Kate
Johnston
Copyright 2001
Many people know the exact date they became SWCers. I'm not one of them. I know it was around the time my son turned three. That would make me a five-year member this year. (Hey, Alan, want to give out "bonuses" for every five years membership? :))
I know the standard rule for joining a new list is to observe for a few days or weeks before posting. I broke that rule pretty fast when I joined the SWC, unable to keep out of the varied and wonderful ongoing threads. In the words of one member on the World list, I could "hear" here!
Soon after I joined, ALDACon '96 came to San Francisco. A mere hour's drive from where I lived, ALDACon '96 was definitely doable for me. Several SWCers promised to be there, making attendance even more alluring.
I had a wonderful time. I attended all of two sessions during the whole Con, and one of those was one I led. I made friends with people I had up to then known only as screen names on my computer screen.
I came back home, and what a letdown. Talking on the computer was great .. but at ALDACon, I had a chance to talk in person, and everyone wanted me to understand them as much as I wanted them to understand me!
Time went on, and Bob announced a HOH/Late-Deafened "Retreat" in Monterey, California. Monterey was an hour away from me, in the opposite direction from San Francisco. I didn't ask, I told my husband we were going. This was a smaller group of people; but again, life-long friendships were made.
I've only been to one more gathering of the SWCers, and that was in San Diego, last year. I very nearly didn't make it, as I was in the middle of packing up the house I'd lived in for 14 years in preparation for a move to the United States' Pacific NorthWest. But I made it! Exhausted as I was, I just had to go meet my friends!
The SWC is planning another Con for this summer. As of this writing, only 34 members have registered for the Chicago Con. Does this mean people aren't interested in attending a Con? Does it mean people simply haven't registered yet?
Please come to the Chicago SWC Con, from July 19 - 22. You can find out more about it by going to our Con website:
http://www.saywhatclub.org/swc-events/chicon/chicago.html
You'll never regret the friendships you'll make. I hope to meet more of you this summer!
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In other news, I'd like to give other SWCers the opportunity to help with the SWC Online Voices. Is there anyone interested in helping to edit? Contact me at kate@ricochet.net.
Kate
Editor, SWC Online Voices
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