Summer is finally here--hurrah! I hope you all have game fever as I do. With Historicon only weeks away, I am feverishly painting figures, sculpting terrain, and working on my Napoleon's Battles scenario for a gamer-reunion of sorts. Before I introduce the new clubs, I'd like to make a plug for the HMGS East home page that lists clubs WORLDWIDE! While I could fist them here, my charter only extends to this continent. But in the interest of spreading the game club news to the readers outside our area, I suggest you visit httpi//www.erinet com/bp/warclub.html. Listings currently include Australia, Belgium Canada (they're in my column), England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and the US. Some have their own web site links-. Isn't the web great?! Remember, I'm at izmud@aol.com New format next issue--by state Megalist.

Our first newcomer is Mid-East Ontario Wargamers (MEOW). They meet Sundays at the Goose & Gridiron Pub in Merrickville Ontario, Canada (near Ottawa). You have to love this, beer and gaming-Yes! They play all flavors of miniatures, especially Napoleonics and ancients, and plan to hold a November convention in Ottawa. Their point of contact is Greg Young at barking@magi.com or (613) 258-9375, and website www.magi.com/-barking/meow.hui-J,

Next up are the Pegasus Gamers and Last Square Gamers of Madison, WI. Ancients, Colonial, ACW, KIWI and nearly anything naval interest these folks. They are active in hosting convention games, including local and national events (Gen Con). You can reach them through Jim Stuht at stuht@doit.wisc.edu

Maine Wargamer's Association under the leadership of Dean Emmerson play historical miniatures and boardgames at the Toy Soldier in Bath Maine on Wednesdays and Sundays. Newcomers play free; others pay a $2/day charge. You can reach Dean through the store on Water St., Bath ME (207) 443-3 711.

For you Texans in the audience, the Thursday Night Irregulars are looking for members in the Dallas area. Contact Steve Miller at pilum40@onramp. net.

War Eagles Gaming Association of Pasco WA have quite a setup. Their club has a lounge, refrigerator, coffeepot, library (200+ books), 250- boardgames, 10,000 miniatures in 15 and 25mm and many enthusiastic gamers. They play anything and everything, and would like to have you stop in. Get ahold of Bill Cooper, 517 W. Lewis, Pasco WA 99301 (509) 546-2009 or wlcooper@televar.com.

The University of Oregon at Eugene Army ROTC hosts the Tactical Studies Club. You can reach them through Capt Clifford Burgess at (541) 346-2769 or burgess@oregon.uor egon.com

Los Angeles CA gets into the act with the Weekend Wargamers. They play a lot of 'Urnati Mustangs Vs. Messerschmitts, Napoleons Battles, and other games and rules at the Something Unusual hobby store. Call Nigel Olympia at (213) 669-1196 to join the gang.

The Southern Calitornia Miniature Wargamers play Command Decision every Friday in Diamond Bar CA. If you're an armor enthusiast, march to the guns through Barry Geipei. 23533 Goldrush Dr., Diamond Bar CA 91765 (909) 860-0595 or bgeipel@primenet.com.

South Eastern Michigan Association of Gamers joins us from the Detroit MI area. Steve Hazuka writes that they have 12 members, play only historical miniatures, have no fees. rotate their game events between houses and Alcove Hobby Shop, and are looking for players. They, have an interest in ACW, WWII microarmor, and other periods, Call Steve at (810) 778-7724, Doug Kline dropped me an e-mail to tell me about his new club in Roanoke VA called the Blue Ridge Historical Miniatures Association (BRafMU). They are few in number, and still figuring out what periods they'll play most often, but they are enthusiastic. If you need a game and live in the Roanoke area, give Doug a call at (540) 977-0696, mail at 4451 Ray St., Roanoke VA 24019, of e-mail DKline1863@aol.com

Wow, ten new listings! Now on to some of our old friends. HMGS Midwest Randy Giesey sent me a note reminding us of their MiniCon this past weekend (5-6 June) in Urbana IL. This is an annual event for them and brings in several hundred gamers at the Hendrick House.

The Herald, HMGS Great Lakes newsletter, contained some good stuff this month. Bob Graham did a nice piece on a fictional campaign they are running. It's Awl in the Ohio Valley in the 1790's computer moderated. Craig Charron has some interesting ideas for terrained figure bases, and Scott Savory adds a great idea for using stackable cookie sheets for your magnetized legions. Also included is a nice event listing throughout their region, including a posting encouraging support for their flagship con Advance the Colors in September at the Holiday Inn in Moraine OH. Darryl Smith also collected a great listing of reenactment events in OH and KY. New recruits, fo-wahd, harch!

Lion's Den Wargamers had a great time at Tornado Alley HMGS TwisterCon-running several events. Their latest Pennv Whistle newsletter contained some thoughtful articles-Piet Mondrains ideas on cutout ships of the line, notes on their ACW Jackson in the Valley e-mail campaign, and announcement of their Game Day (June) and Punic Wars IV con in October in Carthage MO.

Numerous conventions have kept the Big Muddy Historical Gaming Alliance members busy. Their newsletter contains a good section on web sites for gainers. Also, Blake Walker adds yet another well-written piece-this one on WWI naval warfare. Keep those games comin' boys!

President Bill Hogan has stepped down at HMGS South, but membership continues to climb, passing 300 recently. Mark Hannam penned an excellent list of detailed sources for ECW research, including summaries. Nice listing of clubs and events for Florida and other southern states.

The latest HMGS East newsletter sported a superior article by Editor Bill Gray on the Swedish Napoleonic army-flags and OB. Of course, Historicon is coming, and membership continues to grow. See you in Lancaster PA.

Virginia gaming continues to improve and expand under NOVAG's excellent leaders. Our Gameday 11 was a big success-lots of games and dealers. I picked up more 6mm Napoleonics, and two DBA armies very cheaply, and enjoyed an Armati tournament under the steady hand of Matt Shirley. Most tournament players had never played before, but Mau set it up with all the armies provided and the scenarios rising in complexity as the tournament wore on. I managed to defeat all of my opponents with amazing luck, to win. This has given me an ancients bug again, but I am overwhelmed by my Napoleonics project right now. Our next Gameday is 12-13 Sept once again in the Tyson's Comer Westpark Hotel. Of course, nightly gaming continues at local stores (Game Parlor in Chantilly, Little Wars in Fairfax, and Gaming Realm in Frederick MD). Join us!

Bill Harting's Dispatch for HMGS Mid-South is packed full of goodies. It starts with a personal letter from Don Featherstone, complete with a photo of him from WWII. Grand. Next, imaginative rules for Viking raid skirmishing. Buck Surdu wrote a piece on Causes of the Mexican-American War, and Pete Panzeri rattled off his ALWAYS and NEVER rules for running convention games: quite good. Let's not forget the humor: 'orrible 'oward Whitehouse's Alabamans in Space--right, and ideas by Buddy McPeak on how us landlubbers can simulate being in the Navy (makes me glad I'm Air Force.) Ray Trochim offered some nifty charts for Blue Max two-seaters. Great stuff, and lots of gaming to boot. Call Maj Bill to join in.

The North American Society of Ancient and Medieval Wargamers sent me their latest newsletter chock full of useful information. The Presidency is switching over from Catherine Thomas to VP Darrell Smith (good luck Darrell-you'll do a great job). Scott Holder does a nice job informing readers of the many ancient tournaments held around the country, past and future, and the winner's names and armies. Top rules sets still seem to be DBM, DBA, WRG 7.5, and Armati in preference order. Other items of note included the Editor's lament on the growth of army points sizes in tournaments and its negative effect on tournaments. Old Glory has offered to sponsor the National Singles and Doubles Championships this year-very generous. Phil Barker and Richard Scott wrote up the official DBM errata (nice reference). And PR Gray describes the "World Individual Ancient Wargames Championship held in South Africa every two years. You can check these folks out online at http://member.aol.com/nedwich/index.html.

Tornado Alley HMGS is back in town. Membership has dropped to 76, so you gamers in those dustbowl states need to sign up! Nevertheless, the newsletter contained some good stuff. Scott Saylors wrote some good scenarios for WWII Pacific air war, while Tim Kellogg added some surface actions. Patrick Wilson wrote two related articles on role-playing our lead generals, and how rules could/should reflect period leadership, not just leaving things to a player's gamesmanship (I agree). Greg Pitts wrote a good piece on the "push of shields" in ancient warfare. A War of 1812 article and another on sailing ships rounded out the issue-very good.

The latest Camino Real Post by Don Wolff lists two dozen events over the next several months in New Mexico and surrounding area. Over 50-subsciibers advertise in this FREE newsletter.

Historical Gamers of Indianapolis sent me their latest event list-these guys are busy. Events included WWII skirmish, Manila Bay naval, Blue Max, Spanish Succession, Fire & Fury, Frederick's battles, Age of Sail, Desperado, American Revolution, DBM ancients, Shako Napoleonics, and lots of boardgames. Whew! Hoosiers-check in for some fun.

HMGS Northwest sent their newsletter, too. Ed Teixeira created an interesting Reconquista scenario for all you potential crusaders. Ed also reported a Magweb survey that reportedly had 853 responses to the question-what's your favorite period (3 entries allowed)? Napoleonics is tops with 76%, WWII next at 48%, ACW 3rd at 39%, and Ancients before 500AD 4th at 35%. The stats dropped off after that Jim Mead wrote a short but excellent guide for campaign masters. Very interesting. Lots of other useful stuff like game and figure reviews, events, and more.

Metro Detroit Gamers sent a convention program for Michicon this past weekend. Auctions, boardgames, and over 250 other events-it was huge! I'm not sure what they do the rest of the year, drop them a line and find out-P.O. Box 656 Wyandotte MI 48192.

News from my old gang at Heart of America HMGS. John Davis is now the Prez. One of two signature conventions is in October in the Carpenters Hall in St Louis-reports from last year were very positive. Bill Boyle contributed a thoughtful article on Thirty Years War uniforms, and Scott Hanson critiques the inability of Romans to fend off barbarians using the Hack series rules. HATSOFF contributed two articles on ACW-one naval and one on their eastern campaign. Also, Irish picquets, in the Jacobite wars. And a very nice touch all other HMGS's ought consider, one or two paragraphs by associated clubs on their activities.

Final, Russell Thompson of the US Pike and Shot Federation sent me the latest Reiter newsletter. Seem they've been playing a lot of Renaissance games (big surprise, eh!). They are also planning a tournament called the America's Cup-400 point DBM using Native American troops on mezo-American terrain. Sounds neat. President Clif Castle and Editor Mike Hazen turn out a nice product. My favorites were a table for random campaign events, a history of plaid and how to paint it, and fun rules for campaign finance and begging coin for the king.