Patrick McGovern's

Thought I'd try to give the general flavor of the McGovern's gathering.

There were approximately 50 people in attendance this year, including (hold your breath) Dave Young (DDY), Green, Eags, Eags' friend Vicki, Bob e, Eags' niece (Nut), Emmy and Hannah's Mom and Dad, Tim the Hunter and his dad (Pops), Elizabeth Hanninen (eh) with her hubby (PP) and their 7-month-old son Thomas, Scribe and THX-1138 (who met on the PP boards and were married earlier this month), Jake Inge (who also prepared a treasure hunt Jeopardy game), Downtown Dave, AnnetteB, MJ and TT, a couple of lurkers that haven't posted yet but promise to do so soon, Medallion Stallion and his friend, Marley King and Kelly, Allison, Steve Worthman, Inks and Terry and daughter (of earmuffs fame), Northernlights, leelabell and her hubby, Wright Winger, Tiny Thumbs and 'lectric Duane, and Mr. Med Hunter. (It's always fun to get a little recognition.)

Some medallion-finding celebrities were in attendance, as well. Bill Gralish (a.k.a. the RV guy) was one of the finders of the medallion on 35E and Victoria in 1969, the Davoli's found it at Newell Park last year, and William J. Buron found it with his sister-in-law Andrea (who couldn't make it) in the Bull Durham bag at Mears Park in 1975.

The Pioneer Press gave us t-shirts celebrating the 50th year of the hunt with a map and listing of all the finding places—another terrific collector's item courtesy of our sponsor.

The Pioneer Press also sent someone to film the event who also took some still shots. There have been rumors of some streaming video on the website.

There was the usual flurry to get the clue when that came out and the usual second- and third-guessing and overanalyzing that always occurs.

We also had our buttons ready! We invited the finders to our Rehash Bash on the 4th of February. They have some contact with other finders and will pass the word.

An aside to all this...someone who started working with me in September had a great uncle who passed away this past year. He was the finder of the first treasure in 1952.

As always - it was a great night and the beginning of another great hunt.

Thanks to everyone that is helping with the article archive project. We've accomplished a lot, but there's plenty more to do! A mailing address is the only thing needed to get on the archival bandwagon. Cooler Crew is always looking for folks to help bring our vast library of past medallion lore into the modern era. Basically, we need some good keyboard hands. If you're interested in doing something to help create a wonderful piece of Minnesota history, this is where we need you the most. Please inquire with Greg Sax.

The Cooler Crew site is prominently featured on Pioneer Planet again this year. Adding to the fun, Cooler Crew members are likely to be a component of a documentary titled "No Time for Cold Feet" from New York-based Not Another Hollywood Film (NAHF). See the Medallion Page for further details.

Progress on our Medallion Page is smokin'. All the clues from all the years are now available. They're not currently as perfectly explained as they ought to be, but we'll be able to use them to help our hunting efforts. As time permits, the clue descriptions will be cleaned up and anecdotes will be added to make you laugh and clap.

Progress on our Medallion Page tends to stall through the summer months, but efforts are being made to buck that trend this year. All the clues from all the years will be up as soon as possible. They may not be as pretty as what's up right now, but we'll be able to use them to help our hunting efforts well before the 2001 campaign. As with any architectural effort of this magnitude, construction will always include a little help from our fine friends. Please continue to send whatever medallion stories and images you have on file or feel like including in an e-mail. Together we will make this site a treasure trove of medallion lore.

Attendees: Lady Lou, her hubby Big B, their dog Gizmo, Green, MJ (with her husband TT, daughter LuLu and their foreign exchange student, Olga), Dave Young, Eags, Mom and Dad with Emmy and Hannah, Terry and Inks Valentine, and Patsfan all the way from St. Louis, Missouri.

The May 29th STB-L! was held at Lady Lou and Big B's log home on a lake in western Wisconsin. The weather was perfect—sunny, warm, but not too hot, and a beautiful view.

Lady Lou and Big B were the perfect host and hostess. There had been lots of prep work done before we arrived. Lady Lou is quite the cook and she had been baking, fixing, and preparing food for at least a week. There was one counter just loaded with food when we arrived—and that was just the snack stuff for the afternoon!

The activity of the afternoon was visiting, laughing, and fishing. Wisconsin made good money that day on fishing licenses. Two stringers of sunnies were caught that afternoon right off the dock!

As dinnertime approached, the grills were fired up and everyone fixed their steaks or brats and put out all the accompanying food. Some of us were so full from the salads, home-made baked beans, and the snacks from earlier in the day, that we had to bring part or all of our steaks back home with us.

We also celebrated birthdays. Big B's, Patsfan's 2-year-old - FHOFer, and Terry's. Lady Lou had gotten a cake with a football theme for the FHOFer, a fishing theme for Big B, and an angel looking over the whole thing for Terry.....all on one cake!

We also sent some gifts home with Patsfan for the new baby at his house....a baby girl dubbed Mz. A!

Eventually, we all headed back to the Twin Cities, though it wasn't easy to leave. Big B and Lady Lou live on their own little piece of paradise and big thanks go to them for sharing with the Cooler Crew!

Attendees: Eags, Mom. Dad, Emmy and Hannah, Inks and Terry Valentine. Several of the other regulars were not feeling well or were out of town. We decided to have a potluck barbecue this month at the Valentine's.

For this gathering, we celebrated Mom's 30th birthday. Earlier in the day, 4-year-old Emily, who is smart as a whip, helped Terry bake, frost, and decorate a cake for her Mom's special day. Doing dishes was part of the deal and she was a great dish rinser!

Later, Mom, Dad, and Hannah arrived, and Eags arrived shortly afterwards. We grilled and shared a fabulous feast. This Crew definately knows how to eat well!

After dinner, we visited, sang "Happy Birthday," ate cake, and watched Mom open the gift we had picked out for her. It was a nest-shaped, hanging bird feeder with Woodstock (Snoopy's bird buddy) nestled inside.

The Woodstock theme was the result of Mom and Dad having recently purchased a wooded lot from Bob e in Sturgeon Lake. The lot is on a road called Woodstock.

After cake and ice cream, Mom took the two girls to Grandma's for the rest of the evening. We visited, thought about playing Trivial Pursuit, visited some more, laughed, and about midnight decided to call it a night.

We're hoping that the crew is healthier by May!

For more information about future STB-L gatherings, we're available for chitchat most every night at the Pioneer Planet's message board, "Shoot the breeze with the Water Cooler crew." If you have more formal questions about the Cooler Crew, contact the one and only Green or Terry Valentine.

• Summary of January 1999 Gathering
• Summary of February 1999 Gathering at Conway
• Summary of February 1999 Gathering at Tuscany's
• Summary of March 1999 Gathering
• Summary of April Gathering
• Summary of May Gathering
• Photos from Past Gatherings

Cards, Conversation, and Camaraderie

The annual bock hunt at the Fitger's Hotel and Brewery complex in Duluth was a smashing good time for several of our Coolerheads. With a year's hunting experience already under their belts, they were able to find five of the seven bocks hidden. Considering only six of the seven were found at all, the Crew came as near a sweep as they could get. It may not be as well known as the granddaddy medallion hunt, but the Fitger's hunt serves as a nice confidence booster and an excuse for family fun on the shore of Lake Superior. For details, check the Bock Club.