December 11, 2009

Dear Members and Exhibitors,

“The fastest and easiest move-in we’ve ever had,” was a comment given about our last Arms Fair in Saratoga.  “I was worried about the construction but you did real well,” was another.  Thank you all for your understanding that all problems can be solved with patience.  Our Saratoga Show on January 29, 30 & 31, coming right up, will be the same move in and out as October.  Those of you with special needs, call us.  Kindly send in your signed applications as soon as possible.

Our March Arms Fair, for this year only, is going to be a little different; again because of construction and scheduling conflicts at the City Center.  The upcoming dates on the flier are not an error, we will not have a Sunday, instead our show will be a Thursday evening and Friday morning setup with Friday and Saturday show.  A little different I know but we have some new things planned and all will be fine; full show details in the next letter.

Cathy has arranged for some great hotel rates for our January, Saratoga Springs Arms Fair with many extending to March, they are; Hampton Inn, $119 with hot breakfast, 584-2100; Courtyard by Marriott, $109, hot breakfast available for $9.95, 226-0538; Saratoga Hilton, $95, (adjoins City Ctr.) 584-4000; BEST BUY, Hilton Garden Inn, $89 with hot breakfast cooked to order, 587-1500, (reservation link on NEACA.com); Holiday Inn, $89, restaurant, (reservation link on NEACA.com) 584-4550; Saratoga Downtowner, $89, (walking distance) 584-6160; Grand Union Hotel, $79, 2 dbl. beds, 584-9000.  You must ask for NEACA ARMS FAIR RATE. All area code 518.  If you don’t have the numbers or addresses from prior mailings, please call us.

Again, we are back in Lake George for their Winter Carnival Festival, on Sunday February 28th.  A little later than normal but always a fun little show, flier is enclosed.  For the last couple of months we have been asked if we are still doing this show, so here it is.  Send in your application.  As with all of our shows, all we ask is that you send in a one table deposit to reserve your space so we know who is coming, then follow up with balance at least two weeks prior to our show date.  Pretty easy!  And it makes our job much easier so we can concentrate on promotion and advertising.

Our Utica Auditorium date needed to be changed to one week later than normal because of Easter, so our enclosed flier is for April 10 and 11.  We have been setting about 200 tables on the floor but have room for 350.  With Utica now as an annual event, we should start filling the hall.  Utica is a very historic gun area where the old Savage Arms plant stood, Utica Cutlery, and still a large Remington Arms facility only a few miles away in Ilion.  Lots of stuff comes in and hunters and shooting clubs abound.  Send in your flier ASAP; we will follow up with some hotel deals in your confirmation.

Last October many of our exhibitors found out how good going to Old Forge was.  A great area and a fine new show.  In 2010 we have committed to May 15 & 16 and again on October 2 & 3, same weekend as past show.  We again will have some special motel rates in our next letter.  We also have room for 160, 8ft. tables and we want to fill them all.  Tell your friends how nice it was and how profitable.  May flier is enclosed; note the October date on your calendar.

Some of you have heard rumors about a new NEACA gun show in the greater NY Capital District area and now we can tell you it is true and we have dates.  For several years we have been talking with the owners of Sportsplex of Halfmoon about an Arms Fair in their modern facility off Route 9 in Clifton Park.  We have just signed a contract for two shows per year in their Astro-turf complex.  We have room for about 800, 8ft. tables but will lay it out comfortably for 750 and about 30, 8 X 10 booths.  They just hosted a home show there last month and put through over 5000 people, so the parking and traffic flow is certainly there.  This is a modern steel building and because of the turf floor, there needs to be a few precautions such as no driving up to your table, but there are many side entrances and we will have carts and gun bearers available. Our 2010 dates are, May 21, 22, 23 and September 24, 25, 26 with setup from 10AM to 5PM on Friday.  We will be open for members and special prepaid admissions on Friday from 5:15 to 8:15, doors close at 9PM.  A restaurant is on premises.  Saturday from 9 to 5 and Sunday from 9 to 3 will be our normal weekend times.  Table costs will be $80/$70 for NEACA members with some special 5 and 7 table end caps available.  Keeping the floor clean and your area clear of garbage and debris will be a vendor responsibility and why this negotiation took years.  This is a great opportunity to have this size show in the fastest growing area of New York State, with low unemployment because of the NY State Capital and very high per capita income.  This will be the largest show in the northeast except for Syracuse and possibly West Springfield.  But the area it is in will be unsurpassed and the facility will be of a much higher comfort zone.  Heat and air conditioning, great lighting and cushioned floor sound great to my body and feet.  I know it will be to yours.

Fliers are not yet ready but we will have them at our January show in Saratoga, with motel deals and other details.  If you want to be in the front section of public entrance you must have guns or high quality collectibles and, of course, first come, first served.  We will accept deposits with a note of intent prior to our fliers being out.  We plan on a major campaign for these shows.  Saratoga is still always the place to be, no matter the season.  But this new Clifton Park show, ten miles north of Albany, near I-87, will be a show of the season and the reason for our being.  Be there!  Please spread the word.

Now some sad news, one of our long time members lost his battle with cancer November 26th, Wes Hurd of Elizabethtown, NY passed on.  Wes was a real outdoorsman, being a hunter, gun enthusiast and NYS Forest Ranger for over 20 years.  A nice man, Wes will be missed.  Also passing on November 27th, was Phyllis Chamberlaine, wife and partner of 50 years to long time member and gun dealer, Jack Chamberlaine of Gloversville, NY.  Our condolences go to Jack and to both families for their loss.  All too many of our friends have gone but they are at that everlasting fair in Heaven.

Not nearly as bad news but a necessary evil, is that we must revamp our NEACA membership costs.  For many years we have been telling you all that joining our New Eastcoast Arms Collectors Associates was a bargain and a joy.  In fact, every time we took a new member we potentially lost four times its value to show attendees and ten times value for exhibitors.  We no longer can absorb the loss for continuing the benefits at $25 annual renewal.  Especially with the introduction of two new shows in Old Forge and two in Clifton Park.  We either have to disband the membership or increase the fee as of April 1st, 2010 to $50 for new memberships with $45, 12 month renewal.  Spouse or Junior, $12 additional.  For current members, as of January 1, 2011, renewals will be $45.  Please forward your email address to sales@neaca.com for further details.  We do hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy holiday season.

Cathy & Dave