The 2016 Great Lakes Coleman Collector’s spring meet will be at Jerry’s Camping Center (4506 E. Broadway Madison, WI) on Friday March 18 and Saturday March 19.  This is an informal regional gathering and you do not have to be a member of the ICCC to attend.

The store opens at 9:00 AM on Friday for those who can make it early to chat about lamps, lanterns, heaters, irons, and stoves and begin setting up sales and display tables.  Everyone will be receive a packet with a name tag, schedule, and instructions on how to get from the store to Jerry’s garage.  First time attendees to a Great Lakes event will also receive a Great Lakes patch.

We will enjoy the Engbring’s hospitality all day with lunch being served around noon.  Trading, buying, and selling Coleman will be the order of the day until the store closes at 5:00PM.  The gathering will then move to Jerry’s garage at 4809 Rothman Place, Monona.  Tours of the Coleman museum in the basement will be conducted and we will have food and fellowship in the garage by the wood burner.  The Engbrings will supply the pizza, but you will need to bring your own beverages.  We will have a light up after dark along with a hay ride through Monona.  Later, rides can be arranged back to the hotel for those who need them.

Saturday activities will begin at 9:00 back at the store, and later Pat will again provide lunch.  There will be a light up at 1:30 with group photos at 2:00PM.  The meet will end at 2:30.  Attendees will pack up their collections and we will help clean up the showroom.   At 5:30, the group will reconvene at a local restaurant for dinner at shared expense (we will split the bill by the number attending).  If you missed the basement tours on Friday night, arrangements can be made for a showing after dinner.

Once again, Jerry negotiated a substantial discount with a hotel near his store.  The Sleep in and Suites is located at 4802 Tradewinds Parkway  Madison, WI 53718.  Its telephone number is (608) 221-8100.  In order to take advantage of the discount you must make your reservation by March 1 and you must mention the “Jerry’s Camping Center deal” when making the reservation.

The event is well attended and we have a limited number of tables available for display and sales.  If you are planning on joining us, please let us know early so we can reserve a table for you.  If you are interested in bringing a side dish for lunch either Friday or Saturday, let us know that as well.  You can PM or email me or if you know Jerry, drop him a line or give a call.

Steve Potter