OK, so a few folks have joined the site, and soon we'll be blowing up the boards with information about our conference. I just wanted to let all the new people that if they're willing and able to attend, it's always a great time. For many of us, it's a couple days of hanging out with people who "get" our hobby. Also, it's always nice to shake a hand and put a face with an internet name.

Be not afraid!

The information is here:

http://atshq.org/conference.php

You do NOT have to be an expert to attend, you do NOT need to be a paying member of the ATS, you only need to show up!

Ah, I still remember showing up at my first conference only a few months after I got my first tarantula.
I was a bit afraid of the "experts", but I was instantly taken under the wings of the seasoned tarantula keepers and learned more in 3 days than I could have learned online or from books in years.
Not to mention all the great friendships with people who share my passion!

Ok, you get it: just like Christian I am encouraging all of you newbies to make this trip - it's so well worth it!

Of course I am naturally expecting to see all my old tarantula buddies from the last years to show up as well!

I would LOVE to go. Buuuut... I can't.

Sad

Can't overestimate the value of attending for folks new to the hobby.

Seeing and meeting the vendors, putting names to faces on the boards, and getting to know the officers. You'll come away, in general, with the feeling of this is an okay hobby and there is a kernel of normalcy amongst its practitioners. (...okay, well some of them.)

Plus, if you aren't from someplace where tarantulas are native, there are few things that can compare with seeing your first wild tarantula. ...or tickling one out of it's burrow the first time.

JMO.

I would put an effort into going if I knew it was possible. It's just that I recently asked for time off work for a family reunion. I won't be able to request anymore