2027 The Forty-Third Convention
Dates: March 18th – 20th
Location: Wyngate by Wyndham (formerly: Waterford Estates Lodge), South Bend IN.
Organizers: Jude Becker, assisted by Paul Petri, Dr. Patrick Lebeau, Dr. Alexander Burns, Professor Jim McIntyre, Steven Popper, and Sam Tinaglia.
Speakers: TBA
Features: A dinner will be held. Expect the raffle to return.
News: In recognition of the broader variety of history that has been widely present at The Seven Years War Convention for more than 25 years the convention is renaming itself Musket Con: Warfare in the Age of Black Powder (1600-1815). The convention will return to the Wyngate formerly known as Waterford Estates Lodge.
Game Events Scheduled: TBA
Attendance: TBD. But you should definitely be there!
2026 The Forty-Second Convention
Dates: April 16th – 19th
Location: Century Center, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Jude Becker, assisted by Paul Petri, Dr. Patrick Lebeau, Dr. Alexander Burns, Professor Jim McIntyre, Steven Popper, and Sam Tinaglia.
Speakers: Dr. Alexander Mikaberidze delivered a keynote presentation on the role of education in development of the Russian officer corps from 1710-1812.
Features: Dr. Patrick Lebeau organized the first annual SYW Convention raffle, proceeds to fund the convention. A banquet dinner held for the first time in over a decade.
Game Events Scheduled: 47
Attendance: 91
2025 The Forty-First Convention
Dates: Unknown
Location: Century Center, South Bend IN.
Organizer: Ken Bunger, assisted by Jude Becker who also managed gaming events.
Speakers: Professor Jim McIntyre presents “The Role of the Riflemen in the American War of Independence” and Dr. Patrick LeBeau presents “The Siege of Fort Niagara and the Iroquois: The Power of Haudenosaunee Diplomacy and Negotiation, or A Long Way to get to my point about the Battle of La Belle Famille, July 24, 1759.”
Game Events Scheduled: 23
Attendance: Unknown
2024 The Fortieth Convention
Dates: April 4th – 7th
Location: Century Center, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger, assisted by Dr. Alexander Burns and Jude Becker managed gaming events and speaker sessions.
Speakers: Doctors Patrick Lebeau gave a lecture on Native American warrior culture.
Game Events Scheduled: 36
Attendance: Unknown
2023 The Thirty-Ninth Convention
Dates: March 30th – April 2nd
Location: Century Center, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Dr. Alexander Burns who managed gaming events.
Speakers: Dr. Andrew Bamford spoke about the English amphibious actions on the French coast during the Seven Years War.
Features: This was the convention’s first year at the Century Center in downtown South Bend. Accommodations primarily hosted by the Doubletree by Hilton.
Game Events Scheduled: 35
Attendance: 65
2022 The Thirty-Eighth Convention
Dates: March 31st – April 3rd
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger, assisted by Dr. Alexander Burns who also managed gaming events.
Speakers: Professor Jim McIntyre spoke on The Elusive Partisan: Thomas Auguste Le Roy De Grandmaison and A Glorious Resistance: The Delaware River Campaign of 1777.
Game Events Scheduled: 33
Attendance: 77
2021 The Thirty-Seventh Convention
Dates: August 5th – 7th
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger, assisted by Alex Burns who also managed gaming events and arranged speaker sessions.
Speakers: Dr. Chris Juergen gave a lecture on Hessians in the American Revolution and Professor Jim McIntyre provided a presentation light infantry.
Features: A panel discussion on historical wargaming and its future featuring Alex Burns, Jude Becker, and David Ensteness. Find out how to reach what Dr. Christopher Duff would endearingly refer to as “the elusive young people.”
Game Events Scheduled: 38
Attendance: ~100
2020 No Convention Held
Cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
2019 The Thirty-Sixth Convention
Dates: April 5th – 8th
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Alex Burns who also managed gaming events and speaker sessions.
Speakers:
News: Dean West memorial game of Final Argument of Kings organized by Patrick Lebeau and Alex Burns.
Game Events Scheduled: Unknown
Attendance: Unknown
2018 The Thirty-Fifth Convention
Dates: April 5th – 8th
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Jim McIntyre and Alex Burns who managed gaming events.
Game Events Scheduled: 28
Attendance: Unknown
2017 The Thirty-Fourth Convention
Dates: March 30th – April 2nd
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Dean West who managed gaming events.
Game Events Scheduled: Unknown
Attendance: Unknown
2016 The Thirty-Third Convention
Dates: March 31th – April 3rd
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Dean West who managed gaming events.
Speaker: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
News: This was Dr. Duffy’s last attendance due to travel restrictions related to his health. Dr. Duffy had attended the convention and provided a keynote presentation 18 times over 21 years. He died in November 2022 and is sorely missed by long time and new attendees alike.
Game Events Scheduled: 32
Attendance: Unknown
2015 The Thirty-Second Convention
Dates: March 26th – 28th
Location: Waterford Estates Lodge, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Dean West who managed gaming events.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy spoke on the Battle of Culloden and work to save the battlefield from development.
News: The Teddy Bear Game was planned but did not occur, unfortunately 2014 would be the last of the Teddy Bear games.
Game Events Scheduled: 23
Attendance: 125 as reported by Jim McIntyre, noted to be potentially an all-time high attendance.
2014 The Thirty-First Convention
Dates: Unknown
Location: Magnuson Hotel, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ken Bunger assisted by Dean West who managed gaming events.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy spoke on the eastern front during the SYW and compares it to 1944-45 and then to the invasion of Ukraine/Crimea by Putin that began in February/March of 2014.
Features: The Teddy Bear Game.
News: Ken Bunger takes over as the lead organizer of the convention. Game events staged between 1660-1800 accepted.
Attendance: Unknown
The below was originally documented by Paul R. Petri, long time attendee, one time organizer, and continued patron and steward of the convention. It is provided here largely verbatim of his previously published account with only minor edits and reorganization for clarity of reading.
Paul’s introduction: The following information I have gleaned from all of the past Seven Years War Association Journals. My first hand knowledge of this wonderful convention began in Kalamazoo in 1988 I have not missed a convention since then.
2013 The Thirtieth Convention
Dates: April 5th – 6th Magnuson Hotel, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Randy F.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a lecture on the development of the division and connections of organizational developments between the Seven Years War and the Napoleonic era.
News: Professor Jim McIntyre restarted publication of The Seven Years War Association Journal.
Attendance: 95
2012 The Twenty-Ninth Convention
Dates: March 30th – 31st
Location: Magnuson Hotel, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Randy F.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a lecture on the Hessians involved in the Jacobite Rebellion.
Attendance: 88
2011 The Twenty-Eighth Convention
Dates: March 25th – 26th
Location: Ramada Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn Downtown), South Bend IN.
Organizers: Randy F.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a lecture on the Jacobite Rebellion and the Battle of Colluden.
Attendance: 94
2010 The Twenty-Seventh Convention
Dates: March 26rd – 27th
Location: Ramada Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn Downtown), South Bend IN.
Organizers: Randy F.
Speakers: Dr. Dennis Showalter was the guest speaker.
Attendance: 89
2009 The Twenty-Sixth Convention
Dates: Unknown
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Randy F.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
News: Randy F. takes over as lead organizer of the convention.
Attendance: 109
2008 The Twenty-Fifth Convention
Dates: Unknown
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers:
Attendance: Unknown
2007 The Twenty-Fourth Convention
Dates: March 23rd – 24th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: None
News: Dr. Christopher Duffy was unable to attend the conference for the first time in twelve years but vows to return in 2008!!
Attendance: 88
2006 The Twenty-Third Convention
Dates: March 24th – 25th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Attendance: 104
2005 The Twenty-Second Convention
Dates: March 24th – 25th Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Attendance: 110
2004 The Twenty-First Convention
Dates: March 18th – 19th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Attendance: 113
2003 The Twentieth Convention
Dates: March 21st – 22nd
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Attendance: Unknown
2002 The Nineteenth Convention
Dates: March 22st – 23nd
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Awards: Jude Becker and Jim Purky win Pour Le Merite.
Attendance: Unknown
2001 The Eighteenth Convention
Dates: March 30th – 31st
Locations: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Awards: Pour le Merite won by Dean West
News: The first year of the Pour le Merite for best looking game.
Attendance: Unknown
2000 The Seventeenth Convention
Dates: March 31st – April 1st
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a lecture on The Battle of Rossbach from allies perspective.
Attendance: Unknown
1999 The Sixteenth Convention
Dates: March 26th – 27th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy.
Attendance: Unknown
1998 The Fifteenth Convention
Dates: March 27th – 28th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian VVizek
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a lecture on 18th century battlefield wounds and diseases located on the 6th floor.
Features: A banquet was held in the Oak Room on the 20th floor.
Attendance: Unknown
1997 The Fourteenth Convention
Dates: April 11th – 12th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri & Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy returned to talk about the battle of Maxen.
1996 The Thirteenth Convention
Dates: March 29th – 30th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Paul Petri and Brian Vizek.
Speakers: Dr. Duffy was back talking about the battle of Rossbach. I [Paul] have this talk on VHS tape and still watch it several times a year and laugh like I am hearing the talk for the first time.
News: Paul Petri and Brian Vizek carried on the tradition started by Herb and Dean by taking over as organizers of the convention.
Attendance: Unknown
1995 The Twelfth Convention
Dates: April 7th – 8th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Dean West and Jim Mitchell.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy gave a wonderful talk on the Battle of Leuthen. Paul Petri gave an overhead slide presentation of the battlefield tour from 1994.
Features: A banquet was held.
News: Dean West and Jim Mitchell carried forth the torch which resulted in Dr. Christopher Duffy’s first attendance at the convention.
Attendance: 90 members showed up and 70 attended the banquet. Life was good.
1994 The Eleventh Convention
Dates: March 18th – 20th
Location: Holiday Inn, South Bend IN.
Organizers: Ably hosted by Herb Gundt.
News: This is the start of our run at South Bend. The convention site was so centrally located to most members we thought it would be best to keep it here. Of note in April of this year the first SYW battlefield tour took place.
Attendance: Unknown
1993 The Tenth Convention
Dates: March19th – 20th
Location: Holiday Inn, Harvey IL.
Organizers: Brian Vizek and Paul Petri ran this one. Brian did most of the work I [Paul] just tagged along.
Speakers: We attempted to spice the after dinner time with Duke Siefreid giving a talk on the French and Indian War then adjourning to his wonderfully sculpted wargame terrain with a waterfall and stockade fort. Great stuff indeed.
Features: A banquet was held.
Attendance: Unknown
1992 The Ninth Convention
Dates: March 20th – 21st
Location: Holiday Inn Holidome, Kalamazoo MI.
Organizers: Tod Kershner and The Age of Reason Society hosted this event for the third and to date last time. I [Paul] will always have fond memories of traversing up to Kalamazoo.
Speakers: Dr. Christopher Duffy
Features: A formal dinner and military talk was organized by Todd Fisher in which the highlight of the event was some heckler being confronted by our Sgt at Arms Dean West who advised the idiot that his life was going to be taken if he spoke again. The subject fled the scene taking Dean at his word. Three cheers for Dean! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!!
News: I [Paul] remember Tod had booked a small meeting room on Friday nights for early arrivals and would have a T.V. VCR hook up playing his SYW Battle scenes tape that he made. I still have a copy of that tape. This was also the year that I first came in contact with Dr. Christopher Duffy. He talked at Origins/Gencon in August in Milwaukee. I still remember Bill Protz, Brian Vizek and myself having a brautwirtz lunch with Christopher after his first talk.
Attendance: Unknown
1991 The Eighth Convention
Dates: March 22nd – 23rd
Location: The Bucyrus Club, South Milwaukee WI
Organizers: Hosted by Joe Gepterts.
Features: A banquet dinner was held.
News: I have to say the Bucyrus Club was one interesting venue. It had a bowling alley inside of it, basketball court and multiple gaming rooms spread through out the building. It also boasted the largest banquet spread of all time.
Attendance: Unknown
1990 The Seventh Convention
Dates: March 30th – 31st April 1st
Location: Holiday Inn, Elgin IL
Organizers: Hosted by Gary Christensen.
Features: Dinner at the hotel again. Ice scooping person not in attendance.
Attendance: Unknown
1989 The Sixth Convention
Dates: March 17th – 19th
Location: Holiday Inn, Harvey IL
Organizers: Hosted by Rich Black.
Features: A dinner was held.
News: This is the first three day Convention. The first Limeys & Slimeys event. I have no idea on the dinner but if memory serves me it was at the Holiday Inn in a banquet room. I have a very vivid memory of some primitive human who was sitting at my table dipping his hand into the water carafe to scoop out handfuls of ice. We have since hunted those people down and eliminated them from future cons.
Attendance: 70 members attended
1988 The Fifth Convention
Dates: March 25th – 26th
Location: Once again at the Holiday Inn Holidome, Kalamazoo MI
Organizers: Hosted by Tod Kershner.
News: On a side note, this was my [Paul’s] first SYWA Convention. I just missed the 1987 convention I had only recently discovered that there was a SYW, was unaware of it for my first 23 years of life. This great event I must credit to Dennis Smail and Bill Biles who had just purchased the RSM line of miniatures from Steve Hezzlewood in England. They hosted a large battle at the Little Wars [convention] in 1986 at Triton College which I played in with my buddy Bruce Baltis. I was utterly blown away by the uniforms, the ordered lines, the tricorne hats!! I was hooked for life.
Attendance: Unknown
1987 The Fourth Convention
Dates: April 4th
Location: Park East Hotel, Milwaukee WI.
Organizers: Hosted by Bill Protz and Joe Gepterts and The Milwaukee Wargamers Association.
Attendance: 74!! Wow!
1986 The Third Convention
Dates: April 12th – 13th
Location: Jumers Castle Lodge, Champaign IL.
Organizers: Hosted by Greg Novak and Walt LeBegue.
Speakers: The first guest speakers ever at the Con are Hal Thinglum and Frank Chadwick.
Features: Dinner I am guessing was held at the lodge cost for convention were Con/Dinner $9.00.
Attendance: Unknown
1985 The Second Convention
Dates: March 30th
Location: Holiday Inn Holidome, Kalamazoo MI.
Organizers: Tod Kershner and The Age of Reason Society hosted this event.
Features: A banquet dinner was held.
News: Though not noted in the Journal, Tod reports this was the first year a banquet was held.
Attendance: 32 attendees made a strong showing.
1984 The First Convention
Dates: April 7th
Location: Prairie State College, Chicago Heights IL.
Organizers: Hosted by Rich Black and Hal Thinglum.
Features: A dinner was organized at the Dragon Inn.
Attendance: 26 hardcore souls attended
Prior to 1984 the Seven Years War Convention existed in the format of a private club engagement dating back to the 1970s.