Saturday, June 7, 2025, Salvation Army Community Center, Oak Creek, WI
I had a little extra work this month as many regular dealers had to skip the June show causing me to work the waiting list. I am always amazed when waiting list dealers do not respond -- why get on my list? Anyway, we had a bunch of new dealers at the June show which is always fun.
What is not fun is prepping for the Oak Creek show which is just a ton of work. I am always trying to figure out ways to make this thing easier. Along those lines, I stopped holding space for dealers if they miss a show. It is extra work for me when a dealer misses a show because I have to contact five to 10 people on the waiting list until someone agrees to set up and fill the spot. Then I just don't want to kick the new guy out for the next month's show. We need new blood and it is easier for me to keep the new guy instead of letting the old guy back in.
So I started moving dealers to the top of the waiting list after they miss a show. Sometimes I can get them back in the next show, sometimes not. If a dealer misses multiple shows, it is extremely difficult to place them in their old spot. So I started moving these guys around.
There is a pushback from some dealers on this but in the long run it simplifies the immense amount of work I must do each month prior to the show. I am also being very nice about it. I could easily tell the noisy dealers who miss shows that they are out because I have such a huge waiting list. They don't seem to get it. I don't know how much longer I can be nice.
All the work I have to do prior to the show is not fun and it is not nice. In addition to making sure all 191 spaces are filled with dealers, I must map out each room. It was sad to delete Dell from the Fellowship Hall map this month. During the show, I was amazed at how many people stopped me to ask where was Dell? There really is no one quite like Dell, who was a regular at shows across the country. Dell's death is a huge loss to the hobby.
Reminder: A Celebration of Life for Dell Heyn will be held at 5 p.m. on July 6, 2025, at the Cornerstone Church, 2 Shermer Road, Glenview, IL.
Can I complain about the dealers a little more? But first I must state that most of the dealers are awesome and I absolutely love them but there are a handful of the 130 regular Oak Creek dealers that are a real pain in the ass. Unfortunately, it is usually the newer dealers that are trouble. I have had a rash of new, younger, dealers leave the show without paying for their table space. I do require some to prepay but it is such a hassle and extra work to fight with the dealers to get them to prepay, so I don't really bother. It amazes me that dealers leave every show without paying for their space. It is always a newer dealer.
So I gave out a newsletter to all the dealers prior to the June show and stated that dealers who leave without paying will not be invited back. Guess what! I had a dealer leave without paying after the June show!! I could hunt him down for the table fee but I'd rather just give him the boot and add someone new for the July show and hope they can pay for their table before they leave the show. Unreal!!!
Health Update
I have been hyper-focused on managing my blood sugar lately which has been out of control for far too long. I actually felt pretty good at this show. Maybe the best I have felt all year. Many folks sort of complimented me saying that I did not look as shitty as usual. Thanks guys!
I was set up on the stage on the Chapel again. Most dealers do not want to set up there, so this may be my regular spot for a while. I actually had a much better show in June than May. Again, thanks guys! Sales were excellent. Buys were excellent! Good show for me.
However, the best part of the June Oak Creek show was the appearance of Big Tim. Wow! What a sight for sore eyes!! Tim was a regular visitor to the Oak Creek show until the Pandemic hit and he disappeared. He had some sort of illness and said he is feeling better. So great to see Tim. Welcome back!!
I also want to give a shout out to Tommy Larson aka Daddy Warbucks. Man, Tommy makes everybody's show. He buys, buys and buys. Thank you Tommy!!!
It was also nice to meet Tony Lehman, who flew in from Atlanta for the show. Tony was looking for Brewers Police sets. Quite a few guys brought out sets for him including Bruce Folger who dropped off a set at my booth and I gave it to Tony. Thanks Bruce!!
Well, we had a nice string going without a theft. Mike Johnson reported that his son had a Pokémon card stolen in the gym. I talked with Mike's son who said he had the card in his display case but had the case open as several customers at once wanted to see cards and later he realized that someone swiped the card.
Below is a picture of the stolen card. Please be on the lookout for this card. Any info would be appreciated. You can contact me, Mike or our police officer John.
I had a little extra work this month as many regular dealers had to skip the June show causing me to work the waiting list. I am always amazed when waiting list dealers do not respond -- why get on my list? Anyway, we had a bunch of new dealers at the June show which is always fun.
What is not fun is prepping for the Oak Creek show which is just a ton of work. I am always trying to figure out ways to make this thing easier. Along those lines, I stopped holding space for dealers if they miss a show. It is extra work for me when a dealer misses a show because I have to contact five to 10 people on the waiting list until someone agrees to set up and fill the spot. Then I just don't want to kick the new guy out for the next month's show. We need new blood and it is easier for me to keep the new guy instead of letting the old guy back in.
So I started moving dealers to the top of the waiting list after they miss a show. Sometimes I can get them back in the next show, sometimes not. If a dealer misses multiple shows, it is extremely difficult to place them in their old spot. So I started moving these guys around.
There is a pushback from some dealers on this but in the long run it simplifies the immense amount of work I must do each month prior to the show. I am also being very nice about it. I could easily tell the noisy dealers who miss shows that they are out because I have such a huge waiting list. They don't seem to get it. I don't know how much longer I can be nice.
All the work I have to do prior to the show is not fun and it is not nice. In addition to making sure all 191 spaces are filled with dealers, I must map out each room. It was sad to delete Dell from the Fellowship Hall map this month. During the show, I was amazed at how many people stopped me to ask where was Dell? There really is no one quite like Dell, who was a regular at shows across the country. Dell's death is a huge loss to the hobby.
Reminder: A Celebration of Life for Dell Heyn will be held at 5 p.m. on July 6, 2025, at the Cornerstone Church, 2 Shermer Road, Glenview, IL.
Can I complain about the dealers a little more? But first I must state that most of the dealers are awesome and I absolutely love them but there are a handful of the 130 regular Oak Creek dealers that are a real pain in the ass. Unfortunately, it is usually the newer dealers that are trouble. I have had a rash of new, younger, dealers leave the show without paying for their table space. I do require some to prepay but it is such a hassle and extra work to fight with the dealers to get them to prepay, so I don't really bother. It amazes me that dealers leave every show without paying for their space. It is always a newer dealer.
So I gave out a newsletter to all the dealers prior to the June show and stated that dealers who leave without paying will not be invited back. Guess what! I had a dealer leave without paying after the June show!! I could hunt him down for the table fee but I'd rather just give him the boot and add someone new for the July show and hope they can pay for their table before they leave the show. Unreal!!!
Health Update
I have been hyper-focused on managing my blood sugar lately which has been out of control for far too long. I actually felt pretty good at this show. Maybe the best I have felt all year. Many folks sort of complimented me saying that I did not look as shitty as usual. Thanks guys!
I was set up on the stage on the Chapel again. Most dealers do not want to set up there, so this may be my regular spot for a while. I actually had a much better show in June than May. Again, thanks guys! Sales were excellent. Buys were excellent! Good show for me.
However, the best part of the June Oak Creek show was the appearance of Big Tim. Wow! What a sight for sore eyes!! Tim was a regular visitor to the Oak Creek show until the Pandemic hit and he disappeared. He had some sort of illness and said he is feeling better. So great to see Tim. Welcome back!!
I also want to give a shout out to Tommy Larson aka Daddy Warbucks. Man, Tommy makes everybody's show. He buys, buys and buys. Thank you Tommy!!!
It was also nice to meet Tony Lehman, who flew in from Atlanta for the show. Tony was looking for Brewers Police sets. Quite a few guys brought out sets for him including Bruce Folger who dropped off a set at my booth and I gave it to Tony. Thanks Bruce!!
Well, we had a nice string going without a theft. Mike Johnson reported that his son had a Pokémon card stolen in the gym. I talked with Mike's son who said he had the card in his display case but had the case open as several customers at once wanted to see cards and later he realized that someone swiped the card.
Below is a picture of the stolen card. Please be on the lookout for this card. Any info would be appreciated. You can contact me, Mike or our police officer John.
We had nice attendance at the June show with 1,095 through the door. Summer months can be tough so I was pleased with the turn out.
Now I have a couple of tough things to talk about. I am collecting prayers for my friend Dave McDonald who is battling some serious health issues. Dave is one of my best friends. We have been partners at the National since 2008. We started setting up at the Sports Spectacular together around 2000 or 2001. We have done so many shows together and have had so many good times. I can't imagine a world without Dave. I don't know if Dave will be able to read this but if you do, I want you to know that I love and appreciate you. Our friendship has been absolutely wonderful. You are amazing and have made this hobby more enjoyable and my world a much better place. I'm hoping for a miracle. I need my pal Dave!
Next, I want to talk about David Greenwood. Most of you know that I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and am a huge Chicago sports fan. The Chicago Bulls were born the same year as me -- 1966. I have been a rabid Bulls fan my whole life. I remember going to games in the 1970's when Dick Motta was coach. I have always closely followed the Bulls.
While it sucked that the Bulls missed out on Magic Johnson in the 1979 draft, I was happy they drafted David Greenwood with the Number 2 pick. The Bulls needed a power forward. They were set at center with Artis Gilmore and shooting guard with Reggie Theus. Greenwood would help them reach the .500 mark and the playoffs.
However, I never expected David Greenwood to show up on my doorstep! I was 12 years old when I met David Greenwood. He walked into my house and shook my tiny hand with his huge paw.
This is where it pays to have a pretty blonde for a sister. She met David Greenwood at the nearby grocery store. She was in the canned vegetable aisle and accidentally dropped a can of peas. David Greenwood picked up the can. Later he was at my house shaking my hand. Apparently, he lived in a nearby townhouse.
I can't remember if it was the summer of 1979 or 1980 that he was regularly at my house. I ran to talk to him every time he came over. Often at night, he found me on the driveway sitting in my dad's car talking to my friend Andy on the CB radio in the car. Andy lived in the neighborhood behind David Greenwood's townhouse.
David was into CBs as well. I even had him talk to Andy!
What a super nice guy. I was so lucky to know him. I was crushed to learn he died recently. Much too young. Much too nice. I am still pissed the Bulls did not keep him around in the 1980's. I'm also pissed they got rid of Artis Gilmore and Reggie Theus. I really enjoyed those Bulls teams.
Anyway, rest in peace David Greenwood. Thanks for making 12-year-old me feel special and for talking to Andy on the CB!!
Now I have a couple of tough things to talk about. I am collecting prayers for my friend Dave McDonald who is battling some serious health issues. Dave is one of my best friends. We have been partners at the National since 2008. We started setting up at the Sports Spectacular together around 2000 or 2001. We have done so many shows together and have had so many good times. I can't imagine a world without Dave. I don't know if Dave will be able to read this but if you do, I want you to know that I love and appreciate you. Our friendship has been absolutely wonderful. You are amazing and have made this hobby more enjoyable and my world a much better place. I'm hoping for a miracle. I need my pal Dave!
Next, I want to talk about David Greenwood. Most of you know that I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and am a huge Chicago sports fan. The Chicago Bulls were born the same year as me -- 1966. I have been a rabid Bulls fan my whole life. I remember going to games in the 1970's when Dick Motta was coach. I have always closely followed the Bulls.
While it sucked that the Bulls missed out on Magic Johnson in the 1979 draft, I was happy they drafted David Greenwood with the Number 2 pick. The Bulls needed a power forward. They were set at center with Artis Gilmore and shooting guard with Reggie Theus. Greenwood would help them reach the .500 mark and the playoffs.
However, I never expected David Greenwood to show up on my doorstep! I was 12 years old when I met David Greenwood. He walked into my house and shook my tiny hand with his huge paw.
This is where it pays to have a pretty blonde for a sister. She met David Greenwood at the nearby grocery store. She was in the canned vegetable aisle and accidentally dropped a can of peas. David Greenwood picked up the can. Later he was at my house shaking my hand. Apparently, he lived in a nearby townhouse.
I can't remember if it was the summer of 1979 or 1980 that he was regularly at my house. I ran to talk to him every time he came over. Often at night, he found me on the driveway sitting in my dad's car talking to my friend Andy on the CB radio in the car. Andy lived in the neighborhood behind David Greenwood's townhouse.
David was into CBs as well. I even had him talk to Andy!
What a super nice guy. I was so lucky to know him. I was crushed to learn he died recently. Much too young. Much too nice. I am still pissed the Bulls did not keep him around in the 1980's. I'm also pissed they got rid of Artis Gilmore and Reggie Theus. I really enjoyed those Bulls teams.
Anyway, rest in peace David Greenwood. Thanks for making 12-year-old me feel special and for talking to Andy on the CB!!
Now for some photos from the June 7 Oak Creek Show:
I am taking a rare weekend off. No shows for me this weekend. I'm driving out to Michigan to hang out with my folks. I'll be back at it for the huge Madison show on June 21. Then I am back in Orland on June 22.
Next Oak Creek is show is July 12, NOT July 5. I decided to push the show back a week because I did not want to be stuck setting up a show all night on July 4. Also, the August show will be on the second Saturday as well -- August 9 because on August 2, I'll be set up in booths 3816 and 3717 at the National in Rosemont, IL.
Happy 50th Birthday to dealer Ray Aukes!!
Have a Happy Father's Day everyone!
Next Oak Creek is show is July 12, NOT July 5. I decided to push the show back a week because I did not want to be stuck setting up a show all night on July 4. Also, the August show will be on the second Saturday as well -- August 9 because on August 2, I'll be set up in booths 3816 and 3717 at the National in Rosemont, IL.
Happy 50th Birthday to dealer Ray Aukes!!
Have a Happy Father's Day everyone!
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