When the deadline hit, I had no cover art for this issue. Luckily, I had some old, copyright-expired illustrations I could plug in. I still need covers for future issues, though. So, if any of our members (or their family or friends) have a talent for illustration, I'd love to have them send me something. I haven't tried using photographs for the cover, yet. Perhaps next year. Our printer assures me they would reproduce well.

After 12 years in the same apartment, I am finally moving at the end of this month. If you're mailing something to me, note my new address on page one. Cataloging all my gaming stuff and deciding what to keep has been interesting. What took up the most space was the background information, maps, turn reports, etc., from all the campaigns I've played in or run over the years. It was bittersweet to read over them, remember the games and camaraderie, then sadly throw some of them away.

I've also had a chance to inventory all my unpainted lead. Yeesh. I am in NO danger of testing the maxim of a gamer not dying as long as he has unpainted miniatures. However, my Medieval Project is coming along well. I've completed 17 stands of longbowmen and quite a few knights, as well. I'm halfway through a dozen stands of halberdiers, too. Hopefully, I'll have an opportunity to finish the project off in the cold "indoor" months ahead. The rules I plan on using, Chipco's "Days of Knights," should be coming out with a new edition/expansion soon, so I'm looking forward to that.

Finally, I just picked up 1000 HMGS Great Lakes membership cards from the printer -- which should keep us supplied for at least three or four years! Your cards will come in a separate mailing (perhaps even beating this issue). With four different membership secretaries in less than a year, it is my opinion the issue of membership cards got lost in the shuffling of the board. On their behalf, I apologize. I hope it did not prevent anyone from obtaining their HMGS discount, or cause any hard feelings.

However, with that issue solved, I look forward to next year -- my fourth as editor. It doesn't seem like it has been that long, but here I am. I have had a very fortunate tenure so far, thanks to the many members who send in articles. I can't name them all, but certainly I want to thank Dennis Frank, Darryl Smith, Scott Savory, Ray Garbee, David Doty, Paul Doug Johnson, Jim Thomasson, Brian O'Leary, Mike Reese, Tim Donovan, Tom Bryant, Scott Mingus, Sr., and Pete Panzeri. I enjoy doing this and hope you all enjoy the magazine.