I've been reading reviews & browsing through forums on Head-Fi for the better part of the last 6 months. Before I'd learned of Head-Fi, I was under the impression that high-end audio was infinitely out of the reach of a college student with finite resources. It's been an enlightening & intriguing experience for me. All of it has been extremely helpful throughout my introduction to the wonderful world of headphone oriented high-end audio. I've learned a great deal from the knowledgeable, experienced & helpful members of this global forum.
I'm very thankful that a resource like Head-Fi was available & accessible to me when I started out. Now that I'm more familiar with this (still) new & fascinating world, I think it's time that I say hello & attend some meets/get-togethers. Unfortunately, I'm unable to see, hear or try anything out beyond the disappointments of Bose, Beats or low-fi/mid-fi professional studio cans where I live. (Quad-Cities area on the IL/IA border; 3hrs. from Chicago.) I'm looking forward to meeting others, relatively nearby, who share a passion for music & an infatuation with the headphones that allow us to more fully appreciate & understand that music. I hope to attend the 2012 Chicago meet(s), but I'm also interested in small gatherings closer to where I'm located. Forgive my ignorance, but does anyone know of any meets near Eastern Iowa, other parts of Iowa, or Western Illinois?
I appreciate any help & I appreciate the work of those who make meets happen. Thanks! 
-eli