In 020111 MMDigest Carl Cavitt writes about the 2002 AMICA Convention:

> It sounds like a lot of fun; however, the cost is $175 per person.

I would like to address the issue of the cost of the AMICA convention
for 2002.  I am deeply involved with both the AMICA and MBSI conventions
in 2002.  My wife, Mary Jo, is chair of the AMICA convention and I am
chair of the MBSI convention.  We have done this duty several times in
the past and have served on several convention committees in other
capacities as well.  The cost of the convention reflects actual costs
for members attending.  This years AMICA meeting includes several
meals, bus transportation, the cost of a very unusual table favor (cost
of favor kept under $10 to minimize spending) as well as other
expenses.

The attendee paying $175 to this convention (and a similar fee to the
MBSI convention) will be getting a bargain.  The convention committees
have spend hours and hours (if not weeks) in their efforts to put on a
great meeting for the attendees.  Unusual collections of mechanical
musical instruments will be viewed (not just the reproducing piano).
My experience is that although the AMICA Bulletin leans toward the
reproducing piano, the AMICA membership and their collections are quite
varied, often mimicking those of the members of the MBSI.

If the organizers charged for their time like the ones do for the
medical meetings I attend, then the cost of the AMICA meeting for this
year would be in the range of $600 to $800.  Like I said, attendees are
getting a bargain!

More information may be obtained for the AMICA convention by contacting
Mike Schoeppner at <ms-ss@swbell.net> and for the MBSI convention by
contacting Wayne Wolf at <connieandwaynewolf@msn.com>.

Thanks -- hope to see you at one of the conventions this year

Ron Bopp