I hope you’ve been enjoying the recap and review of last summer’s first-ever research conference devoted to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the legacies of both women. As I followed along with Sarah Sue’s video posts, I was reminded of the thrill I felt when I first stepped up to the podium on day one to see an audience packed with men and women who shared my own obsession with the Little House world. I choked up then; I remember well, as a child, wondering if anyone else shared my interests.
Of course, you all do. And that’s what makes this conference special. We all have an opportunity to interact with others who share that very same obsession in different kinds of ways.
Next summer, we’ll meet again, July 12-14, 2012, in Mankato, Minn., on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. We’re keeping on the schedule some of our favorite things–the ice cream social, the author’s reception, the spelling bee–and adding some things that you requested, such as breaks and break-out sessions for discussion. We’ve also been discussing a variation on our theme for next summer: What would Laura do?
That means we’re going to try to put in a few more sessions that are hands-on workshops devoted to playing Laura. I’m working with other departments at MSU to see if we can use the kitchens in the Family and Consumer Science area, the recreation center, and other spaces to give us all a chance to play Laura.
We’re also looking forward to a fresh batch of speakers, researchers, and workshop presenters. Our call for papers will go out in August, and we’re looking for researchers who want to present their work about Laura’s life and legacy or an aspect of it, as well as panel proposals from folks who have ideas for discussions, and workshop proposals from educators or others who have something Laura-related they’d like to share. We’re hoping for a variety as fun as we had last summer, but our programming depends on what you want to share with us!
Finally, we’ve heard from you that the Walnut Grove field trip is a MUST. I will never forget watching all the women on my bus running forward to Plum Creek, squealing as we raced to take off our shoes and put our toes in the water. It’s these kinds of experiences that we can’t replace, and we’re not going to try. But we will book a bus to help our dorm-dwellers get back from Walnut Grove to Mankato without falling asleep on the long, dusty road of Hwy. 14.
So, ask yourself, as you think about how you might contribute to next summer’s gathering: What would Laura do?
