Subject: [Harp-L] Re: New Era of SPAH conventions

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Phil writes:
 
"I have no idea why SPAH never met on the East Coast."
 
but that WAS the big question Mike raised, wasn't it?
 
my post back to him was pretty much in synch with most of your reasons as  
to why SPAH has been in the mid-west for most of its lifespan...but given 
your  mentioning the original reason for its founding 47 years ago in Detroit 
(and  some of those people still residing there)....my next questions would 
be: just  how many of the founders are still left in Michigan, do they still 
attend SPAH,  or have most retired South or West where it's warmer and it 
might be just as  difficult for them to get to a SPAH as it is for a lot of  
us?
 
Regardless, the main reason seems to be what goes into the planning and  
having a strong club willing and able to handle putting on a SPAH. I already  
know from some of the answers Tom Stryker has given in past posts (here and 
on  Slidemeister), just how difficult is the job of the hosting club. I very 
much  doubt I'D want to take it on and so I admire and give all kudos to  
those who do, as well as to the volunteers who give of their own time  at 
SPAH. While I could volunteer, I'd much rather be a participant than  spend my 
time at SPAH 'working'. I go there to absorb the music and learn as  much as 
I can..it's what I'm paying for, after all, but more than that it's  a way 
to decompress and finally be among fellow musicians/friends after  having 
been away from harmonica playing for over 30 years. It's 'my' time, and  I'm 
making up for many lost years. 
 
I can manage to afford to keep going to SPAH unlike some other people and  
will keep doing so as long as I'm able, but I can surely empathize with 
those  finding it difficult. My main problem is that I hate to fly for various 
reasons  (my last flight home from St. Louis was unbelievably horrible  
having being bumped twice and dealing with luggage with use of only one arm  
while in a high level of pain (it took 11 hours to get home to NY from  St. 
Louis to give you a rough idea)....so just once it'd be pure pleasure  to be 
driven to a SPAH or to take an easy train trip there. 
 
I don't think any East Coast people are complaining that much, really...or  
asking for the Moon after all these years, merely hoping that one 'halfway' 
 state we can all access somewhat more easily be considered at some point,  
instead of it always being either the Mid-West or West where we have no 
choice  but to fly.  I don't expect New York or New Jersey to be chosen for  
reasons already stated as well as the high tolls  involved with getting to 
either (the tolls on the bridges and  tunnels went up again last weekend...we 
actually paid $11 to cross one  of our many bridges, so it probably cost 
roughly $50 in tolls alone to get  home to LI from Maryland..not for the faint 
of heart ;).
 
I think Mick Zaklan's being understanding and fair when he writes:
 
"As a Midwesterner; I can't complain because, with the exception of the  
Dallas
convention, I've always been between 2-6 hours by car away from a  SPAH
convention.  It usually only costs me a tank or two of gasoline to  arrive
and depart from the location.
I'm looking forward to  seeing a bunch of new players that haven't
attended the convention before  because of distance." (snipped)
 
All that I'd add to that comment is that I don't believe the distance HAS  
kept a lot of East Coast people away (or anyone else for that  matter)...but 
it has made it extra difficult and costly to  get to SPAH every year when 
one has to add on a R/T airfare. If I don't  have a ride to the airport and 
need to call for a taxi to LaGuardia or JFK  it's about another $100 added 
on. Each way. Plus 'suggested'  gratuity.<G>
 
Elizabeth

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