IRC offers conversations
about traveling
The International Resource Center’s “Travel Talks,” a series of lectures about people who gallivant around the world, begins today.
The program is an opportunity for participants to learn about the traveling experiences of individuals and various organizations.
Today’s talk will feature Bob Pederson, a Eugene resident who decided to follow his dream and travel around the world without using an airplane. He said his talk will center “around independent travel and how that relates to meeting people.
“The friends, the acquaintances and the memories of relationships last forever,” he said. “You may never see or hear from that person again, but the image of that meeting is forever in your mind. The people — that is what travel is all about.”
Pederson’s talk begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
The second talk, held at 7 p.m. on March 7, will feature Rosetta Russo, who traveled to places such as Kenya, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia. For more information about Travel Talks, call the IRC at 346-0887.
— Lisa Toth
Vinyl enthusiasts can
dig up new treasures
Even after collecting records for 30 years, House of Records employee Fred Murschall knows he’ll never run out of records he wants. Though he is surrounded by vinyl for most of the week, the constant pursuit of more music keeps him going back to the annual Eugene Record Convention year after year.
This year’s convention, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Eugene Hilton, marks the 14th year of operation. Eugene resident Bill Finneran organized the first show in 1988 and has kept it running ever since. Finneran said since its creation, the Eugene Record Convention has become the biggest record show in the Northwest.
“When you have it once a year, you get everybody there,” he said. “Seattle and Portland shows are watered down because they have one almost every week.”
With 100 tables at the convention, Murschall said it’s impossible to look at all of them. But after going for years on end, he has a few vendors whose tables he visits first. Also, his familiarity with records gives him an added edge.
“I can see the top half inch of a record cover and tell what it is,” he said.
Finneran said aside from buying music, the convention is a place to get to know people with a common interest. Finneran added that the convention is designed to cater to both those who are prepared to pay top dollar for records as well as those who only want to buy merchandise for a few dollars.
“You can find stuff for next to nothing, and there’s stuff for hundreds of dollars,” he said.
Murschall said he will buy both $1 and collectable records, but he has noticed a trend toward records for everyday use.
“The only record that commands a collectable price is one that hasn’t been played very much. A lot of people nowadays are buying records just to play them,” he said. “Records are a way kids can collect music they want fairly inexpensively.”
Even famous musicians can score a cheap deal. Finneran recalled five years ago when Beck showed up at the convention while passing through Salem on tour.
“He spent about 20 minutes looking through my $1-record section,” he said.
There is a $2 admission charge to the convention, but Finneran said that is lower than most other record shows.
“I keep it low so people bring their spouse and kids and friends — people who aren’t intensely interested. But when they get there, they get really excited,” he said.
— Mason West
