The Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration Association (TXWWICCA) will host their 2018 Planning & Coordination Conference on March 2, 2018 in Austin. The conference will provide information, resources, and coordination for Texans interested in orchestrating WWI commemoration activities for their communities and organizations.
The March conference is co-sponsored by the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) and will be held at the Stephen F. Austin Building auditorium, located at 1700 North Congress Avenue in Austin. The day-long program will focus on helping organizations orchestrate events that will take place 2018 through June 2019 when the National WWI Centennial period ends. The conference is free and open to the public, but advance registration will be required. Conference registration is available online beginning February 8, 2018 and will close February 27 or when conference site capacity has been reached.
World War I had an enduring impact on Texas. Over 198,000 Texans from every race, ethnicity, and gender served in the Great War; 5,171 lost their lives. It was a time of great change in technology, culture, and society. Texas was a center for military logistics and training, as well as a key supplier of war materials (oil, cotton, livestock, lumber, etc.).
“Our purpose is to provide information, resources, and coordination for Texans interested in orchestrating WWI commemoration activities in their communities and organizations,” said Jim Hodgson, a Director with the TXWWICCA. “We’ve partnered with universities, museums, schools, civic groups, military units, and many others since 2016 on previous Texas WWI Centennial events.”
The conference agenda will include updates on existing Centennial initiatives around the state and ideas for “off-the-shelf” commemoration activities that can be easily adopted. Organizations and communities who have not yet identified a Centennial commemoration event will be able to identify commemoration activities that best suit their constituency.
“With TVC co-sponsorship, we will also emphasize the role veteran organizations can play,” Hodgson said. “Veteran’s issues from WWI remain relevant 100 years later…we believe that WWI Centennial commemorations provide a natural opportunity for veterans to connect with their communities, schools, and local governments.”
The TXWWICCA is a non-profit, grass-roots organization with no paid staff. They are part of the National effort organized by U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, established by Act of Congress. More information on the U.S. World War I Centennial is available at http://www.worldwar-1centennial.org/
I have read the information online but cannot find a starting time. I will be coming from out of town so I do need the time.
Conference check in will start at 8:30am and the presentations will begin at 9:00am.