First, Anne Cotter of the handbell duo "Go BELListic" had to have major surgery just a about a week before the conference. It was touch and go as to whether she would be able to perform a full concert so it was decided to have Kathie Fink present her Legacy Concert on Saturday night instead. "Go BELListic" was able to perform a few numbers at that concert and at the Showcase concert on Sunday.

Then all seemed to be going well with plans for the Festival/Conference in 2008 at Albuquerque. Schedules were ready and posted on the web site for all to read. Workshop descriptions and facilitators bios were posted. Handouts had been prepared for the workshops. The last minute letter to remind people of things they would need and things to be prepared for was available.

Then came the word that a family friend of Jason Wells' family had been tragically killed in a plane crash. Jason would not be available to conduct the concert on Sunday because the Memorial Service was scheduled at that time! What to do????

Planners Linda Maloney and Sharon Sparlin along with Area XI Chair Mike Mazzatenta, set about revising the schedule. Jason was able to take the massed rehearsals on Friday and Saturday morning. Then David Weck, AGEHR National Board Member, arrived to conduct rehearsals Saturday afternoon and Sunday. He also directed the closing concert.

FLEXIBILITY became the word for this conference. There was not time to change the Web site with all the last minute things that needed to be done. Therefore, a lot of the things you will see here really didn't happen the way they are listed. Some of the final pages were created on site, taken to the Kinkos in Albuquerque and inserted as single pages in the program booklet. Linda Maloney should have copies of those pages in her files.

Marcy Hontz - mrhontz@cox.net
Web Steward
06/20/2008