I contacted Lee Asher a few days ago to help with planning for the 52+J 2014 convention, which is going to be in Charleston South Carolina - my hometown - and I work less than 5 miles from the venue. I'm working with Lee, Steve Bowling (convention planner) and Tom Dawson, president of the group for 2014, who I will be entertaining here - along with his wife - in February for a pre-convention look at the Charleston area.
It's an opportunity to visit "America's Most Historic City", the #1 destination in the country for 3 years running according to Condé Naste and #1 in the world last year, and I will be part of the welcoming committee, arranging things starting now for the scouting party that is going to visit in April and to take in the gardens and things.
Anyone wanting to attend will be able to see things like a Norwood 85 deck (one went for $2650 at auction this year), although as Lee said "personally I am underwhelmed by that one". Some decks in club auctions have gone for up to 5 figure amounts, mostly 18th century decks - far too rich for me, but Lee will probably have a JNug to see if you haven't seen one in person. I'm sure there will be more than one, but - the prices these days are out of sight!
I can easily setup digs at a good rate for anyone as long as you do it way in advance. The convention hotel is the InnPlace Hotel near the airport (
http://www.innplacehotels.com/locations/charleston), formerly a Marroitt and an exquisite venue for both the convention and visitors to Charleston. I've "herded cats" at conventions there before. Dates are October 15th to 18th (Wedneday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday). I'll keep everyone up to date as things develop.
Edited to fix the convention dates: Should be "October 15th (WEDNESDAY) to 18th (SATURDAY) the week before I originally posted... And again to clarify.