[Catherine Chandler]

So sorry to hear this news. Thank you, Sam, for your heroic efforts in trying to keep an important and worthwhile endeavor afloat.

[Rick Mullin]

I've been involved in annual conferences and meetings for years professionally. When they work, the first three years or so are really special and memorable. If they continue, they become institutionalized at some level. In bad cases, people say, "yeah, we're going again this year--you kind of have to." West Chester isn't that bad. As Charlotte says, quality time was shared last June in West Chester. It was great to see everybody, and Sam keeps the fire. But West Chester can't be expected to sustain--in fact, it has clearly lost--the feel that Michael recalls of the initial experience. It's the way of all conferences. Now: In very bad cases, a conference run by an association is acquired by a conference management company that doesn't know that business. Then we don't go anymore. This is what seems to be happening to West Chester. Poetry is much like chemistry and air conditioning in this regard.

[Alex Pepple]

So sorry to see you go, Sam. But thank you for all you've done for the conference.

Cheers,
...Alex

[Tony Barnstone]

Ditto to all that others have said. The conference was immensely enjoyable and USEFUL in the last two years of your stewardship.

Best, Tony