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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;lettow, post: 709857, member: 6986&quot;]Since you asked . . .</p><p><br /></p><p>Events start on Thursday night with dinner which is a small buffet.&nbsp; It is nothing special but it is the first opportunity to meet and greet.&nbsp; About half of the attendees come early enough to go to dinner.&nbsp; After dinner is a bowling event.&nbsp; It is a two game, handicapped 9 pin.&nbsp; As with most events, it is not a serious competition but it is a good time.&nbsp; Then back to the hotel for general BS sessions.</p><p><br /></p><p>A bourse opens on Friday morning.&nbsp; About a dozen dealers set up tables to sell material.&nbsp; Most of it is paper although some have coins, tokens and medals.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The Fest officially opens after dinner on Friday.&nbsp; There are introductions, some exhibits and the opening rounds of March Madness.&nbsp; The Fest version of March Madness is a head-to-head single elimination military numismatic trivia contest.&nbsp; The night ends with more BS sessions.</p><p><br /></p><p>Saturday starts with a picture of he group.&nbsp; Educational programs and show-and-tell run through most of the day.&nbsp; You never know what or who will be there.&nbsp; In 2008, an MPC destruction officer from Vietnam was there.&nbsp; In 2009, Hans Walter, one of the Operation Bernhard counterfeiters was present.</p><p><br /></p><p>On Saturday evening, the later rounds of March Madness are held.&nbsp; In the evening are the March Madness finals followed by a Texas Hold&#039;em tournament.&nbsp; There is a movie showing for those who don&#039;t play cards.&nbsp; A visit to a tavern (or several) is not unknown.&nbsp; More general BS sessions also take place.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sunday morning starts with the awards program where the bowling, March Madness and poker champions are recognized.&nbsp; Also recognized are the volunteers who make the event happen.&nbsp; A lifetime achievement award is also handed out.&nbsp; The official events close with an auction.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are events planned for late Sunday and Monday for those that hang around.&nbsp; There are also events like shopping trips and museums for spouses.&nbsp; My wife came in 2009 and had a good time.</p><p><br /></p><p>You also get paid for coming.&nbsp; Everyone receives pay in Military Fest Certificates (MFC), souvenir notes made for the occasion.&nbsp; Pay is a reenactment of a military pay call.&nbsp; Sometime on Saturday there is a conversion to a new series of MFC.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is pretty informally run and the only rule is that there are no rules.&nbsp; Actually, the only rule is to have a good time.</p><p><br /></p><p>The material is incredible.&nbsp; This year saw a book of progressive proofs for Series 681.&nbsp; Last year had a set of proofs of the American Bank Note Company notes for the 1948 German Currency Reform.&nbsp;&nbsp; You will see POW and internment camp notes, Foreign Trade Payment Certificates, JEIA Travellers Coupons, war bonds from almost any country.</p><p><br /></p><p>More importantly, you will not forget the people you meet and the things you will learn.&nbsp; This years Fest was attended by such numismatic luminaries as Fred Schwan, Joe Boling, Neil Shafer, George Cuhaj, Cliff Mishler and Carlson Chambliss.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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