From Dawna - February 18 at 10:34 AM (EST):
Hey Convention Attendees! We have a super fun game planned for convention day & would love you to send a picture of yourself (baby to 10 yrs) to Mary for the game!
Mary’s email address is roluny@aol.com. Please send the pic in pdf or jpeg format.

From Dawna - March 6 at 12:55 PM EST):
Prize table donations for the 2025 Convention can be sent to:

394 22nd Ave Ct.

Milton, WA 98354

Please send your donation by 10/10/25.
If you have a larger item, please send me an email at dawnaf@bridgemarkcs.com before mailing your donation. Donated items may be used for the prize table, gifts to donors, auctions for present and future convention fundraising and for contest winners. Some of the donations received will be auctioned off to raise funds for the convention. If you received an item in the past from a convention that you no longer want (maybe you already have 2-3 of the same items like I do), consider passing the item on to a new collector through a donation to be auctioned off.

From Mary - March 27 at 9:58 PM (EST):
Hello everyone! Time to refresh, update and clarify a few convention-related announcements/questions. We'll try to update as frequently as possible.

Prize table items should be sent to Dawna Freeman in Washington, and raffle items and "swap" items should be sent to Mary in Maine. Addresses are in the website. If you've already sent items to the wrong destination don't panic, we'll sort it out.

If items are especially large for the prize table, please contact us first so that we can help you determine the better location to send it.

Doll swap, outfit swap and raffle items: Please send these items to Mary in Maine. No need to wrap them, I will take care of that for you. Not to worry, a tag will be placed on each item stating "donated by ....." so that no one will choose their own.

Transportation: Carefully review the transportation options from Logan airport. I know when people hear "bus" options, dirty, airless shuttles come to mind. C & J bus lines are excellent, safe, very affordable, comfortable seating, have internet capacity and are very clean. They run every 20 minutes and are very prompt. Also, Boston traffic can be fast and confusing. The bus offers you a chance to relax without fear of getting lost or getting into a fender bender. Once the bus drops you off in Portsmouth, 3.6 miles to your hotel! A cab or Uber will be quite inexpensive.

Hope this helps but feel free to ask questions any time!!

From Mary - August 6 at 10:02 PM (EST):

Hello everyone- If you still need to make your hotel reservation, we just added another block of rooms so you should be all set. Please let me know if you have any problems but it looks like ALMOST everyone has succeeded.

Bring comfortable walking shoes. You'll be able to stroll all over downtown Portsmouth right from your hotel room....no shuttles, busses or Uber necessary once you've arrived at the hotel. Also, I highly recommend C&J bus service from Logan airport to Portsmouth. The busses are clean, comfortable and have WiFi. Boston traffic is legendary and this offers you a chance to relax and look at parts of Boston completely stress free. There is further information about the company on our website.

Your greeting bags will be complete with a Portsmouth walking map and magazine describing some of the best restaurants and shops to visit. See you soon!!!!

From Aida - August 30 at 5:36 PM (EST):

Thursday's Group Outing has been planned!
Please join Jan S. (our illustrious Day Tour Organizer) for Thursday's group outing! For more information, please visit the website - and please book tickets by
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th!

https://www.dawnconvo2025.com/day-trip

Special Announcements

From Pam - September 2,2025 5:04 PM (EST):
FYI - Keep this in mind when traveling home from convo Sunday:
When is daylight savings time for fall 2025?
Daylight saving time will end on Nov. 2, in 2025 at 2 a.m., at which time it will reset to 1 a.m.

From Lynn - September 7,2025 12:00 PM (EST):

Deadlines are coming up!!!

Goody bag items sent?

Prize table donations sent?

Doll and outfit swaps sent?

Raffle items sent?

Reservations should be done by now!!

Items to sell...

It’ll be here before you know it!!!

From Mary - October 6 at 9:58 PM (EST):

ALL ATTENDEES PLEASE READ:

Can't believe it's so close!

We have a couple of new changes

surrounding the convention this year!

Because it seems there's NEVER enough time to look around the convention room before the day's activities get rolling, we are trying something new. The ever fabulous meet n' greet will be in the downstairs lobby in the Fireplace Lounge from 5-7. The hotel will be providing charcuterie trays but you're on your own for cocktails. Following the Meet 'n Greet, at 7:30pm we are going to open the doors to the convention room for one hour so that people can look around (and plot/plan ) to their hearts content! Mind you, there will be no touching of the displayed goodies, but you can look and enjoy all you like!

While we are setting up in the convention room on Friday, starting at around 10 am we will have someone stationed outside the convention room selling tickets throughout the day. This will give you a chance to buy tickets and write your names on them BEFORE the convention so you can enjoy the morning's festivities on Saturday. Not to worry, there will still be tickets for sale on Saturday as well.

Tickets are CASH ONLY. The good news: there is an ATM machine located near the elevators on the first floor, very close to our convention room. As always, we will be selling tickets in packets of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100. We can also sell individual tickets as well, but this will help speed the transaction process for the "ticket-masters."

The tickets are blank. You MUST write your name on each one in order for you to claim your prize. No exceptions. If you happen to step out of the convention room while your name is called, we will place your item aside or someone can claim it for you until you return. At our age, most of us are peeing about every 7 minutes or so, so leniency in this matter is warranted.

Walking maps and a shop/restaurant directory brochures will be added to your "welcome" bags. However, Jill will not be at the hotel until Thursday. I will bring a bunch with me and leave them outside my hotel room door for the ladies who are coming earlier. I'll let you know what room I'm in when I get there. If the concierge is willing to hand them out (they usually aren't) I'll let you know. They've been fairly gracious thus far so we can hope.

The hotel will be serving mid-morning snacks during the convention at around 10am, and there will be a coffee/tea and hot chocolate bar in the convention room throughout the day. Lunch will begin at noon and will consist of a buffet just outside the convention room which will include some vegetarian options as well. If you are a vegetarian, you are in luck. The "Green Elephant" restaurant is actually visible from the front door of the hotel and serves strictly vegetarian food, an option for other meals during your stay.

Whew! That's a lot to digest. Can't wait to see everyone and we will post a weather forecast the weekend before to help you plan what to pack.

From Mary - October 24 at 10:00 AM (EST):
Hello all! The morning of the convention will come pretty early to many of you who have been busy crafting, traveling or working. There is a breakfast buffet downstairs near the lounge that is excellent, but is not included with the day. Therefore, we have added pastry trays which will be served mid-morning right in the convention room. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water will be available in the convention room all day. See you soon!!!