2015 Surratt Conference

[L Verge]

I am so glad that we were able to pull off such a successful conference. It was all I could do to drag myself out of bed on Monday morning for work, but I've made it for three days now. I drag home about 5 and take a nap before fixing dinner. This conference has really made me aware of my age! But it was worth every minute.

As most of you know, Two of my headliners had medical issues and had to cancel at the last minute. Chief Justice Frank Williams was a wonderful gentleman in agreeing to present not only his talk, but also to work up his own interpretation of Why Lincoln Matters in ten days time. No one could have done better - he literally hit it out of the park, as one attendee said. All I know is that he brought tears to my eyes in his assessment of the Lincoln legacy.

On Friday afternoon, as the conference was beginning, I got word that James Swanson had a viral infection and bronchitis and could not narrate our ten-hour Manhunt tour. My good old boys from our regular Booth Tours, John Howard and Bob Allen, stepped in and wonderfully handled two busloads (80 people total).

As for my staff, I am blessed. Joan Chaconas and I have been in this since our first conference in 2000. Susan Proctor was a volunteer vice-president of the Society back then and had to step in near the last to fill gaps that hadn't been done. Since that time, Susan has worked in two other museums (Maryland and New York) and returned to us about 7 years ago. She, Lindsey Horn, Julie Cowdery, and Kari Wilson are literally my legs once the conference begins. They carry out projects that they have worked on beforehand, but that day they are running all over the place to register people, maintain our up-to-date technology for projectors, sound systems, even computer-run sales counters (nearly $9000 in sales - thanks everyone!), and many other chores. I even get my 14-year-old grandson to lay down his tablet and iPad long enough to lug boxes of books, bag the sales, etc.

But what makes the conference so special are the special people who attend. I swear we are a fraternity - and one of the friendliest groups I have ever been around. On Saturday morning, as we were finalizing getting everything in place AT 6:00 AM, down came Scott Schroeder, Eva Lennartz, and Betty Ownsbey to help my team. They not only pay their money, they are willing to do the work also.

Not only was this our largest group yet (168 plus ten more for the banquet on Saturday), but our largest state representation also. 28 states from Maine to Florida, most of the Midwest, Arizona, California, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, and Germany.

There were some glitches - mainly in buffet lines where the first ten or so took more than they should and caused a shortage near the end of the line as well as a kitchen that couldn't keep up every now and then with the hearty appetites. And, Mother Nature who would not cooperate and give us clear, warm weather on Friday night so that our opening reception could spread out to picnic tables to relieve crowding.

Anyhow, we have a tentative theme for next year; some new speakers lined up; and will meet tomorrow morning to discuss what changes need to be made.