[meteorite-list] Ensisheim-2009 news

[Zelimir Gabelica]

Dear List,

The detailed flyer describing the 10th 
international meteorite show « Ensisheim 2009 » will be ready quite soon.

Please find here as a preview, a summary of the 
main characteristics of this 10th edition of the 
show, that is of particular significance.

-------------
Show dates:
Friday June 19 to Sunday June 22, 2009 (as 
always, the week-end preceding the Ste Marie mineral show).

Schedule:
Friday 19 is usually the "dealer’s day". This 
year, the Palace rooms are not also open 
exclusively to dealers but also to the public 
(9:00 - 18:00), as it often occurs in most 
mineral shows. This was decided after major 
request, as this apparently favors business 
during table setting. It will be to dealer's 
responsibility to watch their stuff during the "Friday mess".

The Regency Palace rooms close at 18:00 and all 
the opening ceremonies then start on the main 
square: inaugural address, enthroning ceremonies, friendly drink...

The henceforth unavoidable Friday dinner party 
will start from 20:00, on the main square, inside 
the tents, almost in the open air (as we again 
ordered the weather to fully co-operate!).
2 meals, selectively prepared by the owner of the 
nearby restaurant "Le Boeuf Rouge" are proposed, 
one based on poultry (fowl or alike), the other 
based on game (wild animals), probably hind (doe) or young wild boar.
Fixed price: 23 euro, excluding beverages but 
including, as a 10th anniversary special gift, an 
original mug with Ensisheim meteorite engraved 
("souvenir" otherwise available for 8 euro).
Beer is unlimited and the recommender wines 
include 2 special vintages, namely 
"Ensisheim-Meteorite 1492" Pinot Gris (white) and 
"Ensisheim-Meteorite 1492" Pinot Noir (red), and 
at least 2 other red wines that traditionally 
accompany gam-based menues (Bordeaux....)
Party can end any time (possibly before the 
"meteorite hot rush" the next morning....)

Everybody (organizers, dealers, close friends, 
"loose" friends, relatives, related, tramps, 
unknowns...) attending (or not) the dealer’s day 
& enthroning ceremonies + "friendly drink"  is welcome!
Please, let me know early enough (say before June 
10 (slightly flexible deadline), if you want to 
attend, how many guests you will bring and 
(optionally, but it helps) which menu you would prefer
Reservation is a must, for obvious reasons (menu selection and preparation).
Fun absolutely guaranteed during the party (the 
tradition is that the one who can't have fun pays 
ME a beer!.....but so far  I always stayed thirsty!)

While we are at food, the Saturday dinner party 
(not official but strongly recommended) can 
either take part in the tents on the main 
"dancing" square (basically light meal involving 
"tarte flambée" and alike + "selected liquids", all served by the organizers).
The other (and new) option is the restaurant "Le 
Boeuf Rouge" that is actually located exactly on 
the main square (on the other side of the church, 20 from the tents).
More than 120 guests can be sit inside in case of 
cold (very unlikely), or in a newly rebuilt open 
air courtyard. This large open resort is partly 
covered by a wooden roof (in improbable case of 
rain), partly just sun-protected by vineyard.
Meals are proposed "à la carte" at very friendly 
prices (food quality to price ratio largely 
positive) and beverage is unlimited. The 
advantage of that option is not only excellent 
food (we had a very positive try this week) but 
its proximity to every hotel ("La Couronne" or 
"Le Moulin") or the "dancing square", whereto you 
could walk or "creep" (?) any time in the deep night....

Other meals:
Saturday and Sunday: traditional lunches + all 
other traditional snacks, including the very 
popular "tarte flambée" (Alsatian pie), all 
permanently served outside or inside the sun-protected tent.
All the other activities on the main square 
(beer, wine sale, beer, tee shirts, beer, 
dino-teasing, mugs, beer, pins, discussions, 
beer...) are maintained (some highly recommended!).

The 2009 theme is very simple:
"BEAUTIFUL METEORITES"
There will be an outside display involving 3 
"genuine" dinosaurs" surrounding a giant 
meteorite that is expected to fall the day before 
the show opening. More seriously, there will be a 
480 kg new iron offered for public admiration 
(and sale!). It will fly directly from the 
Santago del Estero strewn field, sent through 
some "air-pony-express-mail" by our ever smiling "brother Hans" (Koser).
No sir, it is definitely NOT a Campo, but an new 
iron found onto the current Campo strewnfield. It 
is a coarse octahedrite (like Sikhote-Alin) 
provisionally named LAS PALMAS (under classification).
(For serious potential buyers, pics and price can 
be obtained soon from Hans or me. Just write.
If sold, the giant chunk is to be taken "as such" 
after the show, as "carry-on" on your hand 
luggage for your return flight, and as a "nothing 
to declare" goods for the customs clearance (foresee a small bag!)

The traditional meteorite display will include at 
least 2 prestigious collections: Alain Carion 
(private) and collection from NH museum of 
Edinburgh (Scotland), brought by its curator 
Peter Davidson (still to be confirmed). Probably 
also some fantastic meteorites from Starsburg NHM 
museum and some other few wonder from private 
anonymous local collections...And there is still 
room for other outstanding samples. Just write!

This year, we have 2 (perhaps 3) general lectures always related to theme.
1) Jean-Claude Lefebvre: "Dinosaurs: from 
absolute domination to total demise" (Saturday, 15:00-16:00)
2) Alain Carion: "30 years of meteorite passion" (Sunday, 11:00-12:00)
3 (optional): Peter Davidson: "The Edinburgh NHM 
meteorite collection" (schedule to be set)

Accommodation:
We henceforth have now 4 comfortable hotels to 
propose, namely “La Couronne”, “Niemerich”, 
“Cheval Blanc” and the new (but already very popular) "Le Domaine du Moulin".
Everybody must arrange for his own accommodation. 
You can find soon all hotel data (phone, fax, 
e-mail, web sites) in the flyer. If you call, 
they all do speak English and German (perhaps French ?).
If you need hotel data right now, please write.

Other features, data, remarks:

- Table prices: maintained as in the past

- Entrance fee (4 euro for adults 2 days 
(Saturday, Sunday), 6 euro for 3 days (including the Friday dealer's day).

- Number of tables: still limited to about 55. 
Their position in basically unchanged

- A new side-room is open (on the right from the 
entrance). You can find there a dino-based 
display (genuine dino fossil bones, posters, 
bookshop, "Club Astro" table (2009 is officially the "Astronomy year"!)

- Table reservation procedure: just write me! 
(mail is the most reliable contact, phone is more 
tricky as I am not always there)

- We still have free tables but I recommend you 
don't reserve too late! And our former guests who 
did not yet send their traditional "hello", are 
urgently encouraged to confirm (or cancel) their 
wish to keep their usual tables at their 
preferred place. So please hurry to reserve if 
you want to come again, as I already have quite a 
number of newcomers on a waiting list!

- Very important remark for dealers, can all of 
you who already reserved, CONFIRM me (by mail) 
your earlier made table reservation? (Except 
Carion, Haberer, Koser, who reserved yesterday).
   Sorry for trouble but will greatly facilitate 
my administrative task, is far easier for me to handle, and safer for you.

- Some space in the consignment room is still 
available, free of charge, for those, especially 
guests coming from far away, who wish to sell 
some of their meteorites (ideally about 5-15 
pieces). Just write label and price and leave the 
pieces in locked tables, with info on how you 
should be contacted by potential customers during 
the show. Contact me personally.

- Important: for public's respect dealers are 
kindly asked NOT to leave the show tables before 
16:30. It is one of the rare restrictions we must 
impose. Priority can be given to dealers who are 
able to fulfill this request. Should you have a 
major problem with this, please contact me.

- Finally, needless to mention, the FUNNY (crazy 
?), friendly and ever smiling show ambience, that 
is progressively acquiring an ever growing 
reputation, is absolutely guaranteed (by YOUR 
simple presence), for sure, especially for this 
special 10th edition of the show.


Well, that's about all, folks.
There is much more to be said but I prefer you 
now ask specific questions (on or off list).

Should this 10th show bring to all again much 
meteorite passion, fun, faith and friendship!

Best wishes,

Zelimir



Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Université de Haute Alsace
ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
3, Rue A. Werner,
F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15