- Mike’s AMCAL Report - 2006
Boy, I love this time of the year! First it’s the Sierra-Diablo
Spring Swapfest...and then AMCAL!
This year’s AMCAL Convention, May 21-28, at the Piccadilly,
in Fresno, was another enjoyable one. Even the weather cooperated,
being in the 70s and low 80s instead of the usual 90s. I arrived
first thing Thursday morning, said hello to the regulars on hand,
and then registered. The registration bags were actually decorated
Christmas present boxes full of covers...another example of all
the behind-the-scene work done by dedicated
volunteers who make each such get-together possible (Emily and
Bob Hiller did the boxes).
Freebie tables and Display Room opened up at 9:00 AM, manned
by Steve Rohrer and Loren Ross, respectively. The freebie tables
started out a little sparse, I thought, but there were still
goodies to be found (I swooped down on three Crowns), but they
improved as time went on. Cindy Sayler brought in a misc. box
of some 1,000 covers, and Friday morning, Steve refreshed the
tables with lots of good material. One table, by the way, was
piled with boxes, for all you box collectors out there.
The Display Room eventually had some 64 different displays
by Friday afternoon, which, I believe is several more than we
had last year, but it should be noted that many came from the
same collectors. Cindy Sayler, another volunteer, was there helping
to keep the room open during slack times, and Mary Ross, always
a tireless AMCAL worker, was on hand to handle raffle tickets.
I counted 33 people at Thursday’s auction. There was
a good variety. Prices were generally high, but there were some
bargains. I bought 1,089 BWs for $28 and 1,550 Banks for $22,
for example.
At Friday’s business meeting, new AMCAL officers were
elected: Pres.-Bob Borton; VP-Bobbie MacKenzie; Sec/Treas.-Steve
Rohrer. Treasurer’s report = $7,483.59 in the AMCAL coffers.
A full page ad was OK’ed for the coming RMS Convention program
book, as well as a display award for this year’s UES. Bob
Hiller announced a $79 room rate for next year’s Fresno
convention, again at the Piccadilly. There were apparently no
new attendees at this year’s convention.
At Friday’s auction, it was just about the same: good
variety and some bargains (which I missed because I wasn’t
paying attention at the time!). I counted 32 people attending.
And this auction was a good example of the vagaries of auction-buying.
At this auction there was a gentleman who wasn’t at Thursday’s
auction. I didn’t know this collector and never found out
his name, but he was serious! He usually shut out everyone else
on those lots that he wanted. He ended up spending hundreds of
dollars, and the chair and floor around him was piled with boxes,
pages, stacks, and sacks of what he ended up with...as I looked
on with envy!
By the time I left, there were no official stats yet, but
I’d guess there were around 57. Attendees included: Steve
& Nancy Bailey, Michael, Chris, and Nick Bensfield, Don Bodow,
Bob & Paula Borton, Denis Bouchard, Bob & Guin Conner,
George & Christine Cosentini, Larry Danver, Don & Joan
Ewart, Kevin Fleming, Doug Fouquet, Richard Giardini, Ellen Gutting,
Dick Hagerman, Regina & Draza Hardin, Jo Ann Hayden, Bob
& Emily Hiller, Duane & Janet Johnk, Marc Kamm, Bobbie
MacKenzie, Brian & Linda Mason, Dotty & Betty Perrigo,
Mel & Marilyn Reeese, Steve Rohrer, Loren & Mary Ross,
Tina Sanborn, Gene & Cindy Sayler, Ken & Alice Schneider,
Gail Schultz, Ray Schulz, Marsha Smith, Wally Wade, Stella Williams,
Gladys Wind, Ken & Peggy Wing, and Larry & Carol Ziegler.
The Canadian contingent was strong; no one from Britain this
year; but Ray Schulz certainly gets the “Boy, I came a long
way!” prize...all the way fom
Australia.
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- The pool side buffet Friday night was great, as it always
is. As the sun went down, it actually got a little cool, if you
can believe that! My love-hate relationship with the live band
finally came to an end. The country & western trio retired
after last year’s convention (I wonder if we had anything
to do with that!). This year it was a couple, and the female
singer had a very good voice...although we all got some rather
strange looks from other guests looking on from their balconies
as one Christmas song rolled on after another (in keeping with
AMCAL’s Christmas theme. Joan Ewart won the $25 Sierra-Diablo
raffle prize. A good time was had by all.
I left early Saturday morning, but that’s when the display
voting took place. As of this writing, I’m waiting to hear
who won what. There were some really nice displays. Before signing
off, I should point out that all of us at AMCAL were especially
indebted to Carol Stone for all the Christmas decorations she
provided. Carol is in poor health at the moment, and we all wish
her the very best.
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