Hi Everybody, As you have probably heard by now, Goose Island has generously agreed to host an AHA Membership Rally, scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, July 15, from 1 to 4 pm, at Goose Island Clyborn. This should be a fun event, with some rare beers, a chance to talk to Goose island brewers, have a few snacks, maybe win a raffle prize, and who knows what else. The only cost of entry is an AHA membership. If you aren't a member already, we'll sell you an AHA membership at the door at a discounted rate. It should be a really enjoyable afternoon. I want to make a personal appeal to you to attend. Most of you know me as one of those involved with helping run CBS events, but I also have been involved with the AHA for several years now. And as of a couple weeks ago, I am the new Chairman of the AHA Governing Committee, the elected group that has been charged with determining the future direction of the AHA. This will be a great chance to bend my ear. Years ago, the AHA was completely a top-down organization, with only casual connections to the membership it served. With the merger last year of the Brewers Association of American and the AHA's parent organization the Association of Brewers, the new Brewers Association board charged the AHA Governing Committee with this task, and gave us the authority to do so. We have been working behind the scenes to provide direction to AHA staff, and we're starting to get to the point where we're having a real impact. The specific benefits of AHA membership have been covered elsewhere, but include Zymurgy magazine, discounts on books, competitions, GABF admission, plus discounts from better beer providers like Goose Island and Rock Bottom, among others--an easy way to earn your membership fee back. But most importantly, in my opinion, is the opportunity to be a part of America's only national homebrewing organization, and help it grow to serve its membership as we all know it can. CBS and the other clubs of the Chicago area have a long partnership with the AHA, and this rally is just one more example. And as you also probably are aware, since the day it opened, Goose Island has been as supportive a partner as you could imagine for CBS events and activities. This Rally is just one more example of their generosity to us and their belief in the importance of a strong, vital homebrewing community. Please turn out and make this a successful event for them as well as us. If you're a current AHA member, come on by, it's totally free. If you've let you're membership lapse, this is the perfect time to renew. And for those of you who have never joined, I can think of no better time to get introduced to the national homebrewing community that the AHA represents. The future is very bright, but only if people get involved. I sincerely hope you can attend. You know it's always a blast when us Beer Geeks get together! Full details of the event can be found at: http://www.beertown.org/email/aha/membership_drive/gooseisland.html I hope to see you there. I'll even have some radical homebrew to serve! --Randy :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: http://radicalbrewing.com http://randymosherdesign.com