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Detroit Convention 2020 Is Cancelled
Due to COVID-19





If someone says Motown and Motor City in the same sentence, there's no doubt, you know they're talking about Detroit. Lesser known about this city is it sits on the US-Canada border and is an important port on the Detroit River, one of the four major straits that connect the Great Lakes system to the Saint Lawrence Seaway. It is in this widely recognized cultural and industrial center, known for its contributions to music and architecture, where Scalies will come together May 14th through May 18th for the 2020 ISASC Convention.

Convention central will be the newly refreshed Detroit Metro Airport Marriott offering a convenient location to the airport and notable local attractions. As part of its customer focus, the hotel has a complimentary shuttle service within a two mile radius including the airport. There is no charge for parking and each room comes with two free breakfasts.

Things get off to a rocking start Thursday evening with dinner at Sindbad's overlooking the Detroit River. Yes, it's named after the famous fictional mariner who recounted his fantastic adventures on his seven sea voyages in One Thousand and One Nights, or better known in English as The Arabian Nights.

Following dinner we will enjoy a short bus tour of the area culminating in a visit to Belle Isle. Rich in history and natural beauty, this 982 acre island park located in the international waters of the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, is considered a local gem. Created as an urban oasis for the city, it is affectionately known as the "Jewel of Detroit" and is home to an aquarium, conservatory, museum and nature center. Our day will conclude with a stunning sunset view of the city.

If seeing scale collections is your thing, then Friday is the day for you. First it's off to the home of member Jim D. To say Jim has a large scale collection is a major understatement. When we last saw his collection in 2007, it was billed as "housed in a barn, stacked to the ceiling, consisting of thousands of scales described as the rare, the ordinary and the extraordinary." The little known secret is Jim has been adding to this collection ever since. If that's not enough scales for you, Gregg M. is bringing some of his to Jim's place to supplement the display. Before you say, "No, I can't see any more scales today", prepare yourself, because on the way back we will stop at the home of Greg M. to see his collection.

The informal Friday night get-together officially opens the convention with a warm welcome to all. It is the time to catch up with old friends, meet the first time convention goers and build the camaraderie that lasts throughout the weekend. It is the time to share albums and tales of new acquisitions as well as seek sympathy for the ones that got away. It is a refuge where no one tires of scale talk.

Saturday morning we will have several informative programs concentrating on scales and weights. The afternoon is reserved for the perennial favorites of convention goers, Silent Auction and Let's Make a Deal. Sunday morning features Show and Tell allowing members to share unusual or intriguing treasures from their own collection.

Sunday afternoon is open for individualized exploring with lots of excellent places to visit within a short driving distance of our hotel. Go west for Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan, east for downtown Detroit and Windsor, Canada, south for Toledo, Ohio, and practically next door for the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Monday we set a course going due north heading into the "thumb" of Michigan. Our first destination is the home of Utz and Shirley S. to see his scale collection. The bonus treat of this visit is the superb view of Lake Huron from their yard. Then it's back on the bus to go south to Port Sanilac. Here we will have lunch at the Stone Lodge where great food and a cozy atmosphere make it a local favorite.

Our stop after lunch offers us a uniquely Michigan experience. We will visit the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the first and oldest surviving lighthouse in the state. The light is still in use and the grounds are an active Coast Guard facility.

The convention is an excellent way to enhance your scale collecting experience. It provides the occasion to meet fellow collectors, view collections and at the same time learn more about scales. Many say it's the most rewarding aspect of belonging to ISASC. Our hosts, Greg and Bev M. and Utz and Shirley S., have been hard at work arranging a memorable weekend for us. So come to Motown and get in the groove. See ya there!

Photos courtesy of Visit Detroit