Wayne,

I'll probably get poison pen letters for this one, but here's the reality:

We have to address the fact the show floor times cannot be held as totally sacrosanct. Most trade shows have schedules that have simultaneous events going on, that is seminars and educational sessions scheduled during exhibition hours.

If we want to grow the hobby and offer collectors more seminars, more education opportunities, more trading, more of everything something has to bend....unless we issue No-Doz with the registration badge.

How about a partial compromise. Schedule the 1 to 1-1/2 hour long seminars during a "lunch hour". The bourse floor does not have to close. The 50, or so, attendees that go to the seminars will not seriously effect floor trade business. Many attendees take a lunch break at one point or another during the day anyway.

If you haven't spit at the screen yet, let me take it one step further. The Electronic Chipping Seminar had refreshments sponsored by Jim Episale's Unshredded Nostalgia. Sponsorships, or perhaps a lunch fee, could cover refreshments and then back to the show floor. Sure beats having attendees leave the hotel for lunch not to return that day.

Just a thought.

Marty