Dear Maple Producers, Maple Educators, and Equipment Suppliers:

You are invited to join us at the QUAKER SQUARE HOTEL, Akron, Ohio, on October 21-24 for four very special days of seminars, workshops, displays, and tours. This year's Maple Getaway is actually closer than you think, and the host states (OH and IN) are striving to EXCEED your expectations as they prepare to welcome the N.A.M.S.C. and I.M.S.I. convention.

Enclosed is an agenda plus descriptions of many options. All touring information and web-sites, announcements of special events, and contest entry forms are included. Please complete the convention registration form (in the newsletter), make your check payable to:

OMPA - NAMSC

Send completed registration with check to:

OMPA - NAMSC
c/o tom Brundage (our convention registrar)
4625 N. St. Rt. 101
Tiffin, Ohio  44883

Completed registrations must be postmarked before Sept. 15th. All late registrations will require an extra $40.

As is customary for these conventions, you must make your own hotel reservation by phone to: CROWNE PLAZA QUAKER SQUARE HOTEL at 1-330-253-5970. To receive the special room rate of $109 per night, please mention that you are coming to the International maple meeting.

To get our "group prices" for meals during the 4-day meeting, convention registration is required. Your registration packet will contain your conference I.D. and meal tickets. The I.D. will be your admission to convention activities and trade show. Lunch meals are optional BUT very convenient due to mid-day time constraints.

Why come to Akron?
    Peak Autumn Color in mid-point of the N. American Maple Belt
       Equipment will be showcased in the Quaker Station exhibit hall
           Excellent Technical Talks, new Maple ideas, and outstanding tours
               Music, Auction, Banquet honoring syrup and photo achievements

This four-day package has a "Five Maple Leaf" rating! DON'T MISS IT!

Dick Schorr, General Chairman

All information is on web-site: www.ohiomapleproducers.com
Questions? www.maplemeister@fuse.net  phone: 513-489-3184

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MONDAY TOUR DESTINATIONS:

What makes Monday tours so inviting?? Each bus will have an extremely-experienced local guide to talk about the people & the countryside through which your bus is passing. What a lot of information will be shared as you tour with us !

STAN HYWET: (old English for Stone Quarry) is one of our nation’s finest examples of Tudor Revival architecture. The historic home sits on 70 acres of landscaped grounds. Originally it was the home of Francis A. and Gertrude Seiberling. Francis A. co-founded both Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Seiberling Rubber Companies.

The home itself was inspired by those on prominent English estates, and was built to look centuries old yet include the most modern and current conveniences. The décor throughout - -antiques, overstuffed chairs, Flemish tapestries - - is exquisite and just has to be seen to be appreciated. All this is enhanced by the artfully landscaped grounds and gardens surrounding this 65-room mansion. Check it out at www.stanhywet.org.

MISS MOLLY’S TEA ROOM: is Victorian tea room at its finest! In surroundings reminiscent of the late 1800’s you will enjoy fine lunchtime cuisine in a very unique setting. Afterwards browse the adjacent shop brimming with “take home” gift items from English teapots to unique jewelry. See www.missmollys.net.

MISHLER TEXTILE – WEAVING MILL: is an operational facility dating from the Late 1800’s. Its oldest operating loom dates from 1895; another is an 1860’s Rocker Beater Barn Beam Loom. The Smithville Community Historical Society owns and operates the mill and will have volunteers demonstrating the equipment. They will open the Mill exclusively for our tour on Monday, Oct. 22nd, and each of you will take home a Mishler-Mill-woven gift. The historical across the road will also be open for us. Find out more at www.roootsweb.com/~ohschs/index.html. At that site click on Smithville Community Historical Society

THE GRANARY AT PINE TREE: This landmark dates from 1868, and has been restored into gift and interior decor shops plus an award winning restaurant. After ‘window-shopping’ enjoy lunch in their comfortable surroundings overlooking their lakes, Christmas tree farm, and beyond that the lush Killbuck valley. Consult www.pinetreebarn.co.

THE CAT’S MEOW VILLAGE “has been turning lasting moments into lasting memories for more than 24 years” with unique wooden keepsakes. This original factory and adjacent display rooms are nestled among the rolling farmland of N.E. Ohio. See their 'mewseum' and hand-screen your own take-home souvenir of this visit. They have promised to have many maple pieces available. Refer to: www.catsmeow.com for more information.

 'NOT TO BE MISSED' TUESDAY ALL-DAY TOURS:

Tuesday’s trip-packages showcase many "must-see" locations in the vicinity of Akron. Your knowledgeable professional tour guide will keep you well informed as you travel from site to site in this area of Ohio .

LEHMAN’S: "where 'old fashioned' is in fashion." Lehman’s has been serving non- electric households for over 50 years, at the same time attracting thousands of 'English' customers too. As you enter, it will seem that you have 'stepped back 100 years in time.' There are thousands of unique and practical items to be seen as you meander through a facility that has doubled in size in 2007! This has to be the largest ‘general store’ you have ever seen!
If you are looking for an authentic wooden reproduction of great-grandma’s phone (but it plugs into your home wall jack), or an ice cream spade that’ll serve the hardest-frozen ice cream, or a live-ember tool for your fireplace? You’ll find them here! I could say much more; do visit www.Lehmans.com. To sum it up, they say, "Nobody does what we do on the scale that we do it." Definitely a 'must-visit'!!

BEHALT: is a 10’ x 265’ circular mural depicting over 500 years of the history of the Amish and Mennonite peoples. Your narrated visit is a unique educational experience in one of only four cycloramas in North America. Thru this visual lesson, you’ll go home with a deeper understanding of the precepts that led to their quest for a simple, peaceful lifestyle.

PIONEER EQUIPMENT INC. is a manufacturer of high quality draft-horse-drawn farm and logging equipment Three generations of family craftsmen continue the 'old-world tradition of innovative design, commitment to quality, and traditional craftsmanship,' finishing the finest in horse-drawn equipment with built-in reliability and safety.

WARTHER CARVINGS: Exhibited here in a Swiss-chalet-style building are 64 ebony & ivory working scale models depicting the history of railroading. The "Empire Express" is the largest operating ivory carving in the world. Ernest "Mooney" Warther began in a 1912 workshop, and quickly realized that carving knives of the quality he required were not to be found; and so he made his own, developing a technique for tempering and sharpening a steel blade that would keep its sharp edge. Today the facility continues to produce outstanding kitchen cutlery while exhibiting the amazing carving skill of its founder. Visit www.warthers.com or Ohio Historical Society’s "Timeline" Vol.23, #4 , Oct-Dec, 2006 Pp 46 – 63.

FIRST LADIES NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE & LIBRARY: comprises two buildings on Market Street South in Canton, Ohio, a 45 minute trip South of Akron. The site is managed by the National Park Service and is operated by the National First Ladies Library. The Victoria Ida Saxton House has been refurbished to its original splendor. Tours led by costumed docents highlight the McKinley Story, display images and belongings of the U.S.’s First Ladies, and reveal their Supporting role in the lives of our nation’s presidents. First Ladies offers two15 -person tours Tuesday afternoon. See: www.firstladies.org. Those remaining on this tour bus may visit Canton’s Classic Car Museum a block away from The First Ladies location. www.cantonclassiccar.org.

P. GRAHAM DUNN is a most unique laser-cut woodworking facility producing Inspirational home décor fashioned from wood - - chests, tables, mirrors, framed art, and desk accessories. Canvas-mounted art, framed lithographs, and even hymnal pages laser-cut in light-stained cherry are real eye-catchers! You’ll likely find something to take home here, maybe a lovely laser-cut leather bookmark as a gift for someone special.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD: A vintage1940’s coach will take you thru the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park at or near the peak of N.E. Ohio’s fall foliage color. Board at the Peninsula Depot and enjoy the scenic route to Independence, where you’ll re-board your motor coach for a tour of Geauga County countryside enroute to Sugarbush Creek, where you’ll see the latest in equipment and hear a talk on bush management.