sorry folks......I didn't attend this year and it's certainly nothing
against California or the folks out on the left coast..(I could have used
the break from this lousy Western NY winter!)..it's just not practical to
attend these conventions every year, and to be very honest I will probably
make only conventions from now on every other year or less for here on out.
The cost is high with travel, shipping paying for booth and floor space,
lodging, extra printing and entertaining I have to spend each year I go is
nearly 5K.....and this I would rather not have to make up (from you). But
the biggest reason for not attending is that there simply isn't enough of
anything new to show and tell from the previous years....sure there are a
few new items that arrive and occasionally a new glider design to show but
this year what was new was going to be "updated software" ? not much else.
Certainly I'm saying nothing against the seminar speakers, but again, most
are also repeats from previous conventions. I have, as well as many others
repeatedly suggested to the SSA they go to an "every other year" convention
so that all vendors can and would make an extra effort to put their best
foot forward but they have not been very responsive, and after all, this is
"their" big event. If they ever adopt this venue I'll be back..bigger than
ever... .We have to keep in mind also, even the biggest soaring suppliers
and vendors are still very small businesses, most run buy and completely
staffed with just one or at best a few people doing everything at home or
away (here it's me and my 2 dogs )....I do want to say I missed seeing
many of my good friends and loyal customers, many who also can't travel for
events in the far east. Hopefully I'll see more of you next year and will
have the new HpH 304S sailplane to show as well.....until then, I'm
here.....answering the phones and filling your boxes.
Best Regards
Tim Mara
Wings & Wheels

"F.L. Whiteley" wrote in message
...
Tom had announced previously he would not be there, but he's no longer the
Schempp-Hirth distributor either. M&H was there, as was Tilo H. Tom and
Doris are golfing in Florida prior to the Senior's. Personally I missed
Tim
as I was looking forward to sampling his personally roasted blend.

Frank

"Brian Iten" wrote in message
...
I was surprised to not see two of the bigger vendors/suppliers
in attendance. Neither Wings and Wheels or Knauff And
Grove were there.
Brian

Stewart Kissel wrote:
Anyone care to share with us non-attendees the highlights?

As a final note, Jim Skydell reports that the convention
was a huge
success with over 2,000 attendees.

mike