From another perspective. The COA Conventions are three components: 1) Social 2) Programs / Education 3) A place to buy shells (Auctions and Bourse) As much as I love the bourse, I come to the COA conventions for the programs and the social portions... not the bourse. This year, as a few times in the past, I can only come for a long weekend. So arriving Thursday night I will regrettably miss most of the programs, but will be their for the whole bourse. Leslie FYI: I will be doing a program on Friday entitled: One Thing Leads to Another - The Tale of Two Shell Books Collectors Encyclopedia of Shells & Compendium of Seashells Dance & Abbott & Dance