Immediately following Cabin Fever, I was off to Synergy, the National Guild conference planned to coincide with the ACC show in Baltimore.  Since it was announced, I’d heard some folks complain because it wasn’t a hands on type of event - in other words, leave that pasta machine at home.  Instead, you’d be attending various seminars conducted by polymer and non polymer artists such as Jeff Dever, Kathleen Dustin, Seth Savarick, Sarah Shriver, Dan Cormier, Bonnie Bischoff, Tim McCreight, Judy Belcher, Klew and so many more.  Design, computer, improving your earring design, Skinner Blend, creative accounting - enough to make one’s head spin off. 

There were panel discussions - I sat in on two of them myself.  Craftsmanship, led by Jeff Dever and one on design with Tim McCreight.  Carol Duvall spoke one noon on television, her history and the history of her show and crafts on tv.  Kathleen Dustin presented her talk on the early history of our medium.  Cynthia Tinapple offered her perspective on where we were, where we are and where we are going.  Hollie Mion, who has been such an important patroness of the polymer arts brought a part of her collection for all of us to see.  There was a gallery show, a silent auction and a bidding auction

It was, I believe, a very important step in our community, taking us beyond technique and into another realm.  I loved it and hope it was just the first of many more to come.