ANSOM

It is with great sadness and a profound sense of personal loss that we report that Ethelyn Schreck Hirsch passed away on Friday, 25 January at the age of 56 after a short illness. Ethelyn, the daughter of industry pioneers Sol and Pauline Schreck, co-owned Schreck Wholesale in Chicago. Ethelyn was one of the finest people in our industry - warm, intelligent, outgoing and a respected businesswoman. It is particularly tragic that such a young woman - both chronologically and in the manner in which she lived - should leave us so soon. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to her husband, Ken, their sons Scott and Adam, brother in law Harold Hirsch and to their loved ones.

The family is requesting donations to be made to the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Skokie, Illinois. More information here.

In our February issue, we will be introducing the inaugural inductees of the ANSOM Hall of Fame. Dedicated initially to pioneers, movers and shakers in the military surplus (and related) marketplace, the Hall will be updated every six months for a couple of years, then on a yearly basis thereafter. Our web site (which is where you are right this moment) will contain a permanent archive of members and an opportunity for visitors to add reminiscences and tributes.
We welcome your nominations for the Hall - there are currently two categories, Supplier and Retailer. In theory, a nominee can be inducted into both.

In an industry with a rich heritage and fascinating history such as ours, it is fitting to honor those who helped lead so many on the road to success.

Those wishing to nominate potential inductees may do so by posting a comment to this blog, or by contacting me directly via email or phone.

Suddenly, without warning, it was 2008. Trying to get a feel for how 2007 will be remembered - good, bad, “eh.”

For our industry, I’d go with “eh.” We didn’t push the envelope, and in fact most things remained station(e)ry.

Already, though, things are percolating in the new year. We’ve got the SHOT Show in Las Vegas in early February, followed exactly one month later with the ASD/AMD/MTO Trade Show (Mandalay Bay edition) and the Army Navy Military Expo, which suddenly decided not to render unto Caesar’s and moved to the South Point Hotel on the outskirts of Vegas.

The late timing of the move and the choice of new venue are interesting, at the very least. My own opinion - I’m not seeing it as an upgrade, or as a beneficial to their cause. What do you think? Will the relocation affect your plans to attend or exhibit?