Midwest Conference on Masonic Education

The pace is quickening and excitement is building. My head is spinning from reservations to cancellations to running out of rooms. I underestimated the number of rooms we would need to block out for the Conference at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel. I have contracted for more rooms at the Springfield Hilton, right across the street.

To reserve rooms there call either 1-800-hiltons or (217) 789-1530 and ask for the “Midwest Conference on Masonic Education” block. They will hold the $99.00 room rate until the evening of April 6^th. So you late comers need to get moving.

Note: if you are flying into Springfield IL, please send me an email with arrival date and time and we’ll make arrangements to pick you up. My email (sandc60@comcast.net)

Frat. Ed Rund

Greetings Fellow Educators:

Well, with the 2009 Conference being only a month away, I figure I’d better crank up the blogging. Just about all aspects of the Conference are now in place. Most of the information is located here on the Midwest Conference website. I would like, however, to acknowledge the many players who are endeavoring to make this a very special “get together” for our 60^th.

GENERAL CONFERENCE TEAM

President – Edward A. Rund

Conference Chairman – Louis “Jack” Colvis

Immediate Past President – Larry Jacobsen

Registration Chairman – Stanley Browning

Program Group

            Jack Colvis    Ray Babinsky    George Roger    Jonathan Horvath

Conference Chaplain – Rev. Glen Opp

Video/Audio taping – Richard Cardell, Gary LaRoche

Sound Equipment – provided by William Graber (Valley of Springfield)

Web Master – Thomas Hauder

Graphic Designers – Karl Rund, Mike Jimenez

Gifts/Mementos – Howard Graff

Ladies Program – Ronnie Rund, Jo Browning

Grand Lodge Liaison – Franklin Cline

Lincoln Hotel Liaison – Malinda Beagles

Springfield Liaison – Shirley Eck

So, now is the time to download your registration sheet from the website, fill it out and send it to Executive Secretary, Stanley Browning. At this point our MCME block of room is being held until April 3^rd, so time to get moving. And remember, we have selected a special gift for the Masons who are attending, and a nice gift for your lady.

Frat. Ed Rund

Greetings,

This is my first blog as the 2008-2009 President of the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. Next year is the Grand Jurisdiction of Illinois’ turn to host the event and we are very excited since it will be the Conference’s 60^th anniversary. That’s a lot of years of helping to shape and improve education for new and more senior Masons around the world. Another source of pride is that 2009 is also the 200^th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, and while he was born in Kentucky and lived for a number of years in southern Indiana, his home is considered to be in Illinois. So, we claim him in our “Land of Lincoln” state motto.

Our Conference theme will be “Exploring New Dimensions in Masonic Education,” but the catchphrase is Learning in the Land of Lincoln. We are on target with our plans. Promotional items such as our special logo and six foot tall banner are completed. Our website continues to stir interest and inform. Most hotel arrangements and Conference time blocks have been made. We are now calling for papers and presenters to fill those blocks. We do have a couple, but there is plenty of room for more. We are also looking for suggestions for a named keynote speaker.

One of my ongoing concerns about which little can be done is the cost of gasoline by next April. At $4.00+ a gallon, this very likely is going to reduce our number of attendees, which will be a shame during our special year. That’s about it. Be sure and look for the next blog.

Cordially and fraternally,

Edward Rund, Pres.

Check back often to get all the day to day, up to date information on the conference!  Information on the schedule, speakers and more will be posted here.