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First off, if you read this blog at home and not only when you are at work, Happy Thanksgiving to you.  I guess that is if you reside in the U.S.  For those of you not in the U.S., check in once in a while!  Let me know what’s going on in your corner of the fastener world.

I was looking at my schedule and noticed I have marked the date, December 13, the night of the North Coast Fastener Association Holiday Bash.  The event will take place at Forest City Shuffleboard and it goes from 6:00 PM till 9:00 PM.  I mention it here partly to let people know it is a cool place as I had an opportunity to attend a birthday party there.  I know, shuffleboard sounds kind of funny (but hey, we’ve gone bowling other years and they both are low energy, yet fun activities).  Another reason I am posting about this is that some of you in the Cleveland area might not hear about this event from your employers even though you are NCFA members.  And it is a very inexpensive event, only $25 and you get food!  If you want more info on it write back and I’ll fill you in.

The only downside for me regarding this event is that the Midwest Fastener Association is having their Holiday Party on the same evening.  Their event, also on December 13,  goes from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM and will take place at Medinah Banquets in Addison, IL.  They are going to have a DJ, Karaoke and a photo booth.  I’d like to be able to attend that party too and hear the karaoke singers (please take video and post), but I cannot be in two places at once.  And, don’t forget to bring your Toys for Tots donation cause Santa will be there and he’s got his eye on you trying to figure if you’re naughty or nice!

Over the last week, the Fastener Industry Coalition has been promoting other Holiday Parties on Twitter and here is info on some of the other parties:

If you want to get started partying really early, join the New England Fastener Association on December 5 as they host their Holiday Bowling Party at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino, High Roller Luxury Lanes & Lounge from 7:00-9:00 pm.  And, if you are a NEFDA member, your first guest is FREE and it’s only $25 for additional NEFDA members after that first free one!  Food, booze & bowling!!!  Can’t miss with that recipe.  I was a little confused if doors open at 6:00 or 7:00 but I’d get there at 6:00 just in case…and I’m guessing there is a bar there if you have to kill some time.

Pac-West’s Holiday Party will be a casino night featuring blackjack, craps and roulette!!  And they are also collecting toys in association with the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve’s Toys for Tots Program. Their party too is a pretty early one taking place on December 6 at the Holiday Inn, La Mirada, CA.

Also on December 6, the MFDA party and they too are collecting toys for Toys for Tots!  The MFDA event will take place  at 6:00 PM at  Al Di La Ristorante, 1 Hoboken Rd. East Rutherford, NJ.

MAFDA (Mid-Atlantic) has a Christmas Party scheduled for December 20th at 6:30 at  Brandywine Prime restaurant in Chadds Ford, PA.  There is limited space so make reservations ASAP.  You can attend several other association parties and, if you still have any Christmas spirit in the tank,  you can make this one as it is on December 20!

And, while not being called a party, the Southwestern Fastener Association will be the first to start the Holiday celebrations as they are hosting a “Holiday Happy Hour” on Tuesday, December 4 in Houston from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.  They will be collecting unwrapped toys for Houston area under-served children, so don’t forget to bring those along.

If I missed any association festivities I apologize but feel free to respond and correct or update.  Of course, more  information is available on each of the association websites.  To make life a bit easier you can also go to the Fastener Industry Coalition website as the site has links to each and every fastener associations, regional and national.  That website is  www.fastenercoalition.org

Again, Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy all the holiday festivities.  And, consider sharing pictures of the events on Twitter!  Especially those karaoke performances at the MWFA party!!!

The show is the show.  Not many places where so many fastener people congregate in one place at the same time.  Sometimes, it is hard to navigate the whole thing.  Once I returned home and spoke with a couple local fastener people who attended, only then did I realize how many people I did NOT see out there who I wish I had bumped into.  There were several.  I didn’t even know they were there.

For me, networking is probably what I look forward to the most.  Catching up, hearing what’s new and maybe meeting a few people I know of, speak to, but haven’t met face to face.  And I stay at the show the entire time it is open except for maybe a lunch run.  I try to stay up late, even with the time difference, and I try to see as many people as possible.  I might be one of the only people who attends the show that could use an additional day there.  I know most exhibitors have had it by about 1:00 the second day, but not me.   Some people manage the show very well and set up meetings and lunches on Day 2 and make their time there more valuable.  It might be good if Day 2 had a slightly different format that encouraged more distributors to attend and interact.  I don’t have that idea, but maybe there is one.

I am always a fan of the show but I will share a few thoughts.  First, I liked being down at the other end of the strip where I could walk out to several other hotel/casinos.  I get it.  It’s hard to compete with SEMA and some of the other really large shows.  But honestly, I like being near the Paris or the Venetian.  But again, I get it.

I was scheduled for a dinner the night of the opening bash by the pool.  I told my dinner party I would be a little bit late to dinner, may an half hour, because I wanted to at least stop by the opening party for a short visit.  When I got to the pool area the line was a mile long and I just walked up and down the line like it was a receiving line after a wedding, said a quick hello to a few people and realized I would NEVER get in to the event without being an hour late for my dinner.  So, I never made it in which was a big networking disappointment.  I’m not blaming the show for the fact that I was invited to a perfectly wonderful dinner, but the line did seem to be a bit longer than normal.  And, it was kind of a haul to make my way over there from mid-Mandalay.

Emerald was very generous with supplying drinks in the evening at Eye Candy.  That was much appreciated.  Eye Candy is a little disjointed and you cannot see one section of it from another.  I had several people tell me they were hanging out there until like 11:00 and I was there well beyond that one particular night and never even saw them.

Another small mishap – I wanted to attend the session on mergers and acquisitions but had a hard time finding the room based on the information I had.  I never did make it to the session.

It’s been a few years since the show was at Mandalay Bay and it might just be that it is taking some time to readjust and get acclimated to the venue.  I do not recall where the opening bash used to be back when the show was there years ago.  Next year the show will be in September and not on Halloween, and I’m certain that will bring back some individuals who passed on this year’s show.  Still, this year’s show was busy, and as it is with any trade show you’ve got to work it to make it work for you.

…and then, when the show was over, me, Dean Moriarty and Charlie Accetta set off with fifty bucks in our pocket in Charlie’s ’37 Ford Sedan and made out way back east picking up a couple hitchhikers along the way.   See Charlie, I didn’t forget!

I usually get back from the International Fastener Expo (Vegas Show) and jump right in to offer my thoughts.  Not sure why but I’m struggling to sit down and do that.  I think I’m still sorting it out.

Any of you have any thoughts or comments about the show?