For the past nine years, the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club has celebrated our hero with annual conventions that have been hosted all over our great country. In reality, it is you, the collector, who is the real hero as you have kept the G.I. Joe flag waving proudly. You have shared your fun, enthusiasm, and love for the greatest action figure ever with thousands of friends and children. This year, we are calling for collectors of all ages to join us in New Orleans as “Heroes Unite” from all over the world for the 10th Annual International G.I. Joe Collectors' Convention sponsored by Hasbro and the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club.

"We are very excited to be able to keep our International Convention in New Orleans during the summer of 2006,” says Brian Savage, Director of the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club. “The convention and toy show will be held just outside the French Quarter at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, June 29-July 2, 2006. This great location puts you right in the heart of the Crescent City's historic, entertainment, dining, and nightlife districts.”

New Orleans is a great vacation destination. There is so much to do in this historic city that we recommend you order a visitors guide from the CVB at neworleanscvb.com. All activities (other than tours) will be at the Sheraton Hotel on Canal Street with a special rate of $119 per night (regular rate is $169).

Convention Premiums

As in past years, there are two different outstanding convention sets that every G.I. Joe collector will want to add to their collection. Once again, the club has worked very hard to bring you only the highest quality and most innovative sets possible!

The 3 3/4” set is entitled Cobra’s Most Wanted: Mercenaries! The Cobra organization enjoys taking credit for their devious activities; however, even Cobra Commander sometimes needs to accomplish his plans in secret and let others do his dirty work. Cobra Commander has deemed it time to strike deep into the heart of the Joe team and eliminate one of its most beloved leaders. To ensure he has the best mercenaries for the job, he has turned this contract into a twisted competition by paying only the team or individual who fulfills the objective –remove the specified Joe leader permanently.

Answering Cobra Commander’s call are two teams and one individual who will vie for the prize payout. The first team is Major Bludd and his Skull Squad known for their unorthodox tactics in getting the job done. The second team is Overlord and his Coil Troopers who wield deadly force, crushing every adversary while leaving no witnesses behind. And the individual…a mysterious loner from South America. What a wrestling match it will be as these three groups use their unique talents to strike deep into the heart of the Joe team.*

So, to recap this outstanding set, you get fifteen different figures with weapons and accessories consisting of Major Bludd and six of his Skull Squad; Overlord and six of his Coil Troopers; and the mysterious loner from South America. This set comes in the same style illustrated box as the past three years’ sets and will make a terrific display with your existing collection. Don’t wait to place your order. This set is limited to 750 editions.*

The 12” set is our first ever convention Adventure Team set entitled Fight For Survival: Polar Bear Attack! This set will combine many of the items from the 1969 Fight for Survival set along with several new items. One of the new items is a polar bear that stands 10 1/2 inches tall. This ain’t no miniature abominable snowman! The Land Adventurer Explorer will come with a blue parka with removable flag insignia. You can pick if your Explorer is from the United States, Great Britain or Canada. He will come with snow pants, white waffle boots, backpack, cargo net, rope, goggles, 4 crates, sled, harness, 3 dogs, ice pick, red snow shoes, rifle, binoculars, mittens, turtleneck shirt and an AT flag! In addition, we have retooled the vintage dogs for the sled team! You will also be able to add 3 more dogs (at an additional cost) with connecting harnesses so that you can have a 6 dog sled team. This year’s extra loose figure (for an additional cost) will be the painted hair 1969 version of the Survival figure with the red parka and removable flag insignia. This is one of the greatest AT sets that has ever been made! We know you will love this first convention exclusive Adventure Team set.*

New Orleans, LA

Like the most gracious Southern hostess, New Orleans welcomes visitors with a genuine hospitality and singular flair. The city’s intricate mélange of cultures creates a destination with many aspects to its character. The city truly offers something for every type of visitor from families with small children to singles wanting to have fun.

The city is full of complexities and contradictions, but its multifaceted personality is what truly defines the city’s unmistakable charm. New Orleans delivers unparalleled nightlife and the most family-oriented vacation.

There are plenty of family outings, such as the Louisiana Children's Museum, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, and the Audubon Zoo. All of you history buffs will want to check out the D-Day Museum along with the Confederate Museum. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the IMAX theater, Mardi Gras World, Swamp Tours, Plantation Tours, French Quarter Walking Tours, New Orleans Museum of Art, The Shops at Canal Place and Riverwalk Marketplace, Jackson Brewery, or enjoy Buggy, Riverboat, and Paddlewheeler rides. And of course, don't forget that New Orleans is the birth place of Jazz and Cajun cooking! Speaking of Jazz, the French Quarter is full of night life with over twenty different live music and night clubs.

New Orleans is simple and sophisticated, historic and contemporary, relaxing and energizing, educational and recreational, rustic and refined. Still, with all of these facets, a New Orleans experience is never anything but completely authentic. The city’s marvelous eccentricities are born from a rich heritage, respectfully and indelibly woven into the fabric of everyday life there. New Orleans doesn’t act a part for its visitors; it simply welcomes everyone with open arms.

Convention Overview

Your week begins with two pre-convention tours. On Wednesday, June 28, we will visit Oak Alley Plantation (oakalleyplantation.com), a National Historic Landmark that was established in the 1700s. Next, we will have lunch and listen to a special speaker at the world renowned D-Day Museum designated by Congress as “America’s National World War II Museum” (ddaymuseum.org). After lunch and our special program, you will be on your own the rest of the afternoon to visit this national treasure.

On Thursday, June 29, we will leave early in the morning for an exciting time aboard airboats in the Louisiana swamps at speeds up to 50 miles per hour (airboatadventures.com). Later that day, we will depart for lunch and a cajun cooking demonstration at Mardi Gras World (mardigrasworld.com) where you can go behind-the-scenes and see the world’s largest fleet of carnival floats. After our tour, we will depart for the world famous Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. For those of you going on the Thursday tour, you will be able to pick up your registration and sets on Wednesday night at 8:30pm. This means you won’t have to wait in the registration line on Thursday night.*

Registration check-in will be on Thursday evening from 6pm-9:30pm and dealer drop-off will start at 8:30 pm. If you sign up on or before March 31, 2006, your registration time will be from 6pm-8pm. If you sign up after that date, you will not be allowed into registration until after 8pm. All of your documents will be color coded so we will know to which group you belong. In addition, walk up registrations will not be taken until Friday morning. In order to purchase any of the convention souvenirs on Thursday night, you must have on your convention name badge. We also recommend that you bring some self-adhesive address labels, in order to expedite your paperwork with all of the dealers/contest entries so you won’t have to write out your address and phone number each time.
Friday morning will continue with late registration, dealer set-up and seminars. Contest registration will be from 7 am-noon. We are working on having another parachute drop on Friday morning, however we are still looking for a location. Watch for announcements in future GIJCC newsletters and online at gijoeclub.com. On Friday morning, there will be special collecting seminars and on Friday afternoon, we will open the sales floor for registered guests. Currently, Friday evening is open for you to enjoy New Orleans. There is plenty of nightlife with everything from nightclubs and fine dining to ghost tours and Jazz cruises on a vintage paddlewheeler down the Mississippi river. On Saturday morning, the sales floor will open early for registered attendees with the general public being admitted at 10am. Collecting seminars will run throughout the day. Hourly door prizes will be awarded and you must be present to win.
	Saturday night at 7pm, will be a new version of a couple of past events. We will be hosting an “Awards Party” dinner which will be a mixture of past years’ Casino Night and Awards Dinner. Sunday will provide you with the opportunity to attend additional seminars, spend more time in the sales room, along with the chance to win more prizes. At 3pm, we will draw for two trips to the 2007 convention and you must be present to win. Make sure you are in the Dealer Sales room at 3pm!
Other special services available include package shipping and a central courtesy room. While there, be sure to ask where the room-to-room trading will be held. Start building your entries now! There will be five different contests this year: Diorama (2 different sizes); Photography; Franken-Joe Custom Figure (3 3/4” size) and the new Wheels for Joe which is broken down into the obstacle course and Joe's Chop Shop where vehicles will be judged on their uniqueness, “Joeness”, paint scheme and customization.

Prizes for the contests will be in “show dollars” which allow you to choose your own prize from dealers at the show. There will also be a special area for kids to display their G.I. Joe figures/scenes. Each child is limited to one display that will fit inside a 15” x 15” space. If you are planning to bring a display or any contest entry, please call or email us (lisa@mastercollector.com) by June 1, to ensure that we have space available. Contest winners will be announced Saturday night at the “Awards Party” dinner event.

Registered Attendee Packages

There are six different convention packages available:

The General’s Package consists of the 12” Adventure Team convention Fight for Survival: Polar Bear Attack! set with certificate of authenticity, convention medal, name badge, convention patch, admittance to the sales room including a private sales room preview on Friday and Early Bird privileges on Saturday, admittance to the “Awards Party” dinner event along with $50 in gaming coupons and admittance to all convention seminars. This year’s figure set is the first of its kind! We have spared no expense on this set and we know you will love it. Don’t miss this great weekend and this great set, register TODAY! Cost for registration is $280 for non-members, or $230 for club members. You will receive your convention items upon check-in at the convention. Pre-convention tours are available for an additional charge. General Package attendees will receive a special extra convention piece not available with the non-attending packages, however you must pick up your convention package in person. Please note: 6% New Orleans sales amusement tax will be added to each attending order.*†

The American Hero’s Package consists of the 15 figure, 3 3/4” Cobra's Most Wanted: Mercenaries! set with certificate of authenticity, convention medal, name badge, convention patch, admittance to the sales room including a private sales room preview on Friday and Early Bird privileges on Saturday, admittance to the “Awards Party” dinner event along with $50 in gaming coupons and admittance to all convention seminars. Don’t miss this great weekend and this great set, register TODAY! Cost for registration is $270 for non-members, or $220 for members. You will receive your convention items upon check-in at the convention. Pre-convention tours are available for an additional charge. American Hero attendees will receive a special extra convention piece not available with the non-attending packages, however you must pick-up your convention package in person. Please note: 6% New Orleans sales amusement tax will be added to each attending order.*†

The Aide’s Package includes the “Awards Party” dinner event, name badge and admittance to all show events (tours additional). This package can only be purchased in conjunction with the General’s or American Hero’s package and is offered so that accompanying family members can join in the fun. Cost is $75 per Aide for the first package and (for club members) $60 for each family member beyond that. Each General or American Hero package is limited to four additional Aide packages.

The Sergeant’s package includes convention medal, name badge, convention patch, admittance to the sales room including the private preview of the sales room on Friday and Early Bird privileges on Saturday, and admittance to all convention seminars. Cost is $175 for non-members or $150 for club members. This package does not include the “Awards Party” dinner event or any products.

The Base Commander’s package includes everything in the above General’s package (except admittance to show events and secret attendance gift) with all items being shipped three to four weeks after the show to your home base of operations. This package is for those who cannot attend the show. Cost is $280 ppd for non-members, or $230 ppd for club members.* If you order this package after June 30, 2006, shipping will be added to the cost.

The Homefront Hero’s package includes everything in the above American Hero’s package (except admittance to show events and secret attendance gift) with all items being shipped three to four weeks after the show to your home base of operations. Don’t miss this opportunity to own this great set! This package is for those who cannot attend the show. Cost is $270 ppd for non-members, or $220 ppd for club members.* If you order this package after June 30, 2006, shipping will be added to the cost.

The first 100 General’s or Base Commander’s registrations postmarked by March 31, will receive a special G.I. Joe size jacket with the convention art on the back.

The first 100 American Hero’s or Homefront Hero’s registrations postmarked by March 31, will receive a special Cobra Mercenaries cloisonné lapel pin.

In addition, 250 Generals or Base Commanders (provided that you are a club member) have the opportunity to purchase the 1969 “Adventures of” painted hair version (loose figure) with the red jacket, snow pants, white waffle boots, backpack, rope, goggles, ice pick, red snow shoes, rifle, binoculars, mittens, and turtleneck shirt (no box, certificate, etc.) for $75. This will give you the opportunity to have both versions of the figure. This is limited to one extra set per General or Base Commander’s package purchased. You can also order an additional set of dogs with harness connector pieces to enlarge your team (no packaging) for $25. Please remember that our special convention figures will NEVER be sold at retail stores and are extremely limited.

Also, 400 American Heroes or Homefront Heroes (provided that you are a club member) have the opportunity to purchase a second set of 3 3/4” Cobra's Most Wanted: Mercenaries! figures (no box, certificate, etc) for $110. This will provide you with the opportunity to increase your troops for maximum display impact. Please remember that our special convention figures will NEVER be sold at retail stores and are extremely limited. This is limited to one extra set per American Hero’s or Homefront Hero’s package purchased.

Convention package confirmations will be mailed by the end of May. In addition, if you are attending and want to substitute a prior year’s convention set (if available) as your set this year, please call our office for details.

Dealer Information Dealer booths are $300 and consist of two 8’ tables and one 6’ table and are approximately 11’ wide by 8’ deep. Single tables are $160. Dealer booth contracts and payments postmarked by March 31 will receive a $25 discount (single tables are not discounted and are not available in multiples, only one per dealer). Just like last year, each Dealer Booth will receive (their choice) either the 12” attendee surprise item or the 3 3/4” surprise item. Standard electrical hookups for all booths or tables are $100 per hook up (total for all three days). Telephone service can be provided at a cost of $125. Booths and tables are limited.

Placement in the ballroom will be assigned in the order that the registrations are received. The earlier your registration is received, the closer to the front your booth will be. The entire facility is air-conditioned and carpeted. Dealer’s product content must be at least 75% Action Figure related. This means action figures or related G.I. Joe products. General toys or dolls are not allowed. Dealers must collect the New Orleans sales tax which is 9% and submit their tax to the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana after the show. Forms will be available at the show and no pre-registration is necessary.

Promotions

This show will be heavily promoted. We will be running ads in all major toy publications as well as in local newspapers and on local billboards. The convention will also be promoted on our web site, which receives over 1.2 million hits per month. How big is this show going to be? It’s going to be another giant event! Dealers, you will not want to miss this show as this is our first time in this part of the country.

Shipping

The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel can handle your in-bound shipments with no handling charges provided that they do not arrive more than 72 hours in advance of your arrival. If you need to ship incidental packages to the show, you can send them to: G.I. Joe Convention, Your Arrival Date, Your Name, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130. Please number your boxes __ of __ to ensure the hotel keeps them together. The hotel may charge 50 cents a pound for handling incidental boxes. If you have large shipments, please call our office so that we can give you directions on how to send a timed shipment so that you don’t incur charges. A local shipping store will have a booth at the show to assist you in shipping your items home. They will have all types of packing materials and boxes available at the show as well. Prices will vary according to distance and weight.

Accommodations

The Sheraton New Orleans Hotel exhibits the special charm of a unique, world-class destination. Inspired by the vitality and elegance of this historic city, the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel puts you in the heart of the Crescent City's business, entertainment, dining, and nightlife. Our superb location places us on historic Canal Street, bordering the French Quarter, just steps away from the Mississippi River, Harrah's Casino, the Aquarium of the Americas, world-class shopping, entertainment, award-winning restaurants, and much, much more. Walk out of the front door and onto the most celebrated parade route in the world or cross the street and step into the legendary French Quarter. RATE: Our special room rate of $119 per night is valid before and after the convention. You can call 888-627-7033, 504-525-2500 to make your reservation or you can use the link to our convention hotel registration on the web at gijoeclub.com. Just follow the convention banners. The Hotel does have a newly refurbished pool. Shuttle service is available from the airport to the hotel for $13.00 (per person, one-way), $26.00 (per person, round-trip), or $24.00 (per person, round-trip for two or more people when purchased at the airport). Three bags per person. Call 1-866-596-2699 or (504) 522-3500 for more details or to make a reservation.

Contests

Over $1,000 worth of prizes will be awarded. There will be two different classes of Diorama Contests: Small Diorama (custom 1/6th scale figure) 15” x 15”, 1st $150, 2nd $75, 3rd $35; Medium Diorama 48” x 30”, 1st $200, 2nd $100, 3rd $50. The contest winners will be awarded show dollars that you can spend with any dealer at the show. There will also be a Photography Contest, Franken-Joe (1/18th scale only) Custom Figure Contest, and don’t forget our newest contest Wheels for Joe, each with the following prizes in show dollars: 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $25. All contests will be judged by a jury.

If your Diorama is larger than the space allotted, you will be moved up one class to the next larger contest. Please stay within the dimensions for the contest you are entering. Each contest is limited to two entries per person and you must be present to enter. Please do not bring any entries that have won in past convention contests. Photography entries can be black & white or color. All entries must be 8” x 10” in size and they must be mounted. In addition, the photography entries are not returnable. All winners will be announced Saturday night at the “Awards Party” dinner event. Please let us know by June 1, if you intend to enter a contest so we can make sure we will have enough space available. If you need a copy of the judging criteria, please send a SASE. All entries must be in place for judging by noon on Friday.

                               

Seminars

Collecting and customizing seminars will be presented on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each seminar will last approximately 45 minutes and each seminar seats approximately 200 people. Several different seminars will be presented each day on various collecting topics, including a special Hasbro Roundtable where you can speak directly with the Hasbro G.I. Joe team. Seminar hosts will be announced in the GIJCC newsletter and online at gijoeclub.com.

Courtesy Room

You can rest and relax with your friends in the Courtesy Room, which will always be open. There will be refreshments available for all registered attendees. Make sure you check the message board for the list of rooms that will offer room-to-room trading.

Night Activities

On Friday evening, we have left the evening open for you to enjoy the sites and sounds of New Orleans. On Saturday night, we have combined our very popular Casino Night with our Awards Dinner into an “Awards Party” dinner and Casino night, which will be a truly be a fun and memorable evening. This event is at the Sheraton Hotel. This will be a great evening and we want you to wear either your favorite G.I. Joe costume or your favorite military uniform. Dinner will be served at food stations throughout the venue and there will be a special performance that will be extremely entertaining. Each General and American Hero will receive $50 in gaming coupons. Things will work a little differently this year. Due to local laws, we can’t have an auction at the end but... we will be offering door prizes to those who are actively playing during the evening. When you win a door prize, you will get to pick from the large assortment we will have on display at the show. These will consist of all of the same type of great prizes we have had at past Casino Nights! Dealers who donate items will receive gaming coupons as well. Let’s all pitch in for charity and make a big donation. Our last Casino night raised several thousand dollars for charity.

General Admission / Parking General Admission for only the Dealer’s Sales Room is available on Saturday: 9am Early Bird $50; 10am-5pm Regular Admission Adults $9; Children $5 (4 and under free); and Sunday 9:30am-3pm. Prices include 6% New Orleans Amusement Tax. You can park in the hotel lot for $10 daily or $18 overnight. There is other parking available in nearby lots off of Canal Street.

Door Prizes

Hourly door prizes will be awarded at ten minutes to the hour each day while the sales room is open. Prizes will include all different types of G.I. Joe figures and memorabilia. At 3pm on Sunday, we will draw for two free trips to the 2007 Convention (including domestic airfare). You must be present in the Dealer’s Sales Room to win!

Pre-Convention Tours

The week will begin with two pre-convention tours. Sign-up today! Your whole family will enjoy these outings. If you sign up for the Thursday tour, you will pick up your registration materials early on Wednesday night from 8:30 pm-9:30 pm.

Wednesday, June 28, 7:45 am - 5:30 pm

American History Tour

We will leave early Wednesday morning for Oak Alley Plantation located on the Mississippi River between the historic Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road". Nowhere else in the south will you find such a spectacular setting! The quarter-mile canopy of giant live oak trees, believed to be nearly 300 years old, forms an impressive avenue leading to the classic Greek-revival style antebellum home (oakalleyplantation.com). The design of the mansion combines several styles, the most notable being the 28 classic columns surrounding the house. The columns measure 8 feet in circumference and are solid brick. The bricks were made in pie-shaped molds in order to achieve the circular form of the columns. All the materials used in the construction of the home were found or manufactured on the plantation with the exception of the marble for the floors and fireplaces and the slate for the roof, both of which were imported. The house was designed for maximum protection from the fierce summers of this area. The veranda extends approximately 13 feet from the walls, keeping the home in shade most of the day. The tall windows and doors face each other for cross ventilation and the ceilings are 12 feet high. Most important are the 16 inch thick walls throughout the house. This is truly a unique opportunity to visit a pre-Civil War plantation as it looked back in the 1800s.
At 11:00 am, we will depart for the D-Day Museum and lunch (included). This museum is a world class facility which operates under the Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Program. The 16,000-square-foot gallery of The National D-Day Museum is divided into four, state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits that intermix oral histories from veterans worldwide, artifacts, documents and photographs with hands-on activities and never before seen film footage. These series of exhibits take Museum visitors through the weeks and days leading up to the many D-Days of World War II, including the largest D-Day of the European conflict on June 6, 1944 when the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy to the other decisive air and sea assaults that led to victory in Europe and the Pacific.
Not only does the museum house artifacts from the European Theatre but it also has a 5,000 square foot exhibit dedicated specifically to the many D-Days that took place in the Pacific Theater. This gallery includes photographs, videos, artifacts, maps, quotes, newspaper headlines, interactive touch-screens and oral histories. Our speaker during lunch will be one of the curators at the museum. After this presentation, you will be able to enjoy all of the exhibits at your own pace for the rest of the afternoon. Transportation can be taken at anytime back to the Sheraton until 5:30 pm. Cost: $80 per person + 6% New Orleans Sales Tax

Thursday, June 29, 7:15 am - 5:00 pm

Swamp Boat - Mardi Gras - Aquarium Tour

We will depart early in the morning for our Airboat Adventures Swamp tour (airboatadventures.com). Each airboat seats six passengers and can travel at speeds up to 50 miles per hour over the swamp. During this 2 hour adventure, you’ll experience “up close and personal” the natural essence of life in the swamp. This will be the thrill of a lifetime!
	Around 10:30, we will depart for Mardi Gras World for a behind-the-scenes (mardigrasworld.com) look at the world’s largest fleet of carnival floats and speak with some of the artists who create them. We will also enjoy a cajun cooking demonstration and lunch (included) during our tour.
After our tour, we will take the Mardi Gras World shuttle back to the ferry for a short ride and walk (2 blocks) over to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, New Orleans’ state-of-the-art facility, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River. This facility is regarded as one of the best in America. Its underwater tunnels allow visitors to marvel at a Caribbean Reef and a re-creation of the Gulf of Mexico, complete with sharks. There is also a walk-through Amazon rainforest and an exhibit displaying the inside story of swamp life. The Aquarium features every type of aquatic creature from jellyfish and sea horses to sea otters and penguins.

You will have the rest of the day to explore the Aquarium on your own and then make a short four block walk back to the Sheraton. What a great day in New Orleans this will be!*

Cost: $90 per person + 6% New Orleans Sales Tax

Convention Evening Dress/Dietary Concerns

For the Saturday “Awards Party” event, please wear your favorite G.I. Joe costume or your favorite Military uniform. This will make the event truly a night to remember! If you have any special dietary concerns we need to prepare for, please let us know 30 days in advance.

The G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club Wants You!

We have spent many long hours planning and researching this event. We have provided for all of your needs. This event is designed so that every member of your family will have a terrific time. With everything that is going on in the world today, you owe it to yourself and your family to take time out and attend this once-in-a-lifetime weekend of G.I. Joe collecting. We want every member of the club to attend because this is your event! If you are interested in handing out flyers in your area, please contact us and we will be happy to send some to you.