access to Ramstein Air Base is welcome! POC: Dr. Carl J. Arseneault, CPT, AUSR, Germany 06371-463568, gabwcarlarseneault@t-online.de FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN WARGAMERS An idea more than a section, these folks meet on Sunday mornings at conventions for a Prayer Breakfast. POC:Dr. Jim Birdseye, 3411 Kerry PI., Augusta GA 30909 706-868-0986 birdseyejh@knology.net Back to Dispatch November 2002 Table of Contents Back to Dispatch List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by HMGS Mid-South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles covering military history and related topics are available at http://www.magweb.com |