Here is a list of some of the gaming groups in the Great Lakes area. If you would like your club listed, send the particulars (days you meet, types of gaming, your group name and contact point) to The Herald.

101st Alcove Irregulars - If interested in joining on the Michigan area fun, contact James Covell, 3311 Grayson, Ferndale, MI 48220. (248) 288-3489, or e-mail: trell4thgate@comcast.net.

Allegheny Irregulars - If you live in the area from Pittsburgh to Youngstown, give these guys a call. They meet on the first and second Sundays of the month in Tom's detached, 3-car garage. Tom Semian, 316 S. Home Ave., Avalon, PA 15202. (412) 761-8794, or e-mail: LTsite@aol.com.

Greater Ann Arbor Area Mostly Historical Miniatures Gaming Group - This group of University of Michigan students, staff and "regular people" meets Thursday evenings at members' homes, and once in awhile on Sunday. DBR, Big Battle DBA, and other stuff are popular. Contact Bob Beattie, 437 Lexington Dr., Saline, MI 48176. (734) 429-8521, or e-mail: beattie@umich.edu, or Steve Roper at: sroper@umich.edu. Web site: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~beattie/mgm.html.

Canton Gamers are a group of about eight gamers around the Canton, OH, area. We're just starting up, so now is a great time to join! We hope to start putting on games at local gaming stores, museums, and libraries. We have a Yahoo group at: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/cantongamers. Marc Shefelton, 3535 Stillmeadow SW, Canton, OH 44706-3148. E-mail: marcshefelton2000@yahoo.com.

Carmel Historical Miniatures Gamers - Meets on Sunday afternoons to game all historical periods and scales. Meetings are either at a members home or Downtown Comics Carmel, IN. Contact: David K. van Hoose, 10518 Brookview Dr., Carmel, IN 46032. (317) 581 8840 or e-mail: davidkvh@aol.com.

Carmel Update: "Well, with my traveling and Thanksgiving, I've only been able to get in two games and the group, a third. My travels took me to San Antonio for a week in November. A very interesting city, expect for the rain which came down all but one of the six days of the trip. I did make time to spend a whole day at the Alamo. I must say that, if you haven't been there, it's worth the trip.

As to the gaming, all three games we did were Flames of War. The last game we did was a large one with four players on a side, each with a 1500 point company (4 German Players, 2 US and 2 British). I went up against a good friend of mine -- Pete Panzeri. This was the first game the two of us had played in 15 years, since we were in Germany together. My 8th Army British Grants were no match for his two Tigers and Infantry, but it was a very interesting and enjoyable game. Both British players had morale problems and left the field of battle, ending the game. During December, we are planning on doing lots of painting (maybe a painting party or two), plus we will try and get in as many games as possible." -- David K. van Hoose, Carmel Gamers.

Central Ohio Gamers Association (COGA) - Meetings locations have changed to the Whetstone Public Library in Columbus. They still run from 10 am - 11 pm, but aren't exclusively on the 2nd Saturday. They host a variety of miniatures and boardgames. Dave Barr , 2961 Deep Wood Dr., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-4015. (614) 864-2044.

Chicagoland Wargamers - Contact James L. Patterson, III, (773)534-7 305x116, or email: Kraal_of_KaJames@Yahoo.com. James and a few other guys are at the Gameopolis every Sunday -- join them for the fun!

Colby Street Irregulars - This group has been meeting for more than 21 years on Wednesdays, 7-11 pm, in the Toledo area. They game all periods and run events at Glass City Games, from time to time. Jim Thomasson, 1217 Birch Ave., Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 893-3025, or e-mail: JThoma227@aol.com.

Colby Street Update: "We were thinking back, the other day, on how we began the Colbys in late 1983 and -- well, that's another story, another time! Drums 6 is officially open for GM Registration. We fired the flare at Thanksgiving and, sure enough, we already have around a dozen events. What a team of GMs!

What have we done lately? Well, we went to see Sky Captain -- good flick, but too expensive. We sent Colbys to Fall In and U-Con to spread the word. We are committed to run at SpartaCon and WinterCon in January. The Johnsons will head out to Seven Years War and we will hit Battlefields in Westland also this spring. A big Colby Game is slated again for Drums 6.

The paperwork for Drums 7 will begin within the next 45 days or so. Planning for the future before the present creeps up on us, as always! The question on the GL yahoo list about people sending in advice and tips to help run a game convention was read by all here. We would be glad to help in producing a Primer on "How to run a convention." We have helped or run 18+ conventions with the group. We might make the learning curve smoother, but people have to listen and learn what we did the hard way. Let us know when production will begin on this needed information package. We scan every convention we attend and sometimes know what is good, bad or even ugly.

We ran a big Space Man-to-Man game on thanksgiving Eve - 200 25mm troops and about a dozen left at the end! Good fight. The last Wednesday of the year we will again run "The Great Colby" -- huge battle with all it entails. Not sure what era, but we will knock over almost all of them, somehow.

We would like to say to thanks to all of the members and the BOD of the Great Lakes Chapter, for the many, many good times we have had by being associated with you all. Thanks guys!" -- Colonel Colby cruising down the Maumee...

Confederation of Friends - This Indiana club's specialty is 20mmNapoleonics. The 10 members have armies to represent all combatants of the 1809 time period. Duke Robinson, PO Box 47, Owensville, IN 47665. (812) 729- 7651.

Conflict Simulations Club - This Indiana University group does historical miniatures, board games and fantasy/sci-fi. They meet Sundays 11 am - 6 pm in the Indiana University Memorial Union (usually in the Tree Suites). Contact Mike Brewington, Unit 1, PO Box 650, Crane, IN 47522-0650. (812) 824- 7858, or e-mail: brewington@ homer.crane.navy.mil. Web Site: http://php.indiana.edu/~dlauer/Con_Simulations.html

Duneland Historical Wargame Group - This small group of friends meets at the local library in Valpraiso, IN. Contact Darren Buxbaum, 311 Madison St., Valparaiso, IN 46385. E-mail: ivan_iskander@yahoo.com, or web site: http://www.homestead.com/forgodkingandhonor/homepage.html.

5 Guys and a Lawyer, 329 3rd St., Perrysburg, OH 43551. Meet every Friday night at 7:30. Popular periods are 15mm ACW, 15mm ECW, 25mm Colonials, 1/72 Canvas Eagles, 20mm WWII, 15mm Napoleonics Empire II, Diplomacy. Contact Gordon Andrews, (419) 874-1267, or e-mail: RSHARPE9@aol.com.

Gargolye Gamers Group - G3 supports ALL gaming in the area to include historical and non-historical miniatures, card, role playing and board gaming. Mark Rosenberger, 1111 Enfield, Rochester Hills, MI 48307-5431, or e-mail: gargoylegamer@cs.com. Or contact Mike Reese, 13405 Denver, Sterling Heights, MI 483 13. (810) 939-1690, or e-mail: mr688@home.com.

Gettysburg - York Gamers - This grou specializes in 15mm American Civil War using Johnny Reb III rules. Scott Mingus, 1383 Sterling Drive, York PA 17404. E-mail: scottmingus@yahoo.com, or web site: http://www.geocities.com/scottmingus/index.

Greater Dayton Wargamers Club (GDWC) We game in a wide variety of periods. Club meetings are at 11:00 on the 3rd Saturday of each month at the Tin Soldier Company in Centerville. POC: Jim Williams, 108 Whisman Drive, Middletown, OH 45042. (513) 423-2143 or email: jwilliams53@cinci.rr.com.

Historical Gamers of Indianapolis (or 19 Plus 1) - Meets every Tuesday and some Saturdays for historical games. The address is 2060 E. 54th St., Village Commons, Suite 4, Indianapolis, IN 46220. New guests are welcome ($4 door fee). Tuesday games run 6:30 - 11pm, Saturday 10 am - 5 pm. Dennis McKinney, (317) 873-9624 , or e-mail: bmayhugh@iupui.edu.

Kampfgruppe - This central Indiana group plays all historical periods and scales, meeting in member's homes. Rob Stoebick, 13647 Thistlewood Dr., Carmel, IN 46032. (317) 846-3158, or e-mail: ROBBRR@msn.com. Web site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndySimSociety/.

Kanawha Riflemen - Great Lakes' first club in West Virginia serves our fast-growing community of members in that state. They have about 15 full time members that play just about anything, including all periods of historical miniatures. They meet in various locations in Charleston and Beckley, WV. Contact Nick Gillispie, 1507 Grandview Dr., Charleston, WV 25302. (304) 342-8749, or e-mail: Navarr@aol.com.

Mid-Ohio Gamers' Group (M.O.G.G.) - This group was formed in 1980 from a close group of friends and expanded its variety of games, held various Medieval and World War II battles at cons, and offered competitive challenges to other local clubs. The group meets in members' homes, playing both fantasy and historical games. Contact Eric Adamaszek, 4888 Almont Dr., Columbus, OH 43229. (614) 847-5884.

The Minatures and Gaming Association at The Ohio State University - This group plays a mix of historical and fantasy, on the campus of OSU. They host multiple games every Saturday (except during breaks) in the basement meeting rooms of the Ohio Union, noon till 11pm. All guests are welcome. Guy Flora, advisor: 3818 Sunbury Rd., Columbus, OH 43219. (614) 471-9812, or e-mail: flora.1@osu.edu.

North Coast Wargamers - These guys are a club of friends and family members, with no dues, memberships, etc. Their specialty is 15mm ACW (Johnny Reb), AWI and Plains Indians. Doug Rogers, 7570 Jeremy Ave., Mentor, OH 44060, or e-mail: swampbranch2@yahoo.com. Web site: www.geocities.com/nchws2003/index.html.

Northern Ohio Wargaming Society (NOWS) - Meet on Fridays at The M zone in Cleveland. Play a variety of games, but focus is mostly historical miniatures. NOWS nights at The M zone start around 7:30 pm. Contact Jim Schwendeman at: (216) 351-7783. E-mail at: JFSCHWENDE@aol.com.

Purdue Wargamers - Meet noon till midnight at Stewart Center, Purdue University. Contact John W. Akers, 6915 N. 50 W, West Lafayette, IN 47906. (765)497-0907, or e-mail: Etzel99@aol.com.

Rochester Historical Simulations Group - This group meets at 11:30 am on the 3rd Sunday of the month at Millennium Books and Games in Rochester. They do Ancients, World War II, Mexican-American, ACW and Napoleonics. Dennis Frank, 950 Bolivar Dr., Bradford, PA 16701. (814) 362-6801, or e-mail: djfrank@penn.com. Smethurst's Basement - A diverse group of tri-state gamers who meet at various locations around Cincinnati to enjoy cross table camaraderie and carnage. Check upcoming games at SBclubpage@yahoogroups.com or phone Rich Smethurst, evenings: (513) 677-1683. "We play for fun!"

Twinsburg Wargame Association - This group of around 20 wargamers gets together about once a week, usually in Club "Enlightened Despot" Rich Oster's basement. They also run games at stores around the Cleveland and Akron area, as well as campaigns and DBA mini-tourneys. Contact Rich Oster, 1867 Ridge Meadow Ct., Twinsburg, OH 44087. E-mail: rjoster@ra.rockwell.com. Web site: http://www.vippn.com/~splinter/.

Wayne's Legion Historical Gamers - This group was formed a decade ago by a bunch of guys from the Dayton area, who share like-interests. Not only do we game together, but we have toured battlefields together, and feel that historical miniatures should be enjoyable. Darryl Smith, 2251 Wayne Madison Rd, Trenton, OH 45067. (513) 896-1098 or e-mail: darryl@highstream.net. Web site: http://wayneslegion.50megs.com.

Postcard from: The Society of Atlanta Wargamers!

These guys in the Atlanta area are currently playing 15mm WW II Flames of War, 28mm Warhammer Ancient Battles, micro-armor, Seven Years War & AWI in 15mm & 25mm. In addition to all the historicals, they do various fantasy and other genre games. They meet 6pm-ish on Thursday evenings and weekend afternoons at Gamers Getaway, in Douglasville, GA. Contact the store -- our newest Friend of Great Lakes -- for schedule. They'll get with any HMGS Great Lakes members regarding historical miniatures campaigns, battles, etc.