So many things hang in the balance as this column is written. By the time you read this, the election will be over and the phone, web and media advertising onslaught will have ended. The annual dinner will be just about to happen (our evening at the Currier Museum, organized by Peter Sawyer and underwritten by six member dealers ). Two new members will be joining your Board of Directors, bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm to an already remarkable group. Those new board members are Ken Pike (Rustic Accents) of Nashua and Richard Bojko (Parker-French) of Northwood.

We are headlong into the early winter here in the Granite State, planning Thanksgiving , Christmas and Hannukah festivities.It is a lovely time of year. The outdoor work has been wrapped up, and we can look to planning our indoor pleasures – good, warm fires, a stack of juicy books, and hearty stews and soups to nourish us. Those of us who were born in the winter months tend to have a more positive outlook on the challenges of the cold weather. Not so the man of the house here in Acworth. My July husband does some heavy duty grousing when the temperature drops. In fairness, he’s the wood pile foreman – cutting from our woodlot, tractoring the huge loge to the splitter, splitting, lugging to the wood shed and then the final trip to the wood stove. I join him in enjoying the warmth.

Have you visited www.nhada.org recently? Please do, as we have unveiled our new website which is the beautiful work of Lisa Freeman Marketing, her able staff, along with our own Bev Longacre. This has been many months in the planning, and you will find a wealth of new features in it. You can find your member dealers in several ways, by name, location and specialty. Links to members websites are now available as part of membership, That’s right – no extra cost to you ! The NHADA Show info is posted, along with news about our new Canterbury Show, managed by Nan Gurley. It’s a striking site and now a major part of the work of the Association. Please get your membership dues back asap, so that you will remain a part of this exciting feature, and we reach out into the business inviting new member applications. We are growing in many ways to serve dealers in this information age. Join us.

The winter months bring Nan Gurley & Co. to the seacoast for her Portsmouth Shows at the Frank Jones Center. Once a month thru April dealers have a chance to catch up – buy and sell. Trisha McElroy has initiated monthly shows in Concord, NH, at the Courtyard Marriott Grappone Conference Center, in the spirit of the old Sara French shows which we all loved and cut our teeth on. Great idea ! Check your MAD for details. This is a fresh new idea with hours designed to warm the dealers’ hearts – 9 AM – 2 PM. Contact Trish at 603.778-8842.

Welcome new members : Tim and Charline Chambers, Sikeston, MO; Gary Promey, Atwater, OH; Susan Stella, Rockport, MA; Jack and Betty Rhodus Lebanon, OH; and Melissa Bourke, Garrison, NY.

There is always antiquing in NH. We hardly take a breather for the holidays because it’s what we all love to do, and we can’t stop. House calls seem to be opening up a bit and that means more stuff coming to the market. Please come visit.

Kathy Schoemer
Acworth, NH