Thursday, June 16, 2005

Post BBQ Coma

And what a day it was! Opening ceremonies featured a table presentation of crowns and tiaras, introductions, and a champagne toast.

Then Victoria Eugenia, Queen of Spain (AKA Laura Ruby) opened with an inspiring talk on antagonists, and she read from Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell (Hyperion, 2003); Holes by Louis Sachar (FSG, 1998), and Feed by M.T. Anderson (Candlewick, 2002).

Initial group discussions went well, followed by a field trip, and dinner at County Line on the Lake.

Participant Roster and Code Names:

Franny Billingsley: Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India

Libba Bray: Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsarina of Russia

Anne Bustard: Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse and By the Rhine

Carolyn Crimi: Helena, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein

Tim Crow: Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg Gotha

Shutta Crum: Elisabeth, Grand Duchess of Russia

Katie Davis: Beatrice, Princess of Battenberg

Meredith Davis: Louise, Duchess of Argyll

Frances Hill: Sophie, Queen of Greece

Page Koehlert: Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden

Kimberley Griffiths Little: Victoria, Empress of Germany

Sean Petrie: Edward VII, King of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India

Laura Ruby: Victoria Eugenia, Queen of Spain

Tanya Lee Stone: Charlotte, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen

Brian Yansky: Wilhelm II, Kaiser of Germany