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Mine was Don Copland and Cheryl's down in Signcraft country. I was unsure, never having been to a meet before, so I brought my grandaughter Racheal for guidance. She was my co=pilot, at 11.
The trip was so good, we did it again in SC a year or two later. That's when I taught her how to read a roadmap.
We left Florida late on a Friday, and sang our way all the way to SC...past the Okefanokee swamp and everything that's not around,with all the country songs on the radio, and more...but we had to hold our noses and make skunk jokes while going through Jesup Ga.
Well, that's one memory.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Mine was at Mister J's home in NJ around 1989, I went there with Mark Klein who was visiting with Steve Berman at Chromatic. There was every icon from the Jersey crew, AJ, Russ Mowry, Glen Weisgerber to name a few as well as Nelson Medina who was introduced by Russ to the crew in J's living room as possibly the best straight line striper in the country as I walked through the door into the conversation and said ' I hope ya not talking bout this country ' and the rest is history
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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Larry Whan's Banff Meet was mine. It was a large gathering, filled with first timers and ol' masters. I met a lot of my chat pals face to face for the first time...
Dan often tries to tell me as a younger man he was very shy and low profile. Right...
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My first was at Bruce Bower's shop in 1997. I also went with trepidation but soon felt comfortable.
Everyone was welcoming and helpful.
After that we started attending meets all over the place.
ALL were exellent experiences!!!
If anyone hasn't attended one...Do yourself a huge favour....take the time to do it!!!!!!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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LOL Duncan...I didn't go to the meet in Banff..but thanks for the pics..I have met most of those there at one time or another.
Letterville and Letterheads have brought a lot of people together over the years. Thank you Steve and Barb for the cyber and real time opportunities you have provided and promoted!!!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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My first meet was at the "Painting The Barn" meet in Batavia, NY circa 1988.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Duncan...I can't beleive you were at Banff....that was also my first meet(1998). Is that Sonny Franks, Donna, Janette in your photos? I was too shy and in awe to talk with many people...constantly wiping the drool from my chin at all the talent...Sorry I didn't know you sooner, sorry I wasn't more observant to the faces there, I was so focussed on all the learning....My eyes were opened wide...and that meet changed me forever better. Thanks to all Letterheads in body and in spirit (especially Barb and Steve)
-------------------- Susan Banasky Source Signs Nanaimo, British Columbia sourcesigns@shaw.ca
When in need....go directly to the "Source"!
Proud Supporter of this "Knowledge Network"! Posts: 1323 | From: Nanaimo, B.C. Canada | Registered: Oct 1999
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My intro to meets was Mike Z's Mass Mayhem in 2003- my jaw dropped when I saw pinstiping done! That was a group loaded with talent and kindness to a rank begiiner- definitely life-changing!!!!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Mine was the Zoo meet in Cincinnati in 1994. I had started corresponding with Mike Meyer in 1993 and he totally lit a fire under me. I rode out there with my husband. I had never really travelled anywhere as an adult.
The meet literally changed my life. You know the feeling, walking into a room of kindred spirits who do what you do and think like you think. Who are willing to teach and share. I bought my first Mike Stevens book. I braved the panel jam area and got my brush wet, even though I was terrified.
However, every time I talked to anyone, the husband accused me of wanting to do more than talk. So my joy was overshadowed by his bullsh!t. We rode home in silence. However, the meet made me feel not so alone, and I gradually got the guts to get rid of the hubby. And since then, I have travelled the world and made a lot of good friends. I have even hosted a meet or two. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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My first meet was the International in Memphis in 1984. Quite an eye opener. Bob Behoenuk, Ken Millar, Mike Jackson, Alton Gillispie, Al Zanetti, Vince Balesteri...quite a lineup!
edited to add....Jeff, you would enjoy meeting Glen...a super talent, unique individual and just a nice guy
[ July 20, 2009, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: George Perkins ]
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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My first meet was in 1997,Jay Allen's Walldog meet in Rockford,IL. I met my first dixie letterhead,Sonny Franks,at the airport on the way to the meet. Once I got to the meet I felt I was with friends since I knew many letterheads from the chat. I have attended as many meets as I could including two in the UK. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mine was in San Jose CA, Product Sign Supply back sometime in the 80's I remember meeting Rick Glawson, Rick Sacks, Rich Stebbing, Gary Rhodes, well quite a few others. It was fun then and it's still alot of fun now...
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Susan, Yes, those folks are there as well as some others you probably know from the Board... Si, Mike Lavaley, Samazon, Lazy Edna, Judy Creed, Jackie Hoffs and of course Barb and Steve. These were all Chat regulars, of course there we many others at the meet...
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Duncan... I was and still am very shy. In the picture above I am merely demonstrating the correct way to prestretch rubber gloves prior to putting them on. Lazy Edna was such a good sport! It was part of the concrete carving demonstration our team gave there.
My first meet was in NewMarket Ontario in the early 90's. Our family was painting murals in Welland and Russ Kelly talked us into going to the meet which was a couple of hours north.
I was intimidated beyond belief at that first meet but instantly knew I was among friends. I have kept in touch with many of these folks through the years and look forweard to seeing them each time I get to a meet.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mine was the "hogtown" meet graciously hosted by Robbie and Janet Rucker and my good friend Jeff Ogden. I learned some cool stuff including Dusty Yaxley's awesome v-carving techniques with his home-made chisels and was fortunate to meet wonderful folks like Judy Pate, Roger Dinofa, Ricky Jackson, Don Coplen, Amy Brown, Cheryl Lucas and Sheila Ferrell. Then we had a good picking party Satuday night. I would like to attend another when time and finances allow.
[ July 20, 2009, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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mine was jacksonville, fla. next was 1st dixie meet hosted next dixie meet.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Pensacola, Fl in ...89? Mike Sheehan's shop Classic Sign & Mirror.
-------------------- John Byrd Ball Ground, Georgia 770-735-6874 http://johnbyrddesign.com so happy I gotta sit on both my hands to keep from wavin' at everybody! Posts: 741 | From: Ball Ground, Georgia, USA | Registered: May 1999
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"Pontiac 2009" Etched in my memories forever
I am sure Initiation is due to hit me somewhere in the future if I get to another one.
-------------------- Sam Staffan Mackinaw Art & Sign 721 S. Nokomis St. Mackinaw City, MI dstaffan@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1694 | From: Mackinaw City, MI | Registered: Mar 2004
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Well, mine was way back there in June, 1982, in Boise. I tried to find the group photo that was taken in Noel Weber's back yard and it was nowhere to be found.
It was the first one that the orginal group held that included invitations to some of us "outsiders". It was simply a mind blowing experience and none of us were ever the same again.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Letterhead Safari at the Cincinnati Zoo, 1994 where I finally came face to face with some of my sign heros for the first time... D.Butler, V.Balistreri, J.Cox.
-------------------- Julie Bertrand Bertrand Signs 1780 NE Mango Terr. Jensen Beach, FL Posts: 10 | From: Jensen Beach, FL, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Mine was in '95, 3 miles down the road. "Megabytes and Mahlsticks" I had no idea what I was getting into. I was pretty much outa signs then, just doing my decorative relief carvings and an occasional sub job for Phil and Tony Ghi (they were the hosts).
I had no idea who anyone was nor did they know me. It was amazing....Nancy and Noella, Mike Fredric, Howie Nisgor, Karen Souza and so many more.....all are now good friends.
I'm sure I couldn't count the number of meets I've been to and/or helped host.
I've been very fortunate throughout my life and I count the "letterheads" as a most special blessing.
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Pat King's Duck Soup in McCalla, Alabama just a few days after the 9/11 tragedy. We couldn't decide if we should go or not. We had some real hotel adventures that haunt me to this day (basically I can't stay in cheap hotels any longer!).
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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My first adventure was The International swine meet in Moowaukee August 2001. I wenton my own and met all kinds of people including barefooted girls, pink haired girls and alot of my signmakeing/pinstriping heroes from the magazines. At first I was somewhat afraid to even touch a brush to paint but after a few hours people talked me into it. At that meet I met so many wonderful people, most of which I call friends and I even got to take home some panels made for me as well as because someone didnt have room for one on the plane.(Its on my kitchen wall) I also got some of the famous pinstripers to do a group panel for me and its proudly displayed in my kitchen gallery too.
A few weeks later I was to venture south with the famous banner and a new friend Mike Clayton, that was to be two days after 9-11, his dad was in the hospital so I ended up driving the banner and myself down there alone, I met a bunch more wonderful people there including the likes of OP, Kissy, George P., The Jumpers, Timi, Lindian, Sonny, Amy, Jimmy Chatham, Judy Pate, Don Copeland, RT and a bunch of others along with the Special Guest, Rod Ticks who flew in from Autralia to show us his awesome airbrush skills. I even got to stay at the Hindu Hilton for a night of fear.
I drove home from there and ended up a few weeks later, at Joe Sulpys annual meet, I got to spend time with my new found friend AJ and a few of the others from the NJ and NY area.
In a period of about 2 months I got to work side by side with probably some of the best signpainters and pinstripers on the planet and I still feel humbled by the thought of it all.
Since that time I have attended more meets than I can count on my fingers and made friends with plenty of painters and stripers and I hope to attend many more before I die.
My ultimate goal is to someday give back to my family here and host a meet of my own.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Gosh it was either at McLogans in Anaheim or the one in, I think Riverside, with Ed Roth and Von Dutch. Sometime around 89' or 90? At both, I didn't know quite what to do with myself. So I just smiled a lot.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3816 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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Sheeesh! You people are making me feel old!
Alicia....McLogans Supply Meets were around 1980...if memeory serves me correctly! Fred Silva organized those meets. I remember he had Rick Glawson doing glass leaf on their front door, and me doing surface leaf out back, plus Herbie Martinez doing striping. Oters were demonstrating other techniques.
Fond memories!
Ed Roth's RatFink Meets were held at Kim Dedig's shop in Fullerton, Ca.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
si.allen on Skype
siallen@dslextreme.com
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"
Never mess with your profile while in a drunken stupor!!!
Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Donna, we haven't changed abit ... other than we're alot smarter now! hah! That was two boyfriends ago!
If someone would have ever told me I'd be sitting in my jammies till the wee hours of night playing colour bars on a chat channel, I'd of looked at them like they had two heads! hahaa
We did have some fun tho didn't we? heehee
Wonder what Lazy Edna is up to these days?
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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It's fun seeing the Banff pictures. I have some great memories of that meet: eating pizza at 4 am with Donna and Sam, lettering a fire truck until dawn with Kevin Betz, who I just ran into in Pontiac, Kent Smith jamming some gold in my hand and shoving me into the surface-gilding fray, the breathtaking beauty of Lake Louise, mooses walking around downtown, the upstairs Letterhead Lounge and Molsons galore, Lavalee's impromptu painting seminars, Suelynn's wide-eyed first timer expression, the amazing airbrush kid who worked for Larry, the first snow of the year, Jay Allen's dinner speech, Dan's energetic "Imagination Team", Bill Riedel showing a little girl how to use her granddad's carving tools - I could go on and on - that was a GREAT MEET......
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4115 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Although I've been to Banff countless times, I missed the meet. I really wanted to go but just couldn't swing it. My brother and his family went and were all quite impressed. My niece got some cards printed up later offering Gold leaf services but she never went into that.
My brother has been building signs ever since and has done some nice Granite/Gold and wood/Gold work. I flew up to his place in Montana right after the meet and we built a Granite and Gold leaf Kingdom Hall sign and then a similar sign for his business with the drop from the slab. Both signs are still looking impressive.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My first meet was in 2002, Jill's Letterheads on Mars meet. I was told about it by an old signpainter friend of mine, who died a few years ago.
I was TERRIFIED!!!! I did bring my brushes, wanted to paint SO bad, but was awful! A Letterhead named Art, from California, gave me some hands on help & made it a lot easier for me. Anybody know who he is?
I met many people who I had no idea who they were, & now looking at that group photo, I see some of you are on the BB! I am the lady the martian is looking at int he picture!
After that was Jill's Jamboree, then the Zoo, then Dixie in Georgia. I have been to a couple of small gilder's meets at Jeff Lang's, & Chuck Wago day at Big City Signs, Pat & Bob's in Johnstown Pa. And last year was Noel Weber's. I am a changed person!!!!!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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My first meet was October 2004 In the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. What a cast of Charactors! Thank you Ray for the great memories!
And the group:
Hey, is that Gump out front???
[ July 21, 2009, 04:09 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3485 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Mike Lavallee's Pinhead Summit in 1999 . Was only a few months after I discovered letterheads... and was within walking distance of my house. Blew my mind, changed my life.
After that I got invited to Brian Briskie's Panelramma ... then Boone's... then to paint at a car show... now I can't get enough.
So I credit Steve & Barb for showing me the water, Mike Lavalle for dipping me in, Brian the Brush for throwing me in and Brian, Paul Straus and Mike Boone for holding me under.... and all the friends I've made since for keeping me afloat (creatively)
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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