[Shotimes] SEATTLE CONVENTION

[George Fourchy]

Hey Everyone...

I just saw this vote thing on the clubsite, and voted for Seattle.

Be advised I know Seattle almost as well as I know San Francisco.  Seattle is my
second home, and the only reason I don't know it AS well these days is that I don't
get to go there quite as often....it's 761 miles north of me, up "my" interstate
highway, I-5.  I spent every summer there while I was growing up....Boeing is in my
family, and I go up there for several days of relaxation, away from the grind, every
chance I get.  The next trip will hopefully occur before this year is over. 
Ultimately I plan to move there, for the clean water boating and fishing.

In my mind, I've been planning a future Seattle convention all year, keeping it on
the mental back burner while I was planning the California SHODown.  Heck...Seattle
and Puget Sound makes San Francisco and the bay look like a big shallow mud
puddle!!!   .....and I was born in Oakland, Ca., so don't say I don't have room to
talk!!   ;-)

I've already given Don Mallinson a preliminary itinerary, and he said it sounded
good.  We'll take a SHO tour of the San Juan Islands, half by road, and half by
ferry.  We'll eat at the top of the Space Needle.  We'll eat a terrific turkey and
dressing dinner, followed by wild blackberry pie for desert, on the way home from
the Islands.  We'll have a chance to tour the Boeing Factory in Everett that builds
the wide-body jetliners.  There are great dragstrips and road courses there.  The
locals know more about them than I do, but they are definitely there.

I wanted to wait until I retired from the FAA to do a Seattle convention, since
there is so much more travelling involved in setting it up, so I was planning on one
in 2007 or 2008.  However, I may be retired by next summer...there is in the works a
major change in operation of my segment of Air Traffic, and that might be my chance
to call it a day.  

I have no objections to having a convention in Canada, or anywhere else (I'll be
there!!!)....I just wanted you all to know I was already planning a Seattle
convention, 
and I plan to have it be as much fun and as enjoyable as the San Francisco one was.

I wanted to give you all a couple or three years to recover from this big trip, so
that you'd be able to make another one.  I'm sorta thinking 2006 might be a bit soon
for another convention so far away for most of you.  I voted for Seattle so as to do
my share to keep it in the running.

...just so you know!!

George