 
This article by Monte Neece of MOAUG is written in SpeedyWrite but can be converted to SmartWriter by eliminating the special codes (which will be obvious.) It will not be printed in MOAUG until March, but you have our permission to distribute at once, as we feel many will be interested.  There are spelling errors, which will be in our final version since the printing has already been done; but the only one I care about is the name of MTAG's president, which is spelled "Richard Cree." It should be CLEE. --PJH
 
 
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BGet ready to be WOWED at ADAMCON 02!  / by MONTE NEECEB 
 
It was well documented that the Canadians were present in force in Orlando at ADAMCON 01 last October.  They also made it quite clear that they intended to be the hosts of the next conclave of ADAMites. 
 
The Canadians are a determined group.  Living up on the northernmost edges of the Earth where the winters are of legendary proportion they have developed a great resolve and a determination to survive and succeed at whatever they may undertake.  Perhaps that is why Canada stands as the main stronghold of the little orphan computer that wouldn't quit.  Whatever the root of their fierce determination, it was only a day after the closing dinner in Orlando that members of two groups were on the phone to get me involved in the planning of a Toronto based ADAMCON 02! 
 
MTAG (Metro Toronto ADAM users Group) and LAUGH (Loyal ADAD Users of the Golden Triangle) were persistant in getting me to Toronto to get the planning under way.  Ken Batcher of the LAUGH group would not be denied despite several aborted attempts to schedule the meeting.  Finally, late on the evening of January 12th, I arrived at Toronto airport to be met by Ken along with Dave Hill fo MTAG. It was my first visit to Toronto and I must say, it was all I had expected and more: 12 degrees farenheit and snowing.  Ken took me to my hotel, the Ramada 400/401, which was selected because it was also to be the first we would inspect the next morning. 
 
Early the following morning I met with Ken, Dave, Terry Cairns (all alumni of ADAMCON 01) plus Ken Tilley and Richard Cree (President of MTAG).  We discussed the strengths of Toronto as a site for ADAMCON 02 then I gave them a brief overview of the steps in planning a convention. It would require no less than eleven committees working for six months to put this project together.  There was no hesitation.  They were confident and eager.  As a group we toured the Ramada's meeting facilities with a member of the sales staff.  I showed the group some of the things to look for when inspecting a potential meeting site. Everything was considered from the number of electrical outlets in a room to local liquor laws, from the length of the chef's tenure to the size of the foyer outside the breakout rooms. 
 
After we finished the inspection of this hotel Ken Batcher, Terry Cairns and myself visited several other hotels going over the same procedure with each one.  Late in the afternoon Ken took me on a driving tour of the city where I saw many of the sights that would be a draw for the convention attendees to round out their visit to Toronto.  That evening I checked into another hotel that would be the first on our list for inspection the next morning.  Then we picked up some carry-out Chinese food ond headed for Ken's house.  After a five-course Chinese feast Ken and I headed for the basement room that houses his ADAM.  We were there for several hours, coming out only once to enjoy a healthy slice of Claire Batcher's wonderful homemade peach pie.  (An hour after our Chinese feast we were hungry again, wouldn't you know it?) 
 
We had a breakfast meeting early the next morning followed by a detailed tour of the hotel.  Ken and I then looked at a few more hotels until about noon.  We then headed for Grimsby, Ontario, a picturesque village situated high on the Niagra escarpment, site of that afternoon's LAUGH meeting.  Enroute to the meeting we reviewed all of the hotels we had toured and discussed the various needs and goals of ADAMCON 02.  We eventually narrowed the potential convention sites to three: The Ramada 400/401, the Skyline, and the Chimo.  We later eliminated the Chimo (which was our personal favorite because of the very professional and accomadating staff) because the meeting space was too limiting.  Ken agreed that he would revisit the top candidates with other MTAG members in the next week. 
 
We arrived at the LAUGH meeting where I was warmly greeted by 28 great ADAMites!  It was wonderful to see such a large group of friendly ADAM users in this strange foreign country whose money bears a likeness of Queen Elizabeth and whose official language is both English AND French and who's people end every sentence with "eh?" no matter what language they are speaking!  I had the great pleasure of extending greetings from MOAUG (which was also meeting at that very moment!) and of telling them of the plans for ADAMCON 02.  After the meeting I left with Dave Snowden and his son Paul (more ADAMCON 01 alumni).  We went to their home where I saw Dave's ADAM set up in the study and Paul's set up in his bedroom.  Then we, along with Margaret Snowden, made the short drive across the border to Buffalo, NY where they dropped me at the airport for my return flight home. 
 
It was always my goal that ADAMCON 01 would be a beginning.  I didn't want it to be a last harrah where a few remaining diehards got together in one final burst of enthusiasm to praise their much-loved little orphan and then return home to await word of it's death. 
 
ADAMCON 01 /was/ a beginning.  Now it's time for the growth that sprouted in Orlando to BLOSSOM in Toronto.  Those of you who missed ADAMCON 01 should put August 15-19 on your calender now so you won't be disappointed again.  If you were in Orlando last October don't think for a minute that you have seen ADAMCON at it's peak.  Get ready to be wowed at ADAMCON 02!


 
 with Dave Snowden and his son Paul (more ADAMCON 01
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