billeyler | Longevity counts for something

Washington DC in April will be the 26th IAGSDC convention. Last year, there were six or so that had attended all 25. Amazing perseverance.

This year will be my 25th convention. I missed the first one in Seattle in 1984; we didn't know it was going to be a big deal then. Maybe we were distracted by something else, or the convention was at a time we couldn't go. I've always had a (small) regret from not having attended the first one. There averages something like 1000 people that go to each convention.

In my own anniversary years:

in 1994, there were 32 of us that received our 10 year medallions on a ribbon. Washington DC (also received the GBA that year)
in 2004, there were 11 of us that received our 20 year medallions on a rope. Phoenix AZ.
in 2009, there will be 4 of us that will receive a 25 year recognition pin. Me, Freeman Stamper*, Jim Rosevear and Linda Harry.

I'm a bit stunned. Only 10 people will have attended at least 25 conventions this year of the thousands and thousands that have participated over the years. I'm aware that the original project only was going to be a 10 year recognition, then it morphed into each decade. We 25ers are sort of mid-range, but there are so FEW of us.

I wonder what year 30 will be like for me. I'll be entering my 60s then. Oh, my.

* Freeman started this project, as he did several others that have continued on in the same spirit over the years. He started them, just because he wanted to, without committee or club decisions, just because he knew this was important.