Apr 21

Written by:
4/21/2010 11:04 AM 

By Larry Brillhart

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The return of the Gold Show to Las Vegas was an overwhelming success.

 

A crowd of 3,016 attended last weekend’s debut at the SouthPoint Hotel and Casino. The attendance nearly doubled the second-highest Gold Show total for the year, making Las Vegas the most successful stop - by far - in 2010.

 

Festivities included a chapter “Meet and Greet” as well as a vendors’ dinner on Friday and an LDMA dinner on Saturday. The events were all well-attended and everyone involved seemed to enjoy themselves and the excellent food.

 

Fourteen of the numerous GPAA chapters at the event were represented at the “Meet and Greet.” They included El Paso, Texas; Show Low, Ariz., Durango, Colo., Concord, Calif., Fresno, Calif., Stockton, Calif., Temecula, Calif., Brea, Calif., San Diego, Calif., Hesperia, Calif., Highland, Calif., Las Vegas, Nev., and Tomah, Wisc. Even the newest chapter in New Mexico was represented.  

 

New merchandise was also on display at the gold show, including a furnace from Make Your Own Gold Bars, the Rock N’ Gold Basket and the BucketDigger hand digging tool from BucketDigger.  

 

Las Vegas GPAA Chapter President Deanna Colston was pleased to see the Gold Show return to Las Vegas from Primm, Nev. The larger attendance proved the move was a good one.

 

“All of the people who attended were in good mood - very happy, Colston said. “I was not only happy with the vendors but about the hotel (SouthPoint) that was chosen. We (LVGPAA) enjoyed ourselves. We had a huge response.”

 

Colston said the success of the show was obvious on the first day alone.

 

“On Saturday, there was no room to move around,” she said. “I saw more people walking around with merchandise in their hands. I was really, really pleased.”

 

Nancy Roberts, president of the Central Valley Prospectors in Fresno, Calif., was also satisfied with the crowd.

 

“It was wonderful,” she said. “I was hoping for all the vendors it would be the show of a lifetime. The numbers of people were excellent. The vendors were happy and it was great exposure. The GPAA always puts on a good show.”

 

Not only was the show successful for vendors but for chapters as well. Colston appreciated the exposure for LVGPAA and all the other chapters in attendance.

 

“I started off with 1,000 chapter cards and ended up with 40,” Colston said. “We focused on explaining to people that they are welcome at our chapter or any other chapters. In my opinion, we are not one chapter in one place but many chapters in many places. We’re all in touch with each other and that’s how it should be. That’s the purpose of a chapter. We should try to help each other in any way we can.”

 

Two more Alaska Expedition trips were awarded at the Gold Show last weekend with GPAA President Tom Massie announcing the winning tickets. Jessie L. Smith of Las Vegas was Saturday's winner and Mary Ellen Chacon of Tulare, Calif., won Sunday's drawing.

 

The next Gold Show stops are in Indianapolis on May 15-16 and Oklahoma City the following weekend. Make plans now to attend!