At the two Vicar, Deaconess Intern, and Fourth Year seminary events that LWML hosted I told them that the LWML groups at the congregations they were going to were waiting for them. Waiting to welcome them and their families, waiting to learn from them, waiting to include them in LWML happenings, waiting to partner with them, and waiting to love and support them. Those of you getting one of these fresh-out-of-seminary church workers, don’t let me down! Be there for them!

I love history. I come by it genetically from my father who was a history professor at Oklahoma State University after getting his PhD. From University of Nebraska (I throw that in for Linda Reiser and Virginia Von Seggern). Here are some interesting notes about national LWML conventions. By the way, come to Mobile and experience and also, help make history!

1. There have been two LWML conventions held in Canada. When and where were they held?
2. What convention attraction made its first appearance at the Charlotte, NC, 1997 convention?
3. When was the first Biennial Convention?
4. Mobile is one of four cities who have hosted more than one convention. (Mobile 1973). What other cities have hosted more than one convention?
5. What convention had the highest attendance? What year?
6. Have we ever had to cancel a convention?
7. Is your delegate’s vote important?
8. What part of convention is always rated the highest on evaluation forms?

Answers below:

There were several “firsts” at Mobile in 1973.

• The first time a Native American addressed the convention.
• Five district brought the first 8 youth representatives to convention.
• Women led the convention Bible study for the first time: Pauline Groerich, Minte Brohm and Carrie Wright, who by the way, was the first black woman to address an LWML convention.
• A Mission Goal of $500,000 was adopted.

I had lunch with our Archivist-Historian, Caroline Honeycutt, last week and she has a great “then and now” exhibit you will want to visit in the Jubilee Junction Exhibit Hall in Mobile! Come and join with your brothers and sisters, “In Praise to the LORD!”

Love, Patti

Answers:

1. 1959 – 8^th Biennial – Toronto, Ontario, Canada “Labor With More Love” and 1993 — 25^th Biennial – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada “One in Spirit-One in Purpose.
2. Humorous Interrupter – At the “Hold up the Light” convention, Linda Reiser portrayed “Sparky”.
3. 1943 – 1^st Biennial – Ft. Wayne, Indiana “Serve the Lord with Gladness”. (1942 Chicago was organizing convention).
4. Portland, Oregon (1953, 2009); Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1961, 2013); Cleveland, Ohio (1949, 1991).
5. Ames, Iowa, 1985. Registration: 8,023.
6. Yes. 1945 was not held due to wartime conditions. 1955, New Orleans, Louisiana, was canceled when LWML heard that our black delegates would not be allowed to stay in the convention hotel. A “delegates only” convention was convened in Denver in 1956. The schedule was resumed with Minneapolis in 1957.
7. Yes! I was elected VP of Christian Life in Portland by only 9 votes and in Albuquerque, officer voting saw differences of 4 and 7 votes in two of the offices.
8. Thursday evening Opening Worship.