As a new member here and as someone way up here in the PNW with little or no chance of attending a SELEM I can't help but put forward a comment about the kind of people that are here.
A rare breed of folks would go through the troubles you all did to get "one of your own" out to your event.
I think it speaks volumes about the true character of those involved.
My kudos to you all.
And one could only hope that with a growing number of members up here that perhaps something soon may develop for us and with a big helping of luck, we might also find the benefits of that kind of people.
What an outgoing person you must be Mr. "mixedgas" !