Hi folks. Once again, some new groups have emerged to add to our pages. It really is heartwarming to know there is so much gaming occurring, and camaraderie being sown. Our first new group this month is the Upstate South Carolina Wargaming Society. Tim Wallcer, editor, put together a nice 12 page issue of The Objective. describing the latest events in their club.

They play a variety of games, including Armati, Zulu wars, WWII aircraft, Napoleonics, ACW, AWR, etc. They recently had their Battle of Cowpens convention in April at the Howard Johnson's in Greenville, and plan a September SLUG-A-THON in Statesville. Game days are held at the Greenville Library on Saturdays or Army Group South Hobbies in Statesville. If you have a hankerin' for games in the SC area, contact Tim at WavemanWT@aol.com.

Yes, the HMGS you've all been waiting to see in our pages--HMGS Gulf South. Hal forwarded editor Mike McClellan's recent effort of Le Grognard (#3) to me. Very nice--eight pages of useful information Short bits about their efforts for Bayou Wars (June) and Gulf Wars (Feb), the 25mm Armati craze sweeping their area, figure reviews, computer game reviews, boardgame reviews. book reviews, rules review, a call for Borodino players, military humor, upcoming events, and more!! You get into this very active group by sending $8 to Mike McClellan (quite a Yankee name for a southerner). Contact: 75757.2431@compuserve.com

Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance is the next new kid on the block. As you can guess, these folks come from the Missouri/lllinois regions bordering the Mississippi Rival These folks are very active, supporting cons in the surrounding states, as well as ring a m~ni-con in January and Megacon in June. They hold monthly gamedays at Games, Crafts, Hobbies & Such in St Louis. They currently boast 31 members, but are in the midst of a recruitment drive. If you live in this area, and are interested in Napoleanics to micro armor, contact Bob Stusse at (314) 464-9830 or David Harrison at (314) 862-4197.

I just read Pete Panzeri's Veteran Campaigner #2 for the onsssociated military members around the world. The organization is called HMGS Gamere International, and the effort seems to be collecting members, though no numbers were mentioned. A couple short articles suggested some scenarios involving modern armor in Chechuya, Somalia, Bosnia, arid other parts of the world, giving references to many magazines that included maps. OBs, etc. Neat.

Bart Wood sent me the latest from the NIJTSI group out in Utah. Seems they do the whole club newsletter on-line now. Thankfully, they sent me a hardcopy since I am not wired as yet, though my son is pushing for it. Battle reports on their colonial campaign in a turn-of-the-century format was most interesting Napoleanics and Ancients (DBM and others) are also played with regularity, with plans for a WWII desert war, AWI, and SYW. If you're lonely for a game in UTAH, get ahold of Bart.

HMGS Northwest happily returns to our pages. Editor Mark Serafin does a good job collecting articles (ancient Greek skirmisher scenario, uniform info, convention reports and announcements, etc). Their annual convention Enfilade! will be held in Tacoma in June, while weekly games can be found at Fantastic Games and Hobbies and Hobbytown USA in Lynnwood WA, and the American Eagles in Tacoma. Contact them through Mark.

Tornado Alley HMGS has changed leadership as of their TwisterCon convention in March. Jonathan Keepers has stepped aside for Richard Houston (Houston's Ships). Over newsworthy items from their Tornado Alert! #24 include some great terrain tips from the WWW, renaissance galley rules by editor Scott Saylors, chariot racing, event listings, etc., Nice job Scott Saylors and Patrick Wilson. Dues are now $12, but you get a great newsletter and membership in a large and growing body of dedicated garners. Roll in on these guys through Richard Houston at P.O. Box 14522 Oklahoma City OK 73113 or call him at (405) 751-1827. They'd love to have you in the ranks.

Neal Smith and the folks at Triangle Simulation Society are celebrities. Yes, they offered to set a "toy soldiers" display at the Stagville Christmas open house. They had over 500 visitors and were then made the special feature of the regional newspaper with over 80,000 subscribers.

Great hobby exposure, huh? Another article discussed the pros and cons of HMGS membership, especially for local clubs. [Since even some of the HMGS chapters seem to be questioning this, would someone on the National DoD care to continent?] Other notes talked of the various club member activities. In all, these folks are enjoying their hobby. Contact Neal if you'd like to get more info on their activities.

Don Wolff continues too churn out the Camino Real Post for garners in the New Mexico and surrounding southwest area Wargan~es West and Alpha Omega Gaines in Albuquerque, and GAMECO in Santa Fe offer weekend gaming of all sorts to support local gainers. But the real value is the listing of individuals in each issue with a detailed list of "opponents wanted" game listing Very useful for you folks in the drier parts of our coundy.

The Seven Years War Association puts out a very well done quarterly Journal which I believe Russ Lockwood reviews elsewhere in these pages. For those gamers seeking a flood of information on this period, this is the orgaruzation for you Dues run $25/year. For that, you get excellent articles about the Battle of Camposanto in the War of Austrian Succession, including source material, OB data on the Piedmont Army. Neapolitan Army, history of the 40th Regiment of Foot in North America 1717-1740, figure and book reviews, events, and more. Jim Purky leads the pack in this fine effort.

Mike Galbraith has taken over editorial duties for Carl Overshiner at the Historical Gamers of Indianapolis, and Jim Rosenbeny continues as President and Benevolent Dictator for Life. The highlight of the latest newsletter is a tour guide for those interested in ACW sites in and around Atlanta and Chattanooga. Well done. I had been to many of the sites mentioned, and thought they were well described. There was also some good painting tips, Napolean's Battles clarifications, bathe reports, and military quotes. Gaines played at the hobby HQ Nineteen and One span all periods and styles Tuesdays, and weekends. $3 at the door.

Steve Phenow of HMGS/Pacific Southwest gets the all-time density award. His newsletter is packed with more information and pages than any other. That's really a tribute to his readership which sends in lots of articles and tidbits for print Many diverse articles are included from French intervention in Mexico during the ACW to the Turks after the Siege of Vienna. Vicksburg, Pat Condray's trip through time in wargaming, and more. They boast over 125 members led by President Tin Daun, and nearly a dozen clubs to game with. At $15 per year, worth every dime. Join up.

Heart of America HMGS is wildly active as usual. Rick Nance starts off the Jan/Feb newsletter with a description of their football league-not warfare, but don't tell that to the players~season opener soon at Borderland Hobbies. Over interesting items include the naming of Japanese destroyers, WW1I trivia, a very clever "make-your-own-scenano" story set in the ACW, and more. Heart of America sponsors Call to Arms (May), Border Wars (Oct), and the Armchair General's Ball (May). They have a dozen associated clubs, and offer you a wealth of gaining. Drop in or call their POCs to get in on the fun

My Bill Harting at HMGS Mid-South continues his excellent editorial efforts in the latest Dispatch newsletters (Fete, Mar, Apr). Highlights include "Olive Drab All Over" miniature rules for plastic toy "sojers" by Eugene George, Theron Kuntz offers detailed information about the Battle of New Market in 1864, Pete Panzeri lists three pages of ideas to make HMGS better, 73 of Murphy's Military Laws, Frank Leslie's "You Know You're a Tanker When...," and more. An event list nearly 40 entries long, letters, advertisements, and product reviews round out these issues. Anyone south of the Mison-Dixon line should seek out Mad Bill and the many game clubs under his umbrella for some good gaming.

Lion's Den Warmers are continuing their theme of air combat games from WWII for the rest of the year. Swarm rules for kindling full flights of aircraft are featured in the Mar/Apr issue of the Penny Whistle. Recent actions besides this included a 54mm Circus Maximus at TwisterCon. These folks strongly support Heart of America HMGS events and other local conventions. Contact editor Ken Van Pelt for details.

As the sponsor of Historicon and Cold War (and soon, Fall In), HMGS East continues as the core of HMGS. Their 1000 members include many of the leading gainers, organizers, and thrillers of our hobby. LTC Wilbur Gray keeps everyone informed in their newsletter, and ensures important details are presented for board meetings and elections. Brenda Klein writes a superb series on painting, cleaning, and mounting figures. Event and club listing are also presented. Anyone in the eastern US and Canada should consider joining.

The follies at NOVAG (Northern Virginia Gamers) are actively pursuing our hobby. Wednesday and Friday night gaining at the Game Parlor offers regular enjoyment. I've recently enjoyed flying a WWI Bristol, pushing Napolean's infantry, and attending their one-day convention Gamecon 10. There I ran a DBA tournament, John Hill ran his JRIII rules in an 1865 West scenario, and others ran such interesting events as a Nascar race (my son won that), Wargamer and Necromunda, WWII armor battles, Hal Dyson's WWI biplane game, and others. Plenty of vendors and flea market stuff, too. These guys are friendly, and offer many different genes and periods. If you're in the northern VA-Maryland area, drop into the Game Parlor in Chantilly on Friday. See you there.

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