As we say goodbye to 2015 and look ahead to 2016, I wanted to review a bit on what we've accomplished and look ahead, with your help, to 2016.
Here's how 2015 came together for us:
Back in February, Marshall & Caitlin and Charlie & Tami and I discussed ideas around trying to coalesce a group in our area for Arcade and Pinball enthusiasts. By May, we had our first meet-up, which was at Papa's Pizza in Daphne. I believe we had 9 or so for that first meeting, we made some new friends and they have stuck with us! :)
Next, the group met in Downtown Mobile @ The Blind Mule for some Pinball Play, thank you to Charlie for setting that up and letting us play his pins.. I believe the attendance on that one was 10-or so.
I stopped by another day to play, having pins on location that well-maintained is a little like finding a flock of unicorns.
In the summer, we met for a movie night to see Pixels. Not a huge showing but more new friends, still. That weekend we had an arcade, pool and pinball party at my place with a great turnout (30+)
In later summer, we met up for some awesome Pinball and Arcade goodness in Milton @ one of Marshall & Caitlin's businesses. We had another great turnout (30+) and tried out hand at some tournament-play pinball.
In the fall, we met @ Allen and Lorie's place for some awesome pinball play, great food and fun times.
In the winter months, we met for a bowling night at Eastern Shore Lanes in Spanish Fort
We didn't have a huge turnout, crappy weather and busy season but we still had a great time. We plan to do more of these, several of us would like to actually do a league.
Finally, in December we met back here at my pace for some arcade and pinball shenanigans.
We had about 15 in attendance for 12+ hours of pinball and arcade goodness. We didn't end up playing tournament play but every seemed to have a good time :)
Looking out to 2016
We will have a meet up at Port City Mini Golf in January, details here: http://www.gulfcoastpinballandarcade.com/events/2016/1/20/mini-golf-arcade-pinball-goodness-in-downtown-mobile
In February, we will be heading to Orange Beach for some pinball and arcade play @ Adventure Island (and probably Fat Daddy's briefly). Date TBA but it will be a weekend.
We need ideas and leaders to come up with Meet-up ideas! I'll be hosting again by summer and probably again sometime in Fall or Winter, so we have 8 free months to fill if we want to.
There has also been interest in doing a public event (like @ Fairhope Brewery or @ Daphne Bayfront) , a bowling league and other activities. Jump in and find something fun to do and help us to grow the group!
I'd also like to ask again for someone artistic to come up with some designs for shirts, logos etc.
Need someone to run the forums, other contributors to write on the blog.. Plenty to do if there's some way you'd like to help - just let one of us know and we will get you what you need.
We have 61 members on the Facebook group, 23 on the email list, 16 on the pinball league list and looks like we'll be doing some IFPA play in 2016.
Finally I just wanted to thank you guys for a great year and fun times with new friends in the year ahead. Happy New Year!