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Two photos above show extremes of convention with Ken Heuvel, left, Portland dealer, being congratulated by Sam Sather, Mobil's Oregon district sales manager, following Heuvel's keynote address which was followed by a standing ovation. In photo at right, dealer Raymond Rachofsky of Denver raises his hand to make an emphatic point in talk with A. L. Nickerson, chairman of the board of Socony-Mobil, who gave delegates stirring talk calling for real action. In a prepared address which attracted much publicity, Nickerson said that guaranteed margins through rebates and subsidies were causative factors in price wars. He said dealers should control their own prices and profits. Mobil Oil's Western Dealer Convention Attracts 2,000 from 27 States at Meetings in Las Vegas Mobil dealers in the West have held four conven- tions in the past four years, each one bigger and better than the one before. This month, in Las Vegas, they set a new mark difficult to surpass. Opening-up the convention to dealers in other states, they saw attendance jump to more than 2000 people?╟÷a 100 per cent increase over last year?╟÷and met dealer delegates from 27 states. Equally as im- portant to them and to Mobil was the fact that their previous efforts resulted in a similar meeting being held in New York state later in the month for dealers in eastern states. Planned by a dealer panel, as usual, the convention covered topics that dealers, themselves, had suggested. Talks by Mobil executives and others were tailored to dealer views. Mobil people, however, handled the preparation and staging with a degree of finesse that caused gruff-voiced convention hall attendants to praise the planning as the best of any convention held in the huge center. Sessions were held on two Twin Cities group arrived en masse. Luncheon group filled days. Nights were kept open after hospitality periods for dealers and their wives to enjoy entertainment Las Vegas-style in whatever manner they felt inclined. Because of the record-size attendance, supplier- exhibitors were situated in a large adjoining hall, rather than around the main meeting hall as in the past. Dealers were given adequate time to visit all exhibits. Part of the program, in fact, consisted of mass-attraction events in the exhibition hall to insure attendance there during convention recesses. Exhib- itors said they were pleased with the results, Delegates, to a man, responded equally as enthusi- astically when questioned by trade press representa- tives as to the value of the meetings. Though some of the dealers came as far as 1,300 miles at their own expense, they indicated they would be back again for the next one. Some said they hoped to make expenses of their trip merely by adopting ideas presented in talks and dealer panel meetings. It was evident that the convention?╟╓s work was well received. big meeting room inside of huge Las Vegas Convention Hall. PACIFIC OIL MARKETER/NOVEMBER 1961 21