I just got back from one of the best AERC conventions I've ever been to. For those who missed it, the convention was held in San Antonio, Texas, this year after having been in Reno the previous two years. The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) convention was held at the same time with shared speakers.

Some of the comments I've seen from other members online include:

"This was a fantastic convention -- I really enjoyed it. The speakers were awesome, standing room only for many of them. San Antonio is a lovely city, and the ÔTexas hospitality' was very special."

"The highlight of my convention experience was the presentation by Bob and Julie Suhr on endurance riding's past and present.ÉThanks to all who worked hard to make this convention a success. I had a great experience!"

The Central Region organization did a great job of supporting the convention and showed up in large numbers. They held their own Central Region convention the evening before AERC's started. Central Region members were a large part of the Convention Committee as well as providing local volunteers at the convention.

The number of members attending the trade show, the seminars, and the awards were comparable to conventions held in Reno. Overall it was a very successful convention and kudos are due to the Convention Committee led by Director-at-Large Robert Ribley, the AERC office staff, and the Central Region members led by Paulette Brehob and Peter Ansorge.

The major awards at the convention were AERC Hall of Fame inductees: Crockett Dumas, and Joyce and Dennis Sousa's horse, Jim Bob. The AERC Pard'ners Award went to Mary Coleman and Hawks Neopolitan.

The speakers were excellent and the interest in the Hot Topics sessions held by John Parke at 7:00 a.m. each day was high. Looking forward to future conventions, the 2004 AERC membership survey clearly showed that AERC members would like conventions to move around the country more than the one of every five years that we've done in the past.

The Board of Directors has considered moving the convention to different AERC regions many times before. But conventions away from Reno have been a problem for AERC in the past in several ways. Reno is just "over the hill" from the national office in Auburn and is very convenient for the office staff. Shipping items to the convention means putting them in someone's car and taking a short trip. Getting volunteer help is easy because lots of members live nearby. Only the occasional snowstorm in the Sierras causes a problem.

Second, the economics of the convention play a significant role in our budget. The convention brings in funds that support a number of programs within AERC. Atlanta had the snowstorm, Lexington and Chattanooga were difficult to reach by air, and vendors sometimes seem unwilling to try new places far from home. Attendance has always been smaller at other locations than Reno. San Antonio has been our first real success for attendance. It was easy to reach by air at reasonable prices and has other attractions for families.

Knowing all this, the Convention Committee worked very hard on many issues -- getting interesting speakers, support for vendors, entertainment like the square dancing, and finances based on what had worked or not worked at other away conventions. The committee was very successful with San Antonio.

Because we have to reserve locations several years in advance, the conventions for 2007 and 2008 are already scheduled for Reno. But because San Antonio did so well, we may have broken the one-of-every-five-years mold.

For 2009 I've already heard at least one interesting suggestion: Orlando. I'm sure there are other good possibilities that you as members can come up with. The Convention Committee is open to suggestions but you need to be thinking about them this year for 2009 so that arrangements can be made for the hotel and trade show well in advance.

Give your suggestions for locations to your directors and the Convention Committee. I'd like to see us go for one of every three away from Reno for the next few years.

And I'd like to see San Antonio in there some time again.