The Idle Pen - The Andrew Turnbull License Plate Gallery

7-11-2009: 2009 Erie Pa. ALPCA Convention, Part 1

The international convention of the Automobile License Plate Collectors' association is a highlight of the hobby that happens every year: Four days of collectors intermingling, showing off displays, sharing information, and trading plates. I had a pleasurable time attending the 2007 convention held in Huntsville, Alabama two years ago, and I was naturally curious when the convention site came within driving distance again this year.

Some things in my life had changed since 2007: I had moved from the wasteland of West Virginia to the dairyland of Wisconsin, for example. Some things had not: I still felt as though details of my life were in flux, and nevertheless my interest in license plates and vehicle registration schematics remained as strong as ever. For the latter reason, I went ahead and registered for the convention...but for the former reason, I wound up cutting the pre-registration deadline absurdly close!

I revved up the car and set out for the open road on Monday, June 22. Although I could have conceivably made the trip to Erie in one day if I had chosen to do so, I instead elected to split the drive in two for convenience and to work in a visit to family in southeast Michigan in the bargain. The trip in question went by pleasantly enough: After driving due south from Manitowoc and Milwaukee for the first leg of the tour, I took the tollway around Chicago and followed I-94 into Michigan, arriving at the major stop of the day just in time for dinner. The following day, I got up bright and early and made the loop around the bottom of Lake Erie for the final leg of the trip there. After stopping for lunch in Conneaut, Ohio (a stone's throw from Pennsylvania), I sailed into Erie.

Erie as a place was a new experience for me: Cleveland and Pittsburgh were the closest I had come to it, geographically, before. This year's convention was actually originally slated to be held near Pittsburgh; but the convention center there apparently went bankrupt in the meantime, forcing a scramble to come up with an alternate location. This location seemed satisfactory enough: I-79 more or less feeds itself into Erie's downtown street grid, so finding my way around wasn't too difficult to do. (Still, I managed to make a wrong turn before righting my way again!) Soon I came face to face with the place that would be the center of activity for the next few days: The Bayfront Convention Center, a piece of new development situated in a formerly-industrial area literally on the shore of Lake Erie.

Before the 2009 Automobile License Plate Collectors' Assocation convention

Traditionally, the beginning of conventions has been bookended by an "informal" meet-and-greet in the parking lot. By this time of day, most other collectors had already set up shop on the spot; wandering around and conversing with others. I found a handy parking spot and soon joined in on the action. It was fun touching up on things with Joe Sallmen and Josh Husiar, my old compatriots from West Virginia; as well as Gary Walker, who traveled all the way from Victoria, Australia to be there!

Aside from social interaction, one thing I rever about the meet-and-greet is the chance to make great finds...and this year, I wasn't disappointed. One of my very first comings-across was a teal 1994/95 series Wisconsin ZA Trailer plate...an uncommon type. Upon browsing through a pile of someone's two-dollar plates, I neared the Oregon section and pulled out something extraordinary: A blue 1964-series Oregon license plate...with the uncommon narrow spacing seen only on very early plates; bearing an uncommon 1975 sticker, which most registrants skipped over due to the implementation of two-year validations! A double whammy if there ever was one...which now occupies a rightful place in my own collection. Yet another interesting find was a 1995 Wisconsin passenger plate with an unusual bright yellow-painted back.

I soon ran into Dave Nicholson of Maine (my roommate and more or less collaborator for the next two days), and had a great laugh with Elvin Godbehere of Texas over my sarcastic critique of the new Texas license plate. (I'll probably get around to posting that here, eventually.) All said, the pre-convention warm up was a very productive day...although I paid the price with my skin. I had neglected to pack along sunscreen the day before, and by the end of the afternoon the back of my neck felt as though it were burned to a crisp.

Spotted from the parking lot of the 2009 ALPCA convention

Lest there was any doubt of the industrial role this area of the city once had, this was the view westward from the parking lot...