[TheForge] ABANA 2010 conference

[780 at mchsi.com]

Pat was dissapointed on not meeting you
It was such a rush and Pat and the rest of the set up crew had tear down duties and went back to the parking lot for a night of work
We ahd extra help and tear down went well.  We finished Sunday about noon
I stayed over and left at 4:15 monday morning for the 1000 mile drive to MN
Unloaded the van today but have to pack aging shortly for the trip ti IN to see Clifton Ralph and crew forge a leg vise at the IBA conference



Thanks. I'm glad they broke at least even. I enjoyed the conference and I like the new format. It's easier on the pocketbook to attend. I understand with the economy in the toilet it's hard for a lot of people to make it to a conference. Hopefully, when the economy improves, attendance will improve also. In 2012 the ABANA conference will be in Rapid City, South Dakota. Being in Kansas, that's a doable road trip. 
One thing about the auction, there weren't the high rollers like there were in 2004. At the Richmond conference, correct me if I'm misremembering, there were some outside dealers/collectors who came specifically for the auction. I don't think I saw anyone that stood out as an outsider but they could of been there. There was a gal with deep pockets who bought the padlock for $21,000 beating Pete Renzetti (sp?). That was a first. Since my 1st conference in 1998, I've seen Pete buy his team project at the auction. I missed the 2006 in Seattle, did he win the bid there?
I didn't get a chance to thank Pat McCarty personally after the auction. I will the next time we cross paths. I'm going to try to make the 2011 BAM conference. I can say thanks, and who knows, maybe I'll win another box. ;-)
Time for bed, I got 600 miles to drive tomorrow to home.

Rob