Basically there are two types of these "GATHERINGS." One that is produced by a commercial enterprise, the other by a not for profit organization. Such is the case of the California Gold Gathering. This not for profit California Corporation supports the Ronald MacDonald House and the Dickens Heritage Foundation. Examples of the for profit are Bachman's in Minnesota and the William Glen in Sacramento, California.
Gatherings typically are collectors coming together to attend seminars to learn from others, so as to improve their knowledge of collecting, their skills at displaying their collections and to network. I personally have only attended three, Texas at Houston, William Glenn,Sacramento, Ca., and the California Gold Gathering. The people present were from all over the United States and Canada, and I am sure I probably have left some out. I think the most fantastic thing are the people who attend, to start a conversation, to make a friend, or to just generally pass the time of day, you need only to look at the perfect stranger next to you and say, "WHAT DO YOU COLLECT?"
