Message from the President September 2021
Just Don’t Say Chicken…
I hope this issue of The Carnival Pump finds you safe and healthy in light of the new COVID surges running around the United States and the rest of the globe. It’s a weird time, with some countries (and states) opening, while others are beginning to shut down again. The US and Canadian border is just beginning to open up again, and hopefully we will be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel very soon.
Meanwhile, we did have our convention and it was very good. Approximately 100 people found their way to the convention in Middlebury, Indiana at one point or another during the week, and we had some great times. The hotel was super nice, the room displays were inventive and our seminars were engaging. And then the auction by Jim and Jan Seeck of the Cheek collection did very well. It was truly a “normal” carnival convention. Well, except for the chicken.
You see, we had three meals a day each day at the convention, and two of them involved fried chicken and all the fixings. Now, Amish chicken is top drawer, just the crispiest, best tasting experience, with mashed potatoes, noodles to go on the potatoes, huge helpings of gravy, stuffing, veggies and so much more (including pie). During our first meal, everyone was like “OMG, this chicken is fantastic!”
By our last meal, everyone was like “OMG, I just can’t eat any more fried chicken. Help me!” It took me a month after the convention to eat fried chicken for any meal (a personal record). I have heard “you can’t have too much of a good thing” (and personally believed it too), but indeed, the adage is wrong. The world’s tastiest fried chicken twice a day for several days in a row is too much.
That said, you can’t have too much of a good carnival glass convention. And we have another great carnival convention planned for next year. Next year we will be staying at the:
Holiday Inn Airport West
3400 Rider Trail South
Earth City, MO 63045
Our convention will be July 13-16th. You can make your reservations by calling the hotel at 314-291-6800 and requesting the ICGA Block. Our rate for the event is $124 per night. The auction will be announced next month, and we imagine it’s going to be a fantastic chance to own some beautiful carnival glass. The schedule for the event will be in one of the next issues of the Pump, so make plans to attend (and we promise not to stuff you with fried chicken…..much!).
A huge thank you to our officers and board who helped to make this year’s convention happen in light of the stress of the pandemic. It was so wonderful to see so many people in person again after well more than a year’s absence. As I said at the convention, we are a family and family doesn’t like to go so long without getting together. Hopefully we can move past the pandemic and truly get back to the regular business of being together with some beautiful carnival glass.
To close, I encourage you to look at the new Lifetime Member category, if you are eligible (70+ years old.) The Board passed this proposal by Mitchell Stewart, and I think it would be incredible if we suddenly had a bunch of lifetime members. And if you are 80+ years old, the special rate for you is so much better (and only available for two years before it goes away and the regular lifetime member offer is the only one available).
Stay safe and we really hope to see you again next July!
Brian
