Lotovention 2008

by Arthur Rein #635

Since Cyrella and I left for the Lotovention after work on Friday, July 19, it would have been too much for me to drive directly from my home to the hotel; a 450 mile journey in one shot. Instead we pulled over in some hotel off the Interstate highway in a town called, "Drum", in Pennsylvania and spent Friday night there. We then continued our journey to the Lotovention hotel on Saturday morning.

Because of a recent back injury, and the start of a new job, this was not going to be a traditional Lotovention journey for us. We were not going to take any long trips out of the way to get tickets and I wasn't bringing any lottery stuff with me. In fact, my scheduled arrival at the Lotovention hotel of Saturday afternoon would be our latest arrival ever. But it didn't matter. Just the fact that we were going was great. As late as two weeks earlier, we didn't even expect to attend.

I've been lucky enough to attend the last eleven Lotoventions and I have hundreds of great memories from them. I felt bad that I was missing out on many more memories by arriving late.

Lotovention As Great As Ever

We eventually arrived at around 1pm at the East Liverpool, Ohio, hotel We were greeted warmly as we entered the Lotovention room. It was gigantic; one of the biggest rooms we have ever had. There were about 18 6-foot tables lining the circumference of the room, with tickets from attending lotologists for trade. There were also three rows of five tables, in the middle of the room for a total of 15 tables filled with freebie stuff.

Before I knew it I was handed several boxes, along with a paper shopping bag, and a plastic shopping bag, all filled with goodies. John Flara, #565, also handed me a package of Ohio sample voids while Bob Heskett, #145, handed me a package of West Virginia scratched and sample void tickets. I would also get a bag of DC tickets from Pat Fowler, #118. I also received the special Lotovention commemorative tee shirt that I had preordered. Wow! Maybe no one would miss the goodie boxes that I usually put together.
I didn't have much time to look over anything as we were treated to a very big surprise.

George Beilke, #699, announced that he had a copy of the lotology movie that our favorite independent filmmakers had made of us a couple of years earlier. George explained that the filmmakers had submitted the documentary to the top ten or twelve film festivals around the country. Although there was some interest in showing the film at these festivals, the film was never shown.

George added that the filmmakers would now take the next step, which included submitting the documentary to the next level of film festivals as well as to some of the cable networks.

We were then treated to the 22 minute film which highlighted me, George, and Stephen Tuday, #492, our wives, and our collections. Several other lotologists were also shown briefly in the film.

As one of its stars, I can't wait until the movie is shown at the festivals or on cable television.

After the showing, George quickly put the disc away as he needed to return it to the filmmakers. Then it was time for the business meeting.

The mood turned somber as George began the meeting with a treasurer report. He told us that the club was in danger of eventually folding as we were losing members, with a decline of almost 24 percent in the past three and a half years. He also told us that the treasury was depleting as a result of rising printing and mailing costs, coupled with the decreasing membership.

George then discussed several options to reverse the trend, including an increase in the membership rate, a charge for classified ads, encouraging members to receive their newsletter via email or web site, and an annual fundraiser, to go along with a membership drive.

After listening to the business meeting discussion for a while, the wife and I decided to go for lunch at the hotel's bar/restaurant as we had traveled a long distance, and were hungry. By doing this I missed the rest of the business meeting and the group picture. We actually returned to see the end of the raffle which included many tee shirts, mugs, hats, calendars, and, of course, lottery tickets.

There was an article printed in the local newspaper a couple of days earlier about John Flara, and the Lotovention. Then, earlier in the day a photographer from the same newspaper came and took several pictures which later appeared in the Sunday edition.

I was told that relatives of Jim Sachetti, #785, who passed away last year, brought a lot of his collection to the hotel for members to take what they wanted and there was also a lot of Charles Roberts',#86, collection there as well. He too passed away last year.

On the other hand, one of our newest members, John Tschantz, #925, made the trip from Richmond, Virginia.

Electronic Catalog: Best Thing Ever

I hadn't done much with my collection for many months so I really had no idea what tickets I needed. Because of this, at first, I had no desire to search through the many tables full of tickets. I guess I came to this Lotovention to meet the people I had come to know.

However, during the convention, Art Chamberlin, #869, showed me his electronic ticket catalog in his laptop computer. Art gave me a quick tutorial and I was amazed at how easy this catalog was to use. I had always used the paper catalog but it always took a lot of time to update that version; time that I didn't have. This usually prevented me from updating my collection.

I decided that I would purchase the electronic catalog when I got home. This gave me the incentive to search the tables for tickets and I began hording hundreds of them, not knowing whether I actually needed them. When I got home I ordered an electronic catalog and have been updating my collection ever since. I definitely recommend it.

During each Lotovention I usually find, or get, a ticket or two that I've needed for a long time. This Lotovention was no exception. Bob Heskett presented me with a set of Ohio number 4 tickets; a six ticket set, entitled, "Lucky Stars" from 1978. This set is on most lotologists' wantlists.

I am definitely glad that I attended this year's convention.