Volume 1

GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND - CHARTER

July 1996

PURPOSE:

• To provide a board gaming environment for gaming enthusiasts.
• To promote playing games of all kinds.
• To have fun.
• To learn, share, grow, compete, and bond with others.

CURRENT SERVICES:

• Open gaming space.
• Use of games and gaming equipment.
• Discounts on gaming purchases through local distributor.

SERVICES TO COME:

• Bi-monthly newsletter featuring club happenings, special events, local convention information, announcements, new games, variants, club member information, replays and philosophies.
• Personalized membership card.
• Club bulletin board.
• Club T-shirts.
• Club flyer.
• Discounts on future conventions sponsored by GCOM.

MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS:

• Membership is free.
• Bring your own games.
• Positive Mental Attitude - P. M. A.
• Sportsmanship, fair play, flexibility, open mindedness, patience and communication.
• Snacks and beverages.

MEMBERS (Past and Present):

Mark Bassett Travis Burns Keith Feldman Brian Fender Bill Few Jeff Flancer David Hammann David Hiller Joe Jaskiewicz Ed Karpiwith

John Kinnear Ben Knight Kevin Ladana Joey Leanu Keith Levy Robert Martinez Michael Pustilnik Michael Reiner Jason Roach Ed Rothenheber

Tim Rothenhoefer Jeff Sagel Rich Shipley Mark Simonitch Jim Sparks Chris Stockwell Brian Sutton Mac Walter Robert Waters

HONARARY MEMBERS:

Jay Land John Renard

Wayne Smith Bob Rascovar

Bill Scott John Wasserman

HISTORY

• Games Club Of Maryland (GCOM) was officially founded in May of 1996.  GCOM foundations started with a small group of friends getting together every now and then to play games back in the mid 1980's.  The group consisted of Michael Reiner, Keith Feldman, Bill Few, Jeff Flancer, Keith Levy and others.  In 1987 the group began to get together on a more regular basis, playing every few weeks.  In 1989, the group started to play on a weekly basis on Tuesday evenings.  Other regular players at that time were Brian Fender and John Kinnear. Games regularly played at that time were Risk and Axis and Allies.  In 1991, the gaming group began to play on a bi-weekly basis and started playing every other Wednesday evening.  In 1992, Keith Levy, being challenged by the lack of enough players showing up on a regular basis, went to his first outside source to recruit gamers.  Keith filled out an opponents wanted card  at the local Game Keeper store.  About a month later, Travis Burns and Chris Stockwell answered the ad.  They were the first gamers from an outside source to join the group on a regular basis. At about the same time the group discovered the game Titan, which quickly became the popular favorite.
  
  
• It was through an inquiry to Avalon Hill, on further explanation of the rules for Titan, that became the turning point for Keith Levy and for the club.   The inquiry was forwarded by Don Greenwood to Bill Scott.  Bill, being one of the founders of the Titan National Tournament, introduced Keith to the convention circuit.  Keith went to his first gaming convention, AVALONCON 1993, through Bill's recommendation.  Bill also recommended a subscription to the General magazine.  Keith subscribed shortly thereafter and took out his first opponents wanted ad in Volume 28, No. 4 in early 1993.    Even thought the phone number was printed incorrectly  and the ad ran in two issues, Keith still received some response.  Jim Sparks and Tim Rothenhoefer were among the first players responding to the ad to join the club on a regular basis.  From this point forward Keith continued to run ads in the General on a regular basis to increase the size of the club.
  
  
• The gaming club slowly continued to grow.  In 1994, Keith answered an ad in the General from Robert Waters, the new editor of the magazine. Robert (Bob) along with his coworkers, Ben Knight, Mark Simonitch, and David Hiller joined the club on a regular basis.  having insiders from Avalon Hill greatly expanded the exposure of the club to new games.  The club was now playing new and different games on a regular basis.  This feature became another turning point for the club.  A diverse field of games led to steady and consistent growth of new members and kept the interest of older members intact.  The club had now become large enough where there was a consistent  base of regular gamers that played in each bi-weekly club session.
  
  
• In 1995, Keith game mastered his first gaming event.  At Prezcon '95,  Keith was GM for the Risk tournament. Later that year, in November 1995, with an invitation from Brian Sutton, Keith helped co-sponsor T N T '95, the Titan National Tournament.  At around the same time Keith decided that the gaming club should have an official name of some kind.  Keith wanted to give the club a name that best represented what it was all about.  Keith decided he wanted to use the word GAMES  as an acronym for the club name.  Undecided as to what the acronym should stand for, Keith decided to be geographically specific and call the group GAMES of Maryland.
  
  
• Keith sent out his first ad advertising the gaming group as a club to the General magazine in October of 1995.  As it turned out,  the General issue containing the ad didn't hit the newsstands until March of 1996.
  
  
• In February of 1996, Keith Game masters two events at Prezcon '96. Keith was awarded BEST GM for running Risk and History of the World.  Keith also made up a score sheet for tournament play of History of the World.   Keith submitted the score sheet with an accompanied article to the General magazine, which was published in Volume30, No. 3.  In March of 1996, just prior to the first club ad hitting the new stands, Keith decided on a new name for the gaming group.  GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND was born.  Being serious about the name of the group and keeping future interests in mind, Keith decided to officially register the club name.  In May of 1996 GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND  became an official trade name.
  
  
• ADDENDUM, 9/30/2003:
  
  GCOM History 101
  The First GCOM location was at:
  7310 Kathydale Road. Baltimore, MD. 21207 - The home of GCOM Founder, Keith Levy at that time. Not actually being in Baltimore City, Pikesville was the closest town.
  
  -And here is a bit of history that probably no one remembers. The name Games Of Maryland in the link you found below is NOT a mistake. This is the name I gave the club in March of 1996. I changed it to Games Club of Maryland one month later in April. I registered the name "Games Club of Maryland" with the State of Maryland as a trade name in May of 1996; hence our offical Founding Date of May 1996.
  
  The E-mail adress that you found, rshipley@access.digex.net belonged to none other than Rich Shipley. I did not have a computer or e-mail access at that time and I do not even recall the fact that we/Rich had e-mail acess that early in our existance. Maybe Rich can fill us with some more information if he remembers it. I was making phone calls (yes the telephone) to tell members of upcoming meeting dates.
  
  I find it amazing that the notes show some our are base foundations have not changed to this day.
  
  "Notes: We meet every other Wednesday evening. Focusing on multi-player games such as Titan, History of the World, Die Siedler Von Caton, and others. Players of all levels welcome. Willing to teach and learn new games."
  
  ...and Seven years later:
  
  - We meet every other Wednesday evening at GCOM-Reisterstown
  - Focus on multi-player games.
  - Die Siedler Von Caton. This title looks like one that most of our current locations still play.
  - Players of all levels welcome.
  - Willing to teach and learn new games.
  

 

 

Volume 2

GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND - CHARTER

June 1998

Purpose:

• To Have Fun, Learn, Share, Grow, Play.
• To provide an open board gaming environment for gaming enthusiasts and any other interested parties.
• To promote playing games of all kinds.
• To teach, bond, compete and communicate with others.
• To provide services which promote the board gaming hobby

Current Services:

• Open Gaming space.
• Use of games and gaming equipment.
• Club Flyer.
• Club bulletin board.
• Quarterly newsletter featuring upcoming sessions, club happenings, special events, local convention information, club member profiles, announcements and philosophies.
• Discounts on conventions sponsored by GCOM.
• Invitations to special events.
• Web page.

Services to come:

• Personalized club business cards.
• Club t-shirts.
• Other services yet to be discovered.

Membership Contributions:

• Membership is free.
• Bring your favorite games.
• Positive Mental Attitude - P. M. A.
• Sportsmanship, fair play, flexibility, open-mindedness, patience and communication.
• Snacks and beverages.

Member Categories:

• Active members. Gamers that are currently active in the club and come to gaming sessions on a regular basis.  They come to gaming sessions at least once a month.
• Members.  Gamers that come to gaming sessions a few times a year.  Attendance is about two to three times a year.  Most of these members were active members in the past.
• Past members.  Most of these gamers were active members in the past.  Some have moved out of town.  Some have had schedule changes and some have lost interest.
• Honorary members.  Four of these gamers, Charles Hickok, Ewan Mcnay, Justin Thompson and Jon Zug,  traveled long distance to attend  Games day '98.  Justin and Jon are organizers of the Prezcon Convention.  Charles and Ewan are History of the World players from Prezcon.  Three, Wayne Smith, John Wasserman and John Renard had significant involvement in gaming with Keith in the early days before there was organized group playing.  Bill Scott introduced me to conventions and communication with the outside gaming world.  If it were not for Bill there may have never been a games club.

Active Members:

• Mark Bassett Mike Ehlers Chuck Frascati Paul Gauniel Dave Hammann

  Michael Hart Joe Jaskiewicz Keith Levy Kurt Miller Mike Reiner

  Ed Rothenheber Tim Rothenhoefer Scott Rowe Jeff Sagel Crystal Shipley

  Rich Shipley Beth Waters Robert Waters John Weber David Wetzel

Members:

• Tony Cadden Dave Chicote

  Ben Knight Bruce Kohrn

  Jason Roach Jeff Spaner

  Jim Sparks Brian Sutton

Past Members:

• Travis Burns Jeff Clark David Edelstein Chris Esko Ben Farr

  Brian Fender Keith Feldman Scott Goldberg David Hiller Ed Karpiwith

  John Kinnear Kevin Lanada Joey Leanu Robert Martinez Michael Pustilnik

  Mark Simonitch Chris Stockwell Mac Walter

Honorary Members:

• Charles Hickok Ewan Mcnay

  John Renard Bill Scott

  Wayne Smith Justin Thompson

  John Wasserman John Zug

History Update from 1995 to present:

• In August 1995 Rich Shipley joined the gaming group.  Rich had a large collection of new games, which he continually brought to the gaming sessions.  Having a supply of different games to play on a regular basis was great succuss in keeping attendance levels high and in bringing new gamers to the club.  Club session attendance remained steady throught 1995 to 1996.
  
  
• Once advertisement in the General began on a regular basis membership gradually increased.  Regular members Dave Hammond and Ben Knight remain tireless in their efforts to consistently introduce new gamers to the club.  Attendance levels average at around ten to twelve gamers per session through to March 1997.
  
  
• In April 1997 Games Club of Maryland moves.  Rich Shipley and Ed Rothenheber are gracious enough to have Games Club of Maryland sessions at their homes while Keith Levy is waiting for his new home and the new Games Club of Maryland to be built in Reisterstown.  Gaming sessions are fewer, during the transition.  Brian Sutton starts to have regular gaming sessions at his home on Tuesday evenings. Brain asks Keith if he can use the name, Games Club of Maryland.  The second location of the club is born in Laurel.  Rich Shipley starts to have monthly gaming sessions on Saturdays in Joppatowne.  Rich wanting to have a name for his gaming club, Keith suggest using Games Club of Maryland.   The third location of the club is born in Joppatowne.
  
  
• In June 1997 the new home of Games Club of Maryland is complete.  Regular gaming sessions resume in full force in July 1997.  Despite the further traveling distance of fiftieth minutes further away for ninety percent of the members attendance is not adversely affected.  Not one member is lost due the move.  Games Club of Maryland members are a dedicated group of people.  Regular attendance remains at about twelve gamers per session.
  
  
• Games Day '98, Games Club of Maryland weekend open gaming session, on May 2nd and 3rd, 1998, is a success.  There was a total of  twenty eight gamers in attendance, with four people from out of state.  A new attendance record was set at twenty two during Games Day.  In late May 1998, Keith buys a Maryland state flag, one of the symbols to stand for Games Club of Maryland.  The flag currently flies during Games Club of Maryland sessions.  After a long absence of advertising in the General, due to the club move, ads start to run for new members.
  
  
• A web page for the club is created through the help of Rich Shipley.  The page is published over the internet on July  1998.

Keith Levy
GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND
9 Augusta Wood Ct.
Reisterstown, MD.  21136
gamesclubofmaryland@gmail.com
www.gamesclubofmd.org

Volume 3

GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND - CHARTER

March 2002

Purpose:

• To Have Fun, Learn, Share, Grow, Play.
• To provide an open board gaming environment for gaming enthusiasts and any other interested parties.
• To promote playing games of all kinds.
• To teach, bond, compete and communicate with others.
• To provide services which promote the board gaming hobby

Current Services:

• Convention Information
• Eight Locations
• Games Day Convention
• GCOM Flyer
• GCOM News
• GCOM t-shirts
• GCOM Web Page
• Invitations to special events
• Listing of all known local gaming events
• Member Recognition
• Open Gaming space
• Personalized club business cards
• Use of games and gaming equipment
• Weekly communication and gaming news via e-mail list
• Yahoo e-mail group for improved communication

Services to come:

• New and improved website
• Group discounts for game purchases
• More impact and involvement with the hobby
• More Advertising

Current Locations and Hosts:

• Aberdeen. Host: Bob Suckling.
• Baltimore.- Alphabet Soup. Host: Hal Haag.
• Columbia. Host: Michele Goldstein.
• Cyberspace. Host: Jim Sparks.
• Laurel. Host: Brian Sutton.
• Potomac. Host: Wei-Hwa Huang.
• Reisterstown. Host: Keith Levy.
• Westminister. Host: Neil Mciver.

Membership Contributions:

• Membership is free.
• Bring your favorite games.
• Positive Mental Attitude - P. M. A.
• Sportsmanship, fair play, flexibility, open-mindedness, patience and communication.
• Snacks and beverages.
• Membership Level Coming Soon: Voting rights with other special benefits.

Member Categories:

• Active members  Gamers that are currently active in the club and come to GCOM gaming sessions at least once every two months.
• Members  Gamers that attend GCOM gaming sessions once or twice a year with most being active members in the past.
• Past Members  Gamers that were active members in the past and no longer attend GCOM gaming sessions. Most have moved out of the area or have lost interest in GCOM. (We hope to see them again some time.)
• Honorary members  Gamers that have never been active with GCOM, but have made a significant contrubutions to the existance of Games Club of Maryland.
• Non members  Gamers that play at GCOM sessions but do not wish to be recognized as a GCOM member.

Active Members:

• Andrew Bergstrom Scott Buckwalter Tony Cadden Susan Dyer Chuck Frascati Paul Gauniel Roy Gibson Lisa Goldstein Michelle Goldstein Hal Haag Stan Hilinski Doug Hoylman

  Wei-Hwa Huang Jonathan Hutchinson Victor Hutchinson Eric Hymowitz Joe (JJ) Jaskiewicz Daniel Karp Bryan Kornele Keith Levy Peter Martin Matthew Mason Neil McIver Doug Mercer

  Teresa Nardo Tony Nardo Steven Quade Brian Rapp Michael Reiner John Paul (JP) Roberts Sybil Roland Ed Rothenheber Rich Shipley Chris Shockey Harold Siegelman J.W.

  Joeseph Slayton Jim Sparks Brian Stallings Bob Suckling Brian Sutton Tim Swartz Jamie Tang Robert Waters John Weber Jim Yerkey

Members:

• Bill Acheson Erick Amick Mike Bartman Mary Baxter Eric Haas Dan Hoffman Ken Kaufman

  Bruce Kohrn Amy Laheist Pierre LeBoeuf Anita Locke Mark Love Carol Mathias Dan Mathias

  Charlene Meyer Kristin Meyer Nathan Meyer Steve Meyer Kurt Miller John Nestor Kurt Schlegel

  Jeff Spaner Forest Speck Denise Stallings Mandy Stallings Stuart Tucker Mac Walter Beth Waters

Past Members:

• Travis Burns Jeff Clark David Edelstein Chris Esko Ben Farr

  Brian Fender Keith Feldman Scott Goldberg David Hiller Ed Karpiwith

  John Kinnear Kevin Lanada Joey Leanu Robert Martinez Michael Pustilnik

  Mark Simonitch Chris Stockwell Mac Walter

Honorary Members:

• Don Greenwood John Renard Bill Scott Wayne Smith

Non-Members:

• We don't know who you are , but feel free to speak up any time. I estimate an additional five Active Members and thirty Members from this category if we had their information.

History Update from 1998 to present:

• Bob Suckling opens GCOM-Belair at Stratgeic Castle in June 1999
• Wei-Hwa Huang's Potomac Gaming Group (playing since the late 1980's ) joins GCOM in June 1999.
• Michelle Goldstein opens Columbia branch in July 1999.
• Jim Sparks opens Cyberspace location in May 2000. This is our first computer gaming group.
• GCOM-Belair at Strategic castle closes in August 2001.
• Bob Suckling opens Aberdeen Branch in September 2001.
• Victor Hutchinson opens Frederick location in July 2001 and closes in November 2001.
• Neil McIver opens Westminister branch in September 2001.
• Hal Haag opens Baltimore branch featuring Alphabet Soup in March 2002.
• Don Greenwood inducted as an honorary member due to his continued support of GCOM over recent years. He continually refers gamers to our club via e-mail. Columbia Host Michelle Goldstein was referred to GCOM by Don. Don is also responsible for my first contact with Bill Scott in 1992.
• GCOM reaches 100 members in September 2001.
• Founder Keith Levy holds GCOM's first offical "Getting Organized" meeting on March 8th, 2002. Attendance is high and the meeting goes well overall. Attempts are made to have GCOM make more of an impact to the Gaming hobby. We discuss: a GCOM board of Diectors, regular face to face "business" meetings, advertising, a GCOM convetion in the fall, a improved website, an improved Games Day, more member imput and involvement, a new level of GCOM membership giving voting rights and improved benefits.
• Website
  • Website content is maitained by GCOM founder Keith Levy.
  • Two e-mail lists are established sometime in 2000.
  • GCOM-Potomac and GCOM-Aberdeen have thier own location websites.
  • Our gamer e-mail list steadily grows to its current level of 145 gamers.
  • Attempts are made to list major gaming conventions and all local gaming events and on the website.
  • Attempts are made to establish hyperlinks to all other area gaming groups.
  • JP Roberts takes over as webmaster in March 2002 and attempts to update the GCOM website
• Games Day
  • Keith decides to move Games Day out of the GCOM-Reisterstown location in May 2000. Forty four gamers show up the first year at the Ramada Inn in Pikesville. The space was only slighty largely than GCOM-Reisterstown and very expensive. In 2001 we obtained the Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Hall space through GCOM member Scott Buckwalter. The fire hall holds up to 150 people and it is reasonably priced. In May 2001 our attendance was at fifty people. In 2002 we attempt to organize some scheuled gaming through the efforts of Rich Shipley.
• Reisterstown Location
  • Attendance slows to an average of only six gamers through the fall of 2001. Host Keith Levy changes gaming session schedule to alternating Wedensdays and Fridays in February 2002.

Keith Levy
GAMES CLUB OF MARYLAND
9 Augusta Wood Ct.
Reisterstown, MD.  21136
gamesclubofmaryland@gmail.com
www.gamesclubofmd.org