If you plot the progress of a successful organization against the time it takes to accomplish the tasks set before it, there is a point on the curve where the rise in progress is less than the time needed to accomplish it. Sometime in the first half of 1995, Great Lakes crossed this point.

Unfortunately, for the people who start an organization, the progress is slow, and mistakes are sometimes made. In the case of a historical gaming organization or it's first convention, there is no start up manual.

Establishing an HMGS chapter and its convention involves a ridiculous amount of work. Every step is like trying to walk through a brick wall. If anything works out even remotely similar to the plan, everyone benefits except the staff, the convention site and food vendors get paid, dealers sell there wares, and attendees have access to events and products that they otherwise wouldn't see. If everything goes well, the bills get paid and the complaints are few. If something goes amiss, the convention planners may be marked for life. All they wanted to do was establish an event where we all can enjoy the hobby we love.

When I was a very small child, a wise man told me that your peers always remember the mistake that you make, but that they will forget all of the things you do right. From time to time I hear negative comments about contributions made to our group by various members. All I ask is that in those critical moments, you think about all the things those members did right.

Great Lakes is in good health, membership is around 110 (unfortunately I didn't get the new recruits list in time for printing, but they will be in next issue). And Advance the Colors is going well. Gameday events are about the only week spot right now. We have locations, but not many events.

Several things where brought to my attention after the last issue of The Herald was sent out. First, issue 10 doesn't mean the same thing as issue 11; Sidney only has one "y" (my apologies to the store), and Spearhead which was depicted in a photo of the Kettering con last issue, is not the same thing as Spearpoint which was NOT depicted in a photo of the Kettering con last issue.