We're about three months out from the Gathering now so it's time to start finalizing things. I'll be updating the web page at www.allenrwhite.com/collings over the next few days. What I need you to do is:

- visit that web page if you haven't done so already and take a look at what we currently have planned.

- email me if you would like to be added to the attendee list.

- email me if you need to be removed from the attendee list.

It will help a great deal if we can get a fairly accurate headcount of attendees by a month or so before the gathering. That doesn't mean you can't attend at the last minute though.

Some updates:

- the clinic we were planning may not happen. We were going to get Steve James to do that, but he is already booked out of town that weekend. Steve McCreary at Collings is trying to find somebody else. If any of you would be interested in giving a clinic let me know. It can be guitar playing related or songwriting related or even instrument setup related (Bryan! ). Heck, I'd even like it if someone wanted to give a mandolin clinic since I'm about to buy one.

- all attendees will receive a Collings cap and t-shirt compliments of Collings Guitars. There might also be a couple other things in the goodies bag too. This is why I need a fairly accurate headcount about a month before the Gathering. I'll also need to know what size t-shirt you need.

- if any of you in or near the Austin area would like to join me after the first of the year I plan to make a sort of dry run of things to see how it will work out. Just drop me an email and I'll let you know when I'm going to do that.

- some folks have mentioned perhaps recording some of our jam sessions. If any of you would be interested in heading up that effort let me know. I don't have a clue when it comes to that stuff.

- if any of you internationl forum members (Ed, Tomcat!!) can make it over and would rather not have to rent a car and navigate the Texas roadways, I'm sure some of us locals would be able to help you out. I'd certainly be willing to taxi you back and forth to events and even between the airport and hotel. Just let me know.

That's about it for now. Let's get fired up and make this first Gathering a huge success and show the folks at Collings how seriously deranged...er...serious we are about these guitars (and mandolins!).

Regards,
Allen White
allenwhite@austin.rr.com

[This message was edited by Allen White on December 10, 2002 at 08:31 PM.]

[This message was edited by Allen White on December 11, 2002 at 07:13 AM.]

I'm up for that. It would help me write the trip off, too...

Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com

Excellent, Bryan. I'll shoot you an email sometime this next week to start discussing what we can do.

Regards,
Allen