Lets make this gathering one for the record books. Let's shoot for the largest attendance ever along with the most KR's ever. I am getting the fever and bet the rest of you are too. >Mark Jones (N886MJ) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
GO, GO, GO!!!!!!!!!!! Good job Mark. Let's start working up the crowd. If anyone wants to bring items for sale we'll find a place to do that. Speaking of Gathering, I spent all day yesterday in meetings with the airport manager, tourism folks, and the caterer, trying to get the plans for the Gathering finalized. But first the exciting part of the day. I was traveling the interstate on my way to Mt.Vernon and just 30 minutes after I passed the airport where my hangar is located a coal train fell off the tracks on a nearby overpass. It dropped seven railroad cars and nearly a million pounds of coal on the interstate below closing both lanes. A miracle no one was killed or seriously injured. That spot sees 100,000 cars a day pass by. My trip to Mt.Vernon took approx 50 minutes, the trip home took nearly two hours. Within an hour of the accident the highways surrounding the site for 20 miles were choked with traffic. Some points had seven mile backups. It was going to take as long as 24 hours to clean up the site and get the road open again. Gathering info: Gathering activities will take place on the ramp just outside the main terminal area. Seminars will be held inside the terminal in a large conference room so NO noise or interruptions and with a good sound setup everyone should be able to hear and get the most from the time spent. Go to www.krgathering.org and see the schedule for the seminars. I'm planning the busiest schedule of any Gathering I've attended and seminars will be dependent on the presenters making the journey. We'll do our best to send everyone home with all of their questions answered. I may have mentioned eariler that I had everything set up with the on-airport resturant and then they closed their doors. I've now arranged to have a Friday and Saturday lunch (buffett) available right in the terminal commons area for (approx.) $7.25 per person. The Saturday night banquet will also be held in the terminal commons area. It is scheduled for 7:00pm. Those arriving in motorhomes or campers will have an area to park just a short walk from the terminal. I'm going to GUESS that maybe four or five units can be accomidated. MAYBE a 110vac plugin will be the ONLY service available. Just a short walk farther is a pavilion by a small lake where tents will be allowed. There are picnic tables and , I think, two fire pits. There are plenty of off-airport camping facilities available for those that want them. I've tried to balance the seminar and KR drool time so you should be able to leave with lots of information and plenty of motivation. My only real concern at this point is hangar space for KR's to overnight. Last year when I agreed to host there was plenty of large hangar space. The airport got busy in the last nine months and is using much of the space now but management is very supportive and we'll find room somewhere. Let's hope the weather Gods smile on this years event and everyone has a safe and enjoyable time. Larry Flesner - 2004 Gathering Host
