[Deptheads] GATEWAY DOES:

[Bill Witthans]

Re: [Deptheads] GATEWAY DOES:Hmmmm,

 

Very strange view Robyn, "HMGS kicked us in the ass this year and didn't even give us a kiss" really? How so? 

 

ü      At GATEWAY the miniatures room was full of more Historical games than any Strategicon has seen in 10 years and it was because of HMGS/PSW that that was so.

 

ü      At GATEWAY the Painting contest was the best that Strategicon has seen in 10 years and it was because of HMGS/PSW that that was so. HMGS/PSW raised over $500 dollars in prizes for the best GM's, and gave $150 in Prizes to the painting contest. We hauled down the nice glass display case at OUR expense! We also had great looking trophies for the best GM's, We made the extra effort to provide carts to help GM's move in their gear since you were still in the Radisson, that was so.

 

ü      HMGS/PSW has been at every Strategicon convention in FORCE since then. That is so. 

 

ü      Harmon and I ran the Historical Miniatures room as you were not there at that Gateway, that was so.

 

ü      HMGS/PSW worked tirelessly to promote and bring players to that convention even though we received a lot of "flak" for that decision and are still dealing with the perceived siding with Strategicon over Smackdown, that is so.

 

ü      I and Harmon Ward spent many, many hours, working to make that con a success, we spent 100s of hours on the phone convincing people to come back and give the con a chance, ask Tim K and Erich, they will tell you that is so.

 

ü      I started coming to and working on building back miniatures (non GW) gaming at all the Strategicon event more than a year before I became President of HMGS/PSW, I wrote articles on how the new owners of Strategicon were very interested and doing everything they could to help build the historical presence back up there. I know that is so.

 

ü      There is an "Official" HMGS/PSW rep at this years Gateway helping to coordinate Historical events. We have many HMGS/PSW members coming to GATEWAY in fact we may have a bigger presence at Gateway than at the other OC con! That's so.

 

ü      Before we gave official notice to the OC convention that we would support Historical miniatures there I came to Erich A and Tim K and talked to them personally to make sure there would be no problems, that they understood why, and to give them the absolute most time to adjust to this. We have worked with them to see that there was still a good Historicals presence at this years Gateway. That is so.

 

ü      So just how do you define HMGS/PSW kicking Strategicon in the Ass?

 

We are not alone, there are others share the credit for building miniatures back up (john P and more who are also rowing in the same boat) but I take offense at you saying "HMGS kicked us in the ass" since it is simply not true. You have a bone to pick with HMGS/PSW call me you all have my number, talk to me find out the truth. I have made several offers of help to help you with this event even though I am working hard on several other projects. HMGS/PSW was just at the "Old Fort MacArthur Days" re-enactor event of 1000 history buffs passing out info and working hard to create future gamers that more than likely will someday attend a Strategicon convention.

 

HMGS/PSW is a non-profit group solely dedicated to the teaching and learning about history through the use of historical miniature in a friendly gaming atmosphere. We are not about making money, holding conventions (other than to further our mission and provide a place for members to meet) or any political power. I had asked at the time I talked to Erich A, and Tim K, about what HMGS/PSW was about to do to publish here an open letter from myself and the HMGS/PSW officers explaining HMGS/PSW's position and the reason for this move. Erich and Tim asked me not to do this and just let things go along quietly. This I did as I have respect for them both. However now since you would like to "toss the gauntlet down" I'm publishing it here now so all will know the truth. If Strategicon likes they can exclude me from this list but I think the air needs to be clear, HMGS/PSW has never kicked anyone in the ass!

 

Robyn I look forward to working with you in the future and hold nothing against you other than being misinformed on the reality of the situation.

 

Yours in Gaming!

 

Bill Witthans

 

President HMGS/PSW

661-816-7991



Below is the original letter I wanted to post here.



To Strategicon & Company,

 

Bill Witthans here, President of Historical Miniatures Gaming Society / Pacific South West with just a short message from us to you all. As you may by now know HMGS/PSW will be holding a fall convention in conjunction with the competing Labor Day convention. I would like to say a few words about this so that there is no doubt as to what is going on.

 

First let me thank you all, especially Eric A, Tim Keennon, and Robyn for their helping us to build a bigger miniatures presence at the Strategicon conventions and always making us feel welcome. Miniatures had for a long time become a smaller and smaller portion of the convention and considering that the convention was started many years ago as a miniatures con this was especially sad. Many of us in the miniatures community felt that the "airport cons" had turned their backs on us over the years, to some degree that was true. Enter the new owners.. We heard they were doing things to improve the conventions and after coming back to one I saw that was the case. I heard that the "new" folks at Strategicon were interested in bring back miniatures, especially "historicals" and after meeting Eric and Tim we soon had the beginning of a plan. 

 

Over the last two years we have had a HUGE increase in attendance in the miniatures gaming area and it continues to grow. HMGS/PSW is dedicated to helping this continue.

 

Now enter the "other" convention. Some may ask why we after supporting Strategicon we would go there to support a competing convention. Its simple, HMGS/PSW is not a business it is an organization devoted to promoting historical miniatures gaming and needs to go where its members want to go to accomplish this. Many of our members are from that area and have asked why we did not do the same for that convention as we have done for Strategicon. I was accused of playing favorites. I will not deny I have personal feelings but as President of HMGS/PSW I must do what is best for the organization and what the membership wants. We have had a vote and it was decided to hold our fall convention at this competing convention over next Labor Day. There will still be many of our HMGS/PSW members coming to the "Gateway" event and we will still have an official HMGS/PSW representative Frank Vassalo at "Gateway". We will hold our "official" spring convention at the "Gamex" convention next May.

 

In closing just let me ad that I think that this will all turn out for the best. By having HMGS/PSW put on a good show down there we will attract new members and help to create new miniatures players. Where will they game the rest of the year? With us at the Strategicon events!

 

Yours in Gaming,

 

Bill Witthans

President HMGS/PSW

 

Harmon Ward

Vice President HMGS/PSW

 

Matt Denny

Treasurer HMGS/PSW


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