ELECTIONS

It's now time. Time to vote for the new HMGS Great Lakes Board of Directors. I will not use this column to solicit support for myself, but I sincerely hope that you all do take the time to cast your votes and mail your ballot today. Your vote does make a big difference! Regardless of the outcome, I do want to thank the membership in their increased support for Great Lakes over the last two years, and I have enjoyed serving as the president of the organization.

ADVANCE THE COLORS '97

Those of you who did not make it to the convention missed out on a great time. The Holiday Inn is a very nice site, and we have already booked it for 1998. We had a slightly larger turnout than 1997, and quite a few new faces were seen coming through the registration area. We have recruited quite a few new faces to our chapter as well! I believe we are now the fourth or fifth largest chapter in HMGS.

I want to thank all those who became involved with this year's convention. Membership support was far greater this year than ever before. I especially want to thank those of you who helped man the registration desk this year, making my job a whole lot easier: Matt Davidson, Allen Garbee, John Martin, Brian O'Leary, Scott Savory, Bill Weber, and Andrew York.

Game masters sometimes don't get the thanks that they deserve, so I would like to thank them on behalf of all the attendees: Nick Yankosky (WWI air combat), Bob French (WWII desert), Ron Bixel (WWII eastern front), Allen Garbee (ACW naval), Matt Davidson (ACW naval and WWI desert), Mark Lauber (SYW), Greg ' Simpson (beautiful re-creation of Gettysburg!), Richard Hurchanik (another great Fire and Fury game), Dave Allnut (F&IW, wonderfully done), Mike Jacques (samurai events), Keith Sullivan (Ikko-Ikki Rebellion!), Mike Demana (DBA ancients), Dave Reynolds (WWII Clash of Armor 1I playtest), Michael Krick (WWII western front), Robert Sprague (ACW Johnny Reb), Steve Johnson (Fallen Timbers - my favorite era!), Scott Savory (WWII Bulge), David Doty (25mm SYW), John Martin and Bill Weber (ACW Johnny Reb), Chris Engle of Matrix games fame, Jim Bieri (WWII eastern front), MAJ. Bill Harting (Russo-Japanese naval), Brian O'Leary (the man with the terrain plan!), and Rich Smethurst (AWI and Colonial). These above mentioned gentlemen are to be commended for volunteering their time, terrain, and figures for others to enjoy.

And of course, our dealers: The Colour Sergeant, Dayton Painting Consortium, Division After Division, Grandiosity, Modelers Mart, The Nafziger Collection, 19th Century Miniatures, Outland Games, Sidney Hobby Shop, and The Soldiery. We appreciate the efforts made in supporting Advance the Colors '97, and we look forward to having at our show next year. 

IN CLOSING

1996 and 1997 have been two very good years for HMGS Great Lakes. Our membership base has grown, we are expanding into other states, we have added more hobby shops to our "Friends of Great Lakes" list, and we have had two successful back-to-back conventions. I do believe that the foundation has been laid to allow Great Lakes to continue to grow, with all of your support. Thanks to the members of our all-volunteer organization, we have turned our chapter into a respectable part of HMGS.