s I approached Mount Snow, Vt., site of the Northeast Acquirers Association (NEAA) Winter Meeting and Seminar the last five years, I was not surprised that it was snowing - same as last year. After all, I was high in the mountains of Vermont, deep in the heart of New England, at a place that is picturesque, breathtaking, peaceful, quaint, remote ... and it is Mount Snow.

Why would a handful of bankers, acquirers, ISOs/MSPs and vendors come together in such a place to hold a miniature trade show? The Grand Summit Hotel and Conference Center is not your normal business setting. It is a winter retreat, a full-service ski resort located high above the hustle and bustle of the trappings of everyday tedium.

This winter wonderland seems more like a place one goes to get away from it all, not a place for educational seminars and exhibition booths touting the benefits of credit card processing, check guarantee, gift cards and the like, but that is exactly what this meeting is designed to do - mix some serious business with pleasure. After a grueling, action-packed day filled with education, meetings, networking and vendor schmoozing, the conference schedules the following day for time to enjoy this impressive facility, with the day set aside for skiing, snowmobiling and a host of other winter diversions.

This year's show took place February 5-6. The show starts on Wednesday, although for the early birds who arrive as early as Tuesday afternoon there are informal activities, such as innertubing, for families or whoever wants to join. Of course, there also are the unplanned activities taking place at the lobby bar - i.e., networking, etc.

The show begins with a couple of hours with the vendors in the exhibition hall. What made it so refreshing was the fact that the show consists of only table-top displays of equal size and no one is allowed more than one space, therefore, putting all at an equal footing within the room. I also found the traffic to be quite brisk as the time wound down to lunch. The seminars began after lunch, and the hall closed down to give the vendors (I was one of the exhibitors) time to enjoy the program.

The show usually focuses on one topic; this year it was fraud - how pertinent. The slate of speakers ranged from representatives from MasterCard and Visa to a representative of the U.S. Postal Service and a consultant and a private company. I found Ruth Mendonca, a U.S. Postal Inspector, to be incredibly informative about identity fraud and the risk associated with the mail. I felt as if all of the speakers know their topics well and are quite capable of delivering interesting and informative data on each. Overall, the seminars were well done.

After the seminars, there was a cocktail party and more time with us exhibitors. Again, the floor was quite active, and I got a chance to chat with many of the attendees of this year's show. We then retired to the dining room for dinner and more networking. All in all, a very full day.

The next day began with a breakfast buffet sponsored by the NEAA, with the day's winter festivities scheduled to follow. I chose the snowmobiling since I had never had the pleasure of experiencing this incredible e-ticket ride. The conference also offered skiing as well as innertubing in what were perfect snow conditions. All of the activities, I am told, were spectacular. It was a nice finish to a superb event.

This show has grown exponentially over the last few years, and I can see why. But its lovely location may not be the only reason it and others like it have been increasing in popularity. (For example, the Southeast Acquirers Association had a packed house for its second meeting, last summer in St. Augustine, Fla.

This is purely a regional phenomenon that rapidly is becoming a more accessible vehicle for the acquiring world to get together and spend a little quality time together. With the growth of the ETA into a full-fledged association with a behemoth of a trade show, there need to be other opportunities for the local feet on the street, the small community bank and the underfunded sales office, and this isn't a half-bad way to network and disseminate information.

According to NEAA President Alan Forgione of Card Systems, Inc., the organization actually has been around since it was formed in 1985 by a handful of bankcard professionals to network and share ideas. That actually predates the ETA. This loyal, regional bunch has been meeting at places just like this (there also is a summer version for those of you that would prefer a milder clime).

"The Northeast Acquirers Association was founded with one primary objective: to serve as an educational forum for financial institutions and ISO/MSPs in the acquiring industry," Forgione said. "We receive and communicate information on the latest technology, hottest topics in the payment industry, and new changes to rules and regulations from the various card associations. NEAA is focused on providing this forum in the most economical way so all can take part in the educational and networking opportunities between vendors and acquirers, as well as acquirers to acquirers."

As I was driving down the hill back to civilization, I reflected on a couple of productive days. The flavor of this event captures the heart of this business. I met a bunch of great people that I may never have gotten the chance to meet, plus I got to see some of the people who make my business successful. I also got to do something this Californian does not regularly get to do: ride a snowmobile 60 miles per hour on a frozen lake in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Rest assured, as a great American once said, "I shall return!"

Steve has been part of the merchant acquiring industry for more than 15 years, working for some of the most successful companies in the business. He lives in California with his wife, Diana, and 11-year-old daughter, Trista.