Re: NAMES

This topic is also being discussed on a model eningeering list where
Scott Logan has reported that he has made repeated requests to the NAMES
organization to update the web site with no luck.

These facts I know are correct:

The show will be April 27 and 28. It will be in a new location, but it
is less than a mile from the old, so info about hotels, restaurants, etc
is still valid for this location. .

Vendor space has been severely limited for several years, and I have
been told there is a considerable waiting list. They are VERY rigid
about vending from the exhibitors tables, and I have seen them ask
several fellows to remove even a simple 'for sale' sign on a single
model. They have arranged for an exhibitor to share some space with a
vendor if they wanted to sell.

In their newsletter I recevied a week or so ago they note there will be
a consignemnt sale area this year (an idea obviously taken from Cabin
Fever). Exhibitors may leave at most 2 items to be sold, NAMES will take
a percent of the sale price.

There have never been limits on exhibitor space, they do not take space
reservations, but they have always managed to squeeze in anyone that
shows up to exhibit.

The CNC area is a bit of a strange deal. For several years Roland
F(howeveritsspelled) had a regular commercial vendor space where he
showed his wares. A couple years ago that was enlarged into a CNC
groupie area. Its in the commercail area, but most of the guys there are
exhibitors.

The seminar program is larger- there are two seminar rooms. ROland is
listed with a CNC session and Langois is listed to do an EDM session.
Several other seminars of general ME interest.

For our outside the US readers note NAMES is stricly a hobby level show,
run by a group of volunteers strictly as a non-profit activity. It is
not a model society in any general sense, and has no other activities
but the show, although last year they did start a small newsletter.
There are many major commercal machinery shows that drawf NAMES. It is
also true that ME as an organized hobby in the US is a tiny fraction of
the hobby in the UK. I have long wondered why this is true, but thats
getting way off topic here.

ron ginger
been to every NAMES since year 2, dont expect to miss one now!