Surratt Conference Update

[asobbingfilm]

I hope that everyone who attends has a great conference !! Wish I could join you but need to save my travel dollars for April. I need to do one last b roll shoot for film and need the correct lighting and foliage. Everyone be safe. Would love to meet any of you who are in the area April 18-19.

[L Verge]

Wish you were here also, Dave. You would enjoy meeting all the people so interested in our subjects. We had a very good bus tour today to see the African American Civil War Museum in Washington, great lunch at the Blair Mansion Inn (once the home of the prestigious Blair family - friends of Lincoln), and a trek through the National Museum of Health and Medicine, home to Lincoln relics, Booth relics, and a great display related to Civil War medicine.

Beginning at 5 pm, we had a full crowd at our opening reception at the museum's James O. Hall Research Center' meeting area. The weather behaved so that some of the visitors could spread out into our picnic area.

Now heading to bed so that I can arrive at the conference center by 7 am to get everything laid out and enjoy a full day of six learning sessions, three great meals, and would should prove to be a great presentation by Erik Jendresen on what it took to produce the recent docu-drama on Killing Lincoln.

On Sunday, we have a busload heading over the Booth escape route. Then it's time to start planning for next year's conference -- our 15th annual one.

All but one of this year's speakers is a member of this forum: Betty Ownsbey, Tom Bogar, Dave Taylor, Blaine Houmes, Wes Harris, and Erik Jendresen. Who wants to join us next year.

[LincolnMan]

Go Laurie! Wish I was there.

[Dawn E Foster]

(03-16-2013 07:49 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Go Laurie! Wish I was there.

Me too ...

[Wesley Harris]

(03-16-2013 09:01 PM)Dawn E Foster Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 07:49 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Go Laurie! Wish I was there.

Me too ...

Sorry you who couldn't attend missed it. This was my third consecutive one and I believe the best I've attended. I'm sure some of the attendees will be posting some reports here.

[Jim Garrett]

The conference was an absolute blast!!! Wes is absolutely correct. This was the best conference. Great people, great presentations, great atmosphere. It was great to put faces with names. This was the biggest to date and we owe a fantastic time to all the staff and volunteers of the Surratt Society!

[Craig Hipkins]

I wish that I could have made it! One of these weeks I will make it up there to Maryland.

Craig

[L Verge]

I know I'm a tad prejudiced, but the 2013 conference was GREAT! Everything ran smoothly from this time last year, when I began booking speakers, until 10 pm last night when Erik finished his presentation on the making of Killing Lincoln. It was so interesting to see the stories of what went on behind the cameras as well as in front of them. The little side stories were very entertaining. You know you are a good speaker when no one leaves the room during an hour-and-a-half presentation. I owe Erik a big one because he kept his commitment to our conference despite dealing with serious health issues with his father in Arizona. Love ya, guy!

All of the speakers were excellent and fielded a lot of questions at the end of their talks, and each had gone the extra mile and put together a PowerPoint presentation to accompany their speech. They also listened to my threats and stayed within the time limits we had set, so we were able to stay on schedule throughout the day.

Unless I hear differently, everything at the hotel ran smoothly also. I was a little worried, because the hotel has recently changed management, and I was dealing with new staff members. Luckily, the banquet manager remains the same, and is a young man that we first worked with long years ago when he had just started as a bus boy. In some respects, I feel that he's part of our family now.

I was also very touched to receive a special, heartwarming honor from the attendees - something instigated by several members of this forum. It has been a rough year for me (in my personal life), and this recognition was a wonderful picker-upper. Thank you all.

With a little luck, we'll be holding our 15th Annual Conference on this same weekend next March. Start saving your sheckels and your leave time.

This She Rebel has called a temporary truce with the Yankee carpetbagger from New Jersey, and we're heading off for seafood at Capt. Billy's on the Potomac. Booth and Herold rowed right past this point in 1865, and I tell people that they would have stopped in for a crabcake sandwich if Billy's had been there. Billy's dates back only to WWII, however.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

[asobbingfilm]

Allow me to add my own heartwarming honor from Texas, you are the glue that holds so much of this community together I think. Further, let me also promise that I WILL be there for the next 2 conferences. As my project and the related expenses come to an end, I will have the funds to make it. Again thanks for all you do, see you next month.

[L Verge]

Thank you, David. I appreciate those kind words. See you soon.

[Jim Garrett]

A great time was had by all....even if we did have to put up with John Howard.

[BettyO]

Absolutely wonderful conference!! What a rousing good time - and yes, Laurie - we LOVE you!!! Thanks for all!!

I'm downloading photos now - and will upload as soon as I get them done -

Erik's presentation was grand!! Stupendous talk and Presentation -
Yes, it was great to put faces to names as well --

Very well done!! Prepare for next year - I can't wait!

[J. Beckert]

It was absolutely fantastic!! The speakers were great and they all had very interesting presentations. 45 minutes just ripped by with every one.

So far this weekend, I've had Moon Pies (Thanks, red headed She Rebel!), crabcakes, grits, catfish, hushpuppies and gumbo. I think I even said "Y'all" once.

The Rebels did indeed call a truce for me and my carpetbag, Laurie. A private tour of the Tavern and our little escape route tour were gifts I'll long remember. Thank you. My ride with Rick Smith and Bill Richter was a great gift I'll long appreciate also. There are some wonderful people involved with the Surratt Society and it was a great pleasure to finally meet some of you.

[Thomas Thorne]

Wonderful Conference. I so enjoyed renewing friendships and meeting new people.
Tom

[Laurie Verge]

I don't think I was present when Joe said "Y'all," but if he did, my mission is complete!