2005 Conference – Day 3: pt.3

The annual banquet is usually quite fun. If it happens at the end of the conference, it is a good time to relax and socialize with other attendees, be entertained, and listen to the report of the Resolutions Committee. Even if it’s at the beginning of a conference, and there are no Resolutions yet, it’s still a good time to get together and eat some good food. So I’m looking forward to this.

Well, the table decorations are very nice, and the menu looks tasty. Chloe has very nicely put a fairly large number of peanut candies on each table, and has provided each of us with a new 2005 nickel, with the larger profile of Jefferson on the front and a buffalo on the back. Again, it has something to do with Lewis & Clark. I told you they were big in this part of the country.

As it turns out, the food is even better than the menu makes it sound. We find out that the cafeteria staff has been working short-handed, and that the people who usually take care of the catering responsibilities are gone this week, but you wouldn’t know it from the service we’ve gotten all week or the food that we are served tonight. It’s been very good, and tonight it’s even better than usual. I even go back for seconds (after everyone else has been through at least once, of course).

Then it’s time for the entertainment. This year, Sabrina brought in Pippa White, who does a one-woman show dramatizing writings by early pioneers in Nebraskan history called “Far As the Eye Can See.” Sabrina had been to see her show and had been very impressed. Pippa does a condensed version for us, but it is still very impressive. She does quite an amazing job bringing these peoples’ stories to life. She keeps apologizing for skipping stories, even though we tell her that we really don’t have any time constraints. Sure we have other things to get to tonight, but I’m not sure that we wouldn’t mind seeing the whole performance. It’s very good.

After Pippa is done, we still have some business to complete. Bruce holds an auction for two books. I’m skeptical that this will work. I’m a little worried that as a group we’re too cheap to raise a decent amount of money But I needn’t have worried. We acquit ourselves well as a group and end up raising $225 for the Hilts Scholarship. George Summers and Warren Johns go home with the books. So good for them, and good for us. I suppose I really need to give a goodly-sized donation to the scholarship fund. I did get the scholarship for my second year in library school, and even though it didn’t pay for all my costs, it was a great help.

Then it’s time for the readings of the Resolutions. I’m always a bit worried about this, because, as I’ve mentioned, sometimes it feels, at least to me, that we’re making fun of people who are only showing their individuality. I may actually be too sensitive about these things. But this years’ resolutions are done very well and quite tastefully. They’re fun, yet friendly. So good time is had by all. Which pretty much sums up the banquet, I think.

All that’s left to do is tell the organizers how much we’ve enjoyed the conference, and say goodbye to the people that have to get up early in the morning and catch shuttles to airports. Some of us are staying around for the post-conference, but for the most part, the conference is pretty much over tonight. Well, it was a good one.