Midwest Decoy Collectors Association to host 42nd Annual National Convention

Chicago, Illinois - February 18, 2007 - The Midwest Decoy Collectors Association (MDCA - http://www.midwestdecoy.org) annual convention will be held in Saint Charles, Illinois from April 23rd - 28th 2007. Members and exhibitors from across the United States, Canada and Mexico will be in attendance. There is also a global interest in this event with collector’s traveling from as far as Europe and Japan.

Over the past few years, the growing popularity of decoy collecting has become a national and international phenomena with rare and unusual examples bringing record breaking prices at auction. With this growing interest in decoy collecting, organizations such as the MDCA and their annual convention play a key role in the growth and advocacy of this fascinating hobby.

A wide variety of events of interest to the public will be held at this years convention. The annual gathering will offer considerable opportunities to socialize with other collectors and unique networking opportunities for interaction with the world’s leading authorities on collecting decoys. On Friday at 8PM the MDCA will also be sponsoring a networking dinner buffet.

Activities at the convention will also include include a show with 386 tables displaying over 20,000 items to view, buy, sell or trade in the Pheasant Run Resort Megacenter. The show starts Friday from 2PM to 8PM and on Saturday it runs from 9AM to 3PM. The MDCA is also offering a free decoy identification and evaluation service during the show. As at past MDCA conventions there will also be room trading and displays by members. Seminars on Wednesday April 24th include: /8:30 AM _Decoys of the Mississippi Flyway_ /by Alan Haid, /10:30 AM _Evans Decoy Identification_ /by Ed Wojciechowski and /3 PM _The Mackey Years_ /by Joe Tonelli.

Auctions by Guyette and Schmidt will be held Thursday from 11AM to 5PM and Friday from 10AM to 2PM with Previews on Wednesday from 6PM to 8PM and Thursday and Friday at 8AM. There will also be a silent auction from 10AM to 1PM on Saturday.

Additional activities include a special member exhibit of 40 antique wooden factory decoys which will be available for viewing from 2PM to 8PM Friday and from 9AM to 1PM Saturday. During the MDCA show, the National Duck Call Makers and Collectors of America will be holding their convention as well as a call competition, carving contest and other events throughout the week.

The MDCA convention will be held at the Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 East Main St. (Rte. 64), Saint Charles, IL (visit http://www.pheasantrun.com for more info). Admission to the show is $5.00 per adult. MDCA members and children free

*About the MDCA*
The Midwest Decoy Collectors Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to collect and preserve the history of the decoy as original American folk art. This convention and show is the premier opportunity for the novice, antique dealer or the experienced collector to network and learn more about the decoy as functional folk art or to add to their collections.

*MDCA Media Contacts*
Herb Desch (312) 337-7957 Jim Wierzba (262) 238-0282
Tom O’Key (847) 842-8847 Rose Claussen (630) 257-8818
Donna Tonelli (815) 664-4580 Rick Sandstrom (319) 364-8556