[Tom Edgerton]

I'll be there.

Julie, it's a complicated issue. It has a lot to do with the concentration of members in the country (most are towards the East Coast), and very much to do with identifying facilities that can handle the special needs of a group that size in general (close to 1000 attendees now), and the needs of our organization in particular. It's a draw also to be in a city with a major museum or event going on at the same time. And, as mentioned, it has to be fairly easy for most attendees to get to.

If a location meets these criteria, and a venue demonstrates a real understanding of what PSOA needs, the tendency is to repeat at that location. The Reston facility has done so in the past, very well. But the guys in Tallahassee try to balance this with some responsiveness to members in the Midwest and West, hence the occasional forays out into other cities.

This one gathering essentially has to be successful, for PSOA to create enough revenue to cover the operating budget for the rest of the year--membership fees alone won't do the job. The planning and coordination of an event this size is conducted a number of years in advance, and the efforts toward mounting it are Herculean. Some of the behind-the-scenes stories of difficulties and risks overcome in the past will curl your hair.

All of this from a non-profit organization created for the elevation of the art and the benefit of the member artists. In short, we can't thank them enough, but if anyone attends this year, please seek out Christine and the staff and express your appreciation--it's a real boost for them to hear it. (I'm reminding myself here, too.)

Hope to see everyone there!...TE

(PS...not to add pressure or anything, but Chris's demo last year was a must see.)