Greetings, fellow NOVAG members. I'm Walt O'Hara, the newly appointed VP of NOVAG. I ran for the BoD for a few simple reasons. First and foremost, I enjoy NOVAG and think it makes a tremendous contribution to gaming in the D.C. area. It would be a shame to see NOVAG implode for want of candidates (on the day of the election, this turned out to be a non-issue. So it goes).

Secondly, I wanted NOVAG to experience resurgence, and regain the preeminence we once enjoyed as a great regional organization that put on decent conventions. The third reason is a trifle more complex. 

As I examine the gaming landscape in the Washington area, I wonder at the dilution of effort that occurs when we focus our resources on our own little niches of the hobby. Especially when there are so many crossovers between hobgenres. The dedicated player of Thunder at the Crossroads is likely to enjoy a game of Fire and Fury from time to time, and maybe even a pickup game of Dixie. So with all these wonderful choices in front of us, and with what is, arguably, the densest* gaming population in the world (* Dense in the sense of gamers per square foot-not to say our population is dense per se!), why can't we put on events that appeal to everyone in that population? Cannot board gaming exist side side with miniatures, card games and role-playing games? Can we afford to be exclusive? I don't think so, and that's one of the reasons I ran for the BoD.

In the words of John Nance Garner, 32nd Vice President of the United States, "The Vice Presidency isn't worth a bucket of warm spit."

No, I don't think that sentiment is necessarily true, but it did give me a nice transition sentence into some of my duties as Vice President, and has the added panache of having the words "bucket of spit" in it.

When I heard I was chosen to be Vice President (that will teach me to miss a meeting!), my first reaction was "Okay. What does a Vice President do?"

The President, John C., gets to look presidential and sign checks. The Secretary, John M., gets to take the minutes, handle correspondence and such. The Treasurer, Orest, gets to redecorate his kitchen with absconded funds (kidding! Really!). Roxanne, The Member at Large, gets to talk to HMGS and coordinate our mutual participation as 'team players.

So what does a Vice President do (except be one heartbeat away from the Oval Office... now, John, don't get nervous...) Seeing as I was scrapping around for something to do, I put it to the rest of the BoD that perhaps we can work on the concept of what I call the Synergy Approach to Conventions.

The D.C. Suburbs are dotted with a plethora of 'basement groups' that come together to do their thing, as well as bigger organizations like WGA that have their own newsletter, website and even charge dues. I resolved that we could try to work together as a team for the next conventions this year-and then see how the wind blows.

My goal is to invite groups such as WGA, NOVAG BS, and the many smaller enclaves of gaming folk here and there to participate in GAMECONS 16 and 17. The reaction from what I call "the boardgaming crowd" and the "roleplaying crowd" was instantly enthusiastic and helpful. I have, at this stage, some firm commitments to run boardgaming and card gaming events at the next GAMECON. These events will be mini-tournaments with (hopefully) prizes for the winners provided the publishers. I even have some nibbles on the string to run some fantasy games such as Magic: The Gathering and MAGEKNIGHT.

Now, if you are a historical gamer that is gnashing his teeth right now, please be reassured that NOVAG will always support miniature gaming-we are simply determined to fill up the empty tables we have been experiencing at some of conventions lately. In the process, we hope to expand memberships in our collective of clubs and increase interest in gaming with the general public. If this effort doesn't help all of our groups prosper, than it won't be from lack of trying. I promise you that.

So be forewarned, you might see some unusual events in the conventions in 2002. If you have time, maybe you can sit down and play something with someone.