Convention – 2019 Michigan – Information & Registration Form

Informational Update for the Michigan 2019 Convention, by Mark Comstock, Host

Download a MI-19 registration form at this link:   Michigan 2019

   Here is what we have set up for MI-2019.    The people in Baraga County are very enthused about us hosting the Convention there and supporting the counties local economy is a real plus for them.  

  The official dates of the 2019″ Konvention ” will be Thursday July 25 through Saturday July 27, 2019

  We have reserved all 68 rooms at the  Baraga Lakeside Inn which will be our host Hotel.The address here is 900 US 41 South, PO box 873 Baraga, MI 49908 Phone (906) 353-7123  The hotel has blocked out all their rooms for us.  Reservations will have to be made by phone and you will have to mention Highpointers Convention 2019 to make a reservation. We will have the “Icebreaker” evening at the  Baraga Lakeside Inn on Thursday, July 25th with a picnic style hot dog and hamburger buffet which includes potato chips, Cole slaw, and ice cream sundae bar, smores and water, soda and iced tea. The hotel has really beautiful grounds along the lake and a bar inside as well. One can see both Mt. Arvon and Mt. Curwood across the lake!  There will be picnic tables set up outside as well. We also have the pancake breakfast here on Saturday morning the 27th which consists of a breakfast buffet which includes scrambled eggs, Tuscan egg scramble, bacon, ham steaks, hash browns, cinnamon apple french toast casserole, assorted danish and muffins, a fruit tray and water/coffee/juice. The BOD meeting will also take place here. There is a room for registration and the Merc will be in this room as well. The hotel has a well stocked information section just inside the entrance door with a lot of information on things to see in the entire area.  We will direct people from there to our reservation sign up table in the hotel as well as having a list at registration for people to look at.

  We have reserved  the “Whirl-I-Gig: in  L’Anse, MI for the night of the Banquet on Saturday the 27th and for the “Liar’s Club” gathering on Friday the 26th. There will be a cash bar open for both nights. The 6 lane bowling alley is downstairs and we will have full use of it on both nights. The “Whirl-I-Gig” can house as many as 300 people and it is used for weddings, banquets and such.  There is plenty of room for the  Merc, for the food and festivities. Catering will be done by Lisa and Bill Rosseau who are affiliated with the Whirl-I-Gig” rental hall. The banquet meal includes 2 meats: beef and chicken,  4 hot dishes:  green bean casserole, kielbasa and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and gravy and meatballs, 4 cold dishes: coleslaw, fresh fruit, pasta salad without meat or cheese and three bean salad. The Liar’s club gathering on Friday evening, July 26 will have hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza and salad and unlimited bowling. The cash bar will also be in service.         

  There are other hotels available in town as well which includes the Ojibwa Casino in Baraga with 40 rooms.  The Ojibwa Casino is well run and another place for people to go and have fun. The Ojibwa Casino Hotel phone for reservations is 906 353-6333

  Camping is also available which includes the Sturgeon River Campground on Forest Service Rd 2200 Phone (906) 932-1330,  Ojibwa Campground along Lake Superior at 16429 Beartown Rd phone (906) 201-4174 and  L’Anse Township Park  and some forest campgrounds as well.  Baraga State Park is only 0.7 miles from the host hotel. It has showers and a small store on the premises. The phone is: 1-800 447-2857 www.michigan.gov/dnr.                                    

  Another fascinating place to visit is the Alberta Historical Museum that is the former Henry Ford Sawmill which has self guided and guided tours.  We have set up two 4 hour-tours that the Museum will be staffed to guide of the sawmill and the small village here.  It is a fascinating place and we have set up 2 tours,  one on Thursday July 25th from 1:00 PM till 5:00 PM and the other on Friday morning from 8:00 AM until noon.  The museum will be charging us 50 dollars to  guide for each of these tours and they are asking for a donation of 3.00 for each visitor for the sawmill renovation fund.  There is a fabulous gift shop here that is a must see as well. This is only 15 minutes south of  L’Anse at 21235 Alberta Ave #2 L’Anse, MI Phone 906 487-3673

  The Baraga County Convention and Visitors Bureau is run by Tracey who is very enthused by the club hosting the 2019  Konvention.  She has various books and souvenirs for sale as well. The address is: 755 Broad St. L’Anse, MI Phone (906) 524-7444.

  The beautiful Canyon Falls and Gorge is only 15 minutes from  L’Anse. The easy and scenic hike to the falls and Gorge area only takes 15 to 20 minutes and is really a must see!  No fees required for Canyon Falls.

  The  Pinery Indian Cemetery is also a really nice place to visit and about 15 minutes from L’Anse.  It is a fascinating piece of history and we will want to be respectful that it is a sacred cemetery.  No fees are required for the Pinery Indian Cemetary   

  The Bishop  Baraga Shrine (Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest) is in a lovely park setting minutes from  L’Anse. It is Nationally recognized as a must see attraction. The  Bishop Baraga Shrine also has a store/gift shop where people can try the famous Yooper food, the Pasty (pass-tee) and home made ice cream.   No fees are required for the Bishop Baraga Shrine.

Other nice places in  Baraga County to see are:  The  Baraga County Historical Museum and historical society which is located on US 41 literally next door to our Host Hotel.  No fees are required for the Baraga County Historical Museum The phone is (906) 353-8444

    Other places in Baraga County worth a visit are: Craig Lake State Park.  State park fees required, The Lions Township Park (Historic town site) no fees required and the  Arvon township Historical Society Museum in Skanee, MI (near Mr  Arvon)

Other great things to see in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are: the Porcupine Mountains, Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Taquamenon Falls, The Soo Locks, historic Marquette and a fabulous collection of lighthouses to name a few!

 Various Mt Arvon and UP T-shirts, Sweatshirts and keepsakes can be purchased at Witz Marina in Skanee, Huron Bay Trading Post on the way to Mt. Arvon or at the visitors center in L’Anse. 

  Mt. Curwood, is the old Michigan State highpoint which was listed for many years as the official state high point until it was re-surveyed and found to be only 11 inches shorter than the current High Point Mt.  Arvon. Mary Groeneveld, my brother Gordie and myself went up to the summit of  Mt. Curwood so we now have some rather substantial directions on how to get there! Mt Curwood is owned by a lumber company and is in CFR land so we do not need permission to go there. No fees are required for Mt Curwood

  Last but certainly not least is the high point of Michigan, Mount  Arvon which is very well marked now we are happy to report!  It is about a 40 to 45 minute drive east of L’Anse. We will have a group hike up to Mt.  Arvon on Saturday afternoon before the banquet and it has parking very close to the summit where we will actually have the watermelon ceremony in the parking area that afternoon as well! For those of you who have not been up on Mount  Arvon in recent years you will be very happy to see how beautifully maintained it is now!!

We have a theme for this convention which points out that the very first convention which was held on Mount  Arvon 32 years ago with a group of nine people which included Jack  Longacre of course and Jack and Joyce  Parcells!  Dennis Whitehead who is an active Club member,  50 completer and a TRUE YOOPER is going to be joining us and he will be talking about that first convention back in 1987 with club founder Guru Jack and 7 other convention attendees and sharing wonderful memories of our very first ” Konvention”!! 

 We have official “Mt Arvon” Shirts for our 33rd convention and we have a poster that we put together with input from Dennis Whitehead that includes photos of “the original nine” at the first Konvention on 4/25/87 and the photo of 5 people positioned at the ” Jakk’s ashes” ceremony on 4/25/2003!  Our theme is ” The first convention 4-25-1987, Jack’s Ashes return 4-25-2003 and the 33rd convention 7-27-2019″!  This is on the back of our  convention T-shirts!  Dennis Whitehead has graciously agreed to be our keynote speaker for the evening! Dennis is a 50 completer and is a very well-established doctor in the upper peninsula and his stories of the early days of the High Pointers Club, its inception, the first Convention, and other interesting stories will be a delight to our audience, many of who will be making their first trip up to the rugged Upper Peninsula!