Lotovention 2008 - My second one!

For those members who have never gone, just once in your life put the excuses aside and go. For a New collector it's a dream come true and for an old collector it's still a thrill to see all those tables of FREE lottery tickets for the taking.

We (Myself & Cousin Frank) left my house about 7:30am on Friday morning, MapQuest says it 411 miles and it will take 6 hours and 46 minutes to get there (don't ever listen to MapQuest). We made a stop (on the way) to a Casino in Irving NY called Seneca Gaming. I needed a chip I didn't have. First we got a players card, played the slots for about a half hour and then I walked around.

Funny this casino has no table games. When I cashed out I found out why, the chips I got when I first started collecting them came from poker. So they never really had craps or blackjack (just poker) and of 2 weeks ago they discontinued poker (so no chips at all).

When we left, I took a couple of pictures outside and got scolded for it by one of the employees there. She asked if I had permission, I said NO and she told me the Seneca's don't like people taking pictures. I said it was for my own personal use and she reminded me not to take any inside (Dude I know the rules of all the casinos already).

So we were back on the highway after a brief stop. Had to go thru PA and then on to Ohio and Route 11 (south) to East Liverpool. By the time we got to the motor lodge it was 4:50pm. I walked in and saw my first member (John Flara), I asked where the convention room was, he showed me and I met all the rest of the members.

Our president was there (Bob Heskett), Bill Pasquino (first president of the club), George Beilke (our secretary/treasurer), Bob Spoerl (WI), Lottoman (IN), Scott Cochrane (MI) our webmaster. I also met new member #925 - John Tschantz (VA).

After I said Hello, we got settled in our room. Then I brought all my tickets in to donate to the tables. Some of the tickets were from members who have passed away and donated them to the club or they were tickets one member brought and they brought them to the convention to share. There were packs upon packs of Sample voids from Ohio, CT, NH, PA. Ohio had the most. I keep thinking "Must be nice to live in a state you can get them from". New York sends us nothing but an excuse why they can't.

Well after I donated, I set my table up. I brought VA, NC and SD tickets. I think they were a big hit, I know I had more room in my suitcase when I came home (lol).

That night we had dinner with George and Lottoman. I met Steve Gilbert there too with his wife and Bill with his wife too.

After dinner we went back to the convention room and started to trade or do some BSing with each other. I wanted to make it an early night because it would all start up again on Saturday morning at 8:00am.

Saturday morning rolled around for me and I went down to a pre meeting, we discussed some issues before the actual meeting about the future of our club.

For those reading here I won't disclose what we talked about until you read it in our club newsletter.

Saturday was a full day for me at lotovention. By the time I came back to the motor lodge (from the track) I was beat.

Highlights of the lotovention was we got to see the Lotology Movie in full length (I think it lasted about 25 minutes to watch). Some wanted copies and to sell to other members in the club. What's bad about it is, it's not ours to do what we want to do with, a production company paid a lot of money to make this and besides it's copyrighted. We had a chance to view it.

After the movie we started the meeting. That's all I'm saying, you can read about it in the upcoming newsletters. After the meeting we had the raffle drawing, we had a lot of prizes and a lot of members present walked away with 3 or more prizes. Some even said to give their prizes to people who mailed in their raffle tickets.

After the raffle meeting we went out for the group picture, for those who don't know what I look like you will get that chance when the next issue of the newsletter comes out. You can then put a name with a face.

After the group picture we hung around for awhile, at 5:00pm George, Myself, Cousin Frank and Lottoman went to Mountaineer Casino & Horse Track.

Lottoman doesn't bet but I think he had a nice time watching the people. It was hot out so after the 2nd race I disappeared and found the slot machines (of course I donated). When I came back the guys thought I got lost. After a few more races I disappeared again (back to the slots), besides it was nice and cool in there. I didn't win at slots or the horse racing but I liked hanging out with George and Lottoman. George and I clicked last year when we met. This year was the same. I think I have a new friend in lottoman, it's like everybody says "He's a character". Actually I think we all are, we collect (what) lottery tickets.

After we got back to the motor lodge from the track it was quite late. Lottoman and George were leaving early to go back home (George was flying and lottoman was driving). We said our good byes to each other and went to our rooms. On the way to our rooms we passed by the convention room, at 11:30pm there were a couple of members still looking for tickets.

Sunday came I was up by 8:00am, I wanted to leave as soon as I packed my tickets up. If the drive there was long it would be when we left (it was). I said my goodbyes to the remaining members who were there. I hope to meet them again at the next one.

Frank and I left at 8:45am, got home about 5:00pm. Only stop was for lunch and when we got outside of Buffalo NY (going east) it poured out with rain. At times Frank was driving 35-40mph, the mist from the road was so thick you couldn't see the car in front of you. By the time we hit Rochester NY it stopped. When we hit Weedsport NY it rained from there to all the way home. We probably would have made the trip home according to MapQuest in 6 hours and 46 minutes but it poured out.

We did see some odd things on the highway, a jeep went by when it was pouring out with no roof on the jeep, I bet they got soaked. Same goes for the motorcycle riders who were under the bridges.

When I arrived home I was beat (although I didn't drive) but it was so long a trip. I shouldn't complain, my cousin Frank left for Maine today for a business meeting for the state of New York, he'll be there all week (suppose to take him 10 hours to get there). Of course he was the one who said he likes to drive.

Before I end this I would like to say Thank You to the hosts of this year's Lotovention and meeting other members I could put a name to a face with.

On Saturdays trade session and meeting I also met Art Chamberlain (sorry I lost your money at the slots, I'll send you some Mints), Pat Fowler (MD), Eugene Novak (Canada), Walter Johnson (MA), our editor Mary Martin & son (NY) and Arthur Rein (NY). Arthur wasn't supposed to be here but showed up just before the meeting started. It was nice to see him again.

Next year we don't know where the lotovention is going to be but if you want it in your state contact our president. All you have to do is find a motel with cheap rooms to rent and a convention room that reasonable for the club to use for 3 days.

For now thanks for reading my story. See you when I have something to say but for now I have "lotovention lag".

I don't want to see another lottery ticket for at least a week!

Dave Kielbasinski #798