This year the Michigan Antique Radio Club is proud to announce our 23rd annual EXTRAVAGANZA convention which will be held at the fabulous Holiday Inn South Convention Center in Lansing Michigan. The primary activities related to this year’s convention will take place on Thursday, July 10th, Friday, July 11th and Saturday, July 12th. As has been the case in the past, there will be activities on Thursday evening, July 10th. Last year over 1000 attendees from nearly 30 states and a number of foreign countries, as close as Canada and as far as Australia, enjoyed the festivities. Our theme this year will be “RCA” where we will be honoring the iconic company that, more than any other, invented the radio industry, from the first network to the first color TV.

There is no charge for attending the outdoor flea market as a buyer. Also, its free to attend the Good Buy Affair donation auction on Saturday night. Our live auction Saturday afternoon has a nominal paddle fee for buyers and is free for observers. All other functions require registration. The fees collected from registration are used to fund the excellent facilites and supplies to make EXTRAVAGANZA the premier event that it is. We try to balance the fees between sellers and buyers to make this event entertaining for all. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

Registration will begin at approximately 4:00 PM Thursday under the Big Top. All pre-registered vendors will be given first priority. Since all spaces are assigned, you may move into your space as soon as you are checked in. At the completion of pre-registered check in, registration will be open for those who did not pre-register. Remaining spaces will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Out of respect to your fellow collectors, NO SELLING, or exchange of merchandise will be allowed prior to the 7:00 AM Friday starting time. Since spaces are assigned we must insist locating only in your assigned spot. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to these simple courtesies.

Thursday evening will be capped off by a presentation by Club President, John Reinicke, under the Big Top. This informal presentation will be on “Restoration featuring RCA”.

Regular EXTRAVAGANZA attendees will notice that we have retained the 7:00 AM Friday starting time. Once again we will have a more civilized starting time on Friday and selling will be permitted starting at 7:00 AM. In keeping with our tradition of a relaxing meet, although no selling will be permitted before 7:00, there is no obligation to open at 7 and vendors may choose to open later. We have over 350 contiguous spaces for sellers. WE MUST INSIST THAT VENDORS KEEP ITEMS COVERED OR NOT DISPLAYED UNTIL THE START TIME OF 7:00 AM on Friday. We thank you for your cooperation and will be monitoring the flea market before 7:00 AM. No flea market sales may take place on Thursday.

On Friday, our Radio Reception will feature the sounds of “Picks and Sticks”. There will be socializing, contest viewing and awards, snacks, veggies and a cash bar. All registered EXTRAVAGANZA participants are invited to the Social Evening at no additional cost.

This year we will raffle a vintage RCA radio as a door prize. To make the raffle more interesting, at the Social Hour, 5 winning tickets will be drawn. Each of the 5 ticket holders may then choose to either keep the ticket or auction it off to the highest bidder on a 50/50 basis with half of the auction proceeds to the club and half to the ticket holder. It is recognized any individual could hold more than one potential winning ticket and can choose to hold or auction the tickets individually. When the auction/s is/ are complete, the 5 tickets will be placed in a barrel and one will be withdrawn. The remaining 4 “survivors” may choose to hold their tickets or auction their ticket. Additional tickets will be withdrawn, one at a time, until there are two tickets remaining at which time the final winner will be drawn.

Each registered attendee will receive one door prize ticket in their registration package. Additional tickets may be purchased for $1 each or 3 for $2. You must be present at the Social Hour to win.

Saturday will be highlighted by our afternoon AUCTION with auctioneer and fellow MARC member, Rich Estes. This auction affords club members a chance to exchange fine items with minimum auction costs. A typical auction will offer 250 - 400 lots with average total sales in excess of $20,000.

And you will want to remember “extras” that make your visit more enjoyable – The WOMAN’S LUNCHEON, 50/50 RAFFLES and our unique SELLER’S DRAWINGS.

On Saturday evening be sure to attend our “Grand Finale” to our grand event, our famous donation auction. The Good-Buy Affair features items donated to the club and provides the collector the opportunity to acquire a remarkable variety of items at low cost and provides the club with funds to help defray the cost of the meet. We invite you to come bid and “bid farewell” at this fun close to a great meet.

“We at MARC would like to invite you to experience a fabulous antique radio meet in combination with a huge dose of Mid- Western hospitality. If you can attend only one major antique radio show this year, make it EXTRAVAGANZA 08. You will not be disappointed!”

John Reinicke, MARC President