Yes, it is always good to make sure the facts are straight. I had asked Stefani last August to help me plan a conference for 2007, and then asked again in December. Due to a full personal life and the distance between FR and Florida, the decision was to decline. I am not aware of any other person suggesting a conference, but the idea has been kicking around in Fall River since the last Lizzie Expos- the Expos, were only moderately successfully at the beginning and did not offer any academic setting or presentations or call for papers.
In January of this year, I called Jules Rykebusch at his home in New Bedford and asked his opinion on the desirability of another conference. He was more than enthusiastic. I approached the Fall River Historical Society as well, and they echoed the sentiments of Jules. I then discussed some details with the owners of #92 , Donald Woods and LeeAnn Wilber how that property might fit into an offsite venue for a conference . Both were hoping for a confernece this year- but with all the construction across the street going on, plus the time needed to pull something like this together (it took Jules three years for the Centennial planning), I opted for the cushion of an extra year and aimed for 2008.
There were at first difficulties in obtaining the Jackson Theatre Arts building. The building which houses the 700 seat auditiorium, classrooms and spaces for rental is closed during the month of August and always has been, Jules obtained a very special waiver back in 1992 as t was the centennial, and had to be on August 4. He was also on the faculty, as were many of the speakers, and it was hosted by BCC- so naturally there was heavy support from everything from stationery for the event, to volunteers on campus.
After many phone calls and visits to the campus, Dean Kenyon interceded with Mr. Elliot at the art center and convinced the Powers that Be to back up the opening from August 28th of the Art Center to August 21st- the soonest possible date which was offered for the conference. During these discussions over the months of Jan- April- none of these details were made public to anyone except the few people and institutions named above. Why? Because if anything fell through it would have been a disappointment to many people,
Understandably this is a monumental load of work for one person, even with the loyal assistance of old friends, and I was particularly needing someone with experience with issuing call for papers, financial expertise and large event planning. I have personally organized six large scale conventions for Titanic International, but was very appreciative when Faye volunteered to assist with co-chairing and managing these areas, which could be done at a distance. With all of this finally in place, and with the support of the library, police department, and Second Street staff, Chamber of Commerce and other factions in the city, it looked like a green light by the end of April.
It only remained to see how to go about the announcement, and that was to design and launch a website. What was lacking in 1992 was today's easy access and outreach of the Internet. It seemed the Internet was the way to go. All good plans of mice and men often go astray, and as a Mother's Day surprise for me, my daughter, a graphic designer, and website creator, uploaded the surprise site for me and it went "live" before I knew it on Mother's Day. Immediately emails came in, asking about the conference, and from the handful of Fall Riverites who had been approached for advice who had been told a website would be shortly forthcoming and had been given the web address.
And so, on Monday, I sent out all the press releases, and notices to crime blogs, including Mondo Lizzie that a website was available for viewing. I then posted to the Forum, and I would guess Harry and Kat were in the air on their way to Fall River by then and missed the announcement. If one had visited either the FR Historical Society or the public library, staff there would have been in the know as they had been approached several months ago for advice, and had been advised of a website to come.
But the
important thing is that we are ALL going to get a wonderful opportunity to revisit this case, with a lot of the original Lizzie people who have worked on the case for 40 plus years as well as NEW people and new presentations, and it will be good for the city, fun for all of us, and frankly, as some of us are ageing and tiring in strength and mobility- this will probably be our last big Lizzie hurrah. The younger set can think about Lizzie for the 150th- I plan to be in Adams Nursing Home on Highland Ave. by then.
I do hope as many who can come from the Forum will come- and that coverage will appear in the Hatchet after the event, and many submissions for papers and presentations will come from our ranks here.
Someone had to come forward, make the overtures, and make the moves to make this happen. It is a lot of work, as you can imagine-and more friends than I can mention said I shouldn't try to go forward, that it would be non-stop effort of dealing with details and personalities, etc. But we are off and running, excitement is building, lovely things are beginning to fall into place-so let's DO IT!
