First-time convention participants become pen pals

Two fourth graders who met at Columbus 2009 have continued their friendship as pen pals.

While both Tara Gleason of Findlay, Ohio (pictured at left), and Emma Cordell of McConnellsburg, Pa. (pictured below), were nervous about coming to convention for the first time, they said that once they met the other children and got involved in games and crafts, they felt more comfortable.

Emma and Tara were partners during the week and enjoyed a field trip to the Columbus Zoo together with their parents. On the last day, they decided to become pen pals.

“When we left convention, I had a friend to write to and a great memory,” Emma says. “I was very glad I came.”

Both girls say they are looking forward to seeing each other at Pittsburgh 2011. “I’m also excited to be able to have fun at convention once again,” Emma adds.

Tara’s grandparents, Art and Mary Newcomer, brought her and her brother to convention.

“I was a little scared and did not know what to expect, but my brother, who had been before, convinced me I should try it,” Tara says.

Emma came with her father, Craig Cordell.

“I really wanted to go, since I had never been to a convention before, and it was so close to home,” says Craig, whose wife and son could not attend due to other commitments. “I was honestly surprised and pleased when Emma said she’d go with me.”

Craig says that while the volunteers with the children were friendly and welcoming, he still worried about Emma the first morning. His fears were allayed when he picked her up for lunch.

“She talked and talked about what she had done and about the other children in her group,” he says. “Every day after we ate lunch together, she was eager to get back to her group as soon as possible. As the week wound down, she started talking about the next convention. She can’t wait for Pittsburgh and to see Tara again.”

Maria Gleason, Tara’s mom, reflects, “It was neat to see how Tara and Emma became friends and really neat to see them writing letters back and forth since the convention. I know Tara is looking forward to the next convention.”

Craig adds that he was pleased with the thoughtful planning that went into the children’s gathering and with the volunteers who worked with the children.

“I think Emma’s first experience at convention was so good that it has set her on a path of life-long convention attendance,” he says. “And I couldn’t be happier about that.”