It is great fun to read what each of you write and to remember those incredibly great times. I met each of you at those "get togethers." I guess we did not worry as much about the risk of set-up of being caught by Vice back then - on the other hand, the "get togethers" were actually a great time to get together for decompression and to literally meet Providers and Hobbyists. To my knowledge, the phone calls would come later and the hook ups followed.
In those days, things were more relaxed. People introduced others to their friends (both Hobbyists and Providers). It was a happy time.
For those that wonder, I believe as a group we were aware of civilians who might be at the restaurant and tried to act appropriately.
It's a shame those times seem lost now.
Old Dingus