It is closing in on time for another round of elections for the Board of Directors of HMGS Great Lakes. Board members serve staggered terms of three years. This year, two spots on the board are up for election. Terms of office will begin in January 1, 2003.

Candidates

The following members (listed alphabetically) of HMGS Great Lakes have expressed their interest in running for the two seats that will open up on the Board of Directors:

• John Adkins
• Steve Smith (Incumbent)

Their bios are being run this issue. The ballot will be inserted inside the next issue (#49). The results will be announced in The Herald #50.

John Adkins

I humbly put myself forth as a candidate for the HMGS Great Lakes Board. Since first attending last year's Advance the Colors, I have felt a member of an extended family of gamers. My wife, Erin and I had previously been to several Origins conventions and had been to the previous Historicon. Origins seemed largely about money and Historicon, while a great con with some great games, was marred in part by the usual HMGS Fast infighting. When we arrived at ATC we realized we were home. We played some great games, met wonderful people, and knew that we wanted to be a part of this group from then on.

I have been gaming in one way or another since I was a small child. I began with vast battles between green army men in my room with rules that basically involved me tossing a super ball haphazardly and seeing who fell down. I progressed to RPGs and Avalon Hill board games in junior high, and in high school my friends and I developed our own rules form scale airfix figs. In college, I began to play the various Games Workshop games in earnest, though I always wanted to play historical miniature games. Taking the next best path I chose to become a historian.

It is not without some feelings of anxiety that I announce my candidacy. I feel somewhat presumptuous in putting myself forward after only being a member for less than a year. I do not run for this office with an agenda for change. I simply wish to give something back to this organization and help to maintain its current traditions. I will continue to do anything I can to support HMGS-GL whether on the board or simply as a member. Thank you. -- John E. Adkins, M.A., Environmental Analyst / Historian

Steve Smith

My name is Steve Smith, and I am seeking re-election to the HMGS Great Lakes Board of Directors. I have been a Board member since January of this year, and have found this Board to be genuinely concerned with the best interests of the members, easy going, hard working and not concerned with politics.

I have been wargaming since 1974, and have rarely seen these qualities in gamers that were charged with running a group, so obviously I would like to continue working with them! I would also like to see Great lakes continue to grow and improve benefits for members, see us represented at even more conventions, bring more younger gamers into the hobby, and work towards building a functional National Coordination Council to benefit all HMGS Chapters. Great Lakes is the best HMGS Chapter, with the best newsletter, most conventions supported, least amount of politics and most enjoyable games and gamers, and I would be honored to serve this membership for another term.