September 1, 2005

Dear Members and Exhibitors,

I have put this letter off for as long as I could while awaiting word on several new things that we were contemplating.  A few still have not come to fruition and we will continue to work to their conclusion.  But we have managed to firm up the next year’s Saratoga Springs, NY dates and bring back several of our long standing though small gun shows.

Along with this letter you are receiving fliers for our next Saratoga Springs Arms Fair, which is just weeks away in October.  We have always tried to book this around the final October weekend or the beginning of November but through the constant problems of schedule changes at the City Center with their emphasis on conventions, the only date available is October 21, 22 & 23.  Next year our fall schedule at the City Center is booked for October 13, 14 & 15.  At that 2006 show the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association will also participate by booking a group of tables for their membership.  We are very pleased that they consider our show to be a good venue for their own annual fall event. 

We are also including our March flier for Saratoga, which as you know, is our largest attended event.  We have been selling out about two weeks ahead of time for the last several shows so I would urge you to at least send a deposit of one table for March if you plan on exhibiting.  Also if you have not renewed your membership or are not a member you should definitely take advantage of becoming a member of our New Eastcoast Arms Collectors Associates and reap the benefits that we offer.

We have just firmed up the date of June 16, 17 & 18 for our second Antique Arms Fair at the City Center.  After talking to the majority of exhibitors who were at our first show and learning that most had a rewarding show we decided to continue with this event.  Again it is on Fathers’ Day weekend, the only available time that we could secure. However, we will limit the hours on Sunday from 9AM to 1PM, thereby offering the rest of Fathers’ Day for family time but still get a good sales day inn.  Also on the weekend of our firs Antique Arms Fair there was another similar show in Manchester, NH; in 2006 that show will not be against ours.  We personally had a great show and look forward to another. 

The summer show will be moving back to its original first weekend of August in 2006, which is August 4, 5 & 6.  Saratoga Springs is much too busy during the end of August with Traverse Weekend and by moving to the earlier time period we can still get the benefit of thoroughbred owners, trainers and wealthy tourists.  We are also considering an auction of high-end firearms, antiques and collectibles for the following Tuesday, a day when the track is closed, with perhaps a breakfast or charity dinner on Monday for viewing.  This is something we’ve been working on for several years and, though not 100% firm, is appearing to gel for 2006.

Enclosed are our fliers for Herkimer, NY on November 11, 12 & 13 and Lake George, NY at the Holiday in on Sunday, February 12, 2006.  Both of these shows are somewhat small but have always produced good results whether that be in public response or fine items coming into the show for sale.  In Herkimer the Inn Towne motel that most of our dealers normally stayed at was definitely not up to standards the weekend of our last April show.  There seems to be a lot of activity on this November weekend so rooms are rather scarce.  Cathy checked on several motels; one being about 2 miles east of Herkimer on Route 5 which is the Glen Ridge Motel, 315-866-4149, (about $50 a night) and also the Best Western in Little Falls, about 5 miles east of Herkimer on Route 5, 315-823-4954 (about $66 a night).  We think we’ll be staying in Little Falls.  The VFW will again have their fine lunch bar, as you know it’s easy loading into the show, well lit and we normally get about 400 to 500 people for the weekend.  All in all a great little show.

Again the Lake George Show at the Holiday Inn on Route 9 will be in conjunction with their Winter Carnival.  Always a little chilly up north but the bar is open at the Holiday Inn and we’ve always had a good Sunday dinner in the restaurant.  A lot of tourists are in the region during our show and we usually end up with around 350 people for the day and some great items have walked in the door.  I don’t think most shops would have 300 people walking through their door in the whole month of February let alone on one cold day.  Plan to participate.

We’ve been talking to the owners of the Crosstown Plaza in Rotterdam where we had our summer show about the possibility of another event and we are still waiting a determination from them, which is one of the reasons why this letter is so late.  The conversation this past week was that the space occupied by the “Expo Center” is to be rented to a grocery store that is now in the plaza.  The date of their move-in was in question and made it a possibility to pursue another show at that location.  Last word was they’ll “get back to me” as soon as a final decision is made.  But I still wonder whether we would have heat, God knows we had plenty of it in July.   Anyway, keep the dates of December 10 & 11 open if their location opens up again for use.

If you haven’t visited our website yet at NEACA.com you should do so.  Immediate news is always available there about our shows and goings-on in the gun world.  We now average 2 million hits a month and we are always seeking fine items for sale.  New things are being worked on for the site all the time.  Hope to see you all in October.