The Association of Lincoln Presenters
2024 ALP Conference
April 25-28, 2024
Dayton, OH

2024 ALP Conference Review

The 2024 Association of Lincoln Presenters Conference was held in Dayton, Ohio. Teena Baldrige, the host, did an outstanding job of organizing and overseeing the conference. Highlights included a service project for the Veterans at the VA hospital that exceeded all expectations, and 6 amazing and informative speakers who were some of the best the Association has heard.

We had a meet and greet with Mike Major, the sculpture of both of Dayton’s Lincoln statues. ALP members are pictured around the Lincoln statue that will be installed at the Dayton Veterans Association later this year.

Men and women enjoyed separate lunches with speakers at the Dayton Woman’s Club. There was buffet dinner Saturday evening and afterwards ALP members and members of the community enjoyed The Henry “Box” Brown Story, a presentation about a slave who mailed himself to the north to freedom.

Kevin Wood delivered an inspiring message on Sunday morning.  Teena raised $4,000 in donations for the Dayton Conference. The silent auction brought in more than $1,300, while the patches and consignment sale made another $400. The 2024 Conference was wonderful with time to connect with old friends and new friends.

A Gathering of Lincoln Presenters: Exploring History in Dayton, Ohio

Date: April 25-28, 2024

The Association of Lincoln Presenters will convene for its annual conference in the historic city of Dayton, Ohio. This gathering will bring together passionate individuals from across the nation who shares a common fascination with the life and legacy of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.  The conference will prove to be a captivating exploration of history and a celebration of the 16th President of the United States.

Thursday evening after a dinner on your own, the group will convene in the hotel conference room, dividing into teams to test their knowledge of what was produced during the Civil War – paper, glass, textiles, and metal products.  Prizes!!!

Educational Sessions:

The Dayton Conference offers attendees a rich and immersive experience delving into the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.  On Friday the Lincoln Presenters will be engaged by four educational sessions conducted by esteemed historians and Lincoln scholars. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, including Lincoln’s role in shaping the nation, his impact on civil rights, and the challenges he faced during the Civil War.  Attendees will have the opportunity to gain new insights into the complexities of Lincoln’s character and leadership style.

Alex Villalva – The Tomb of the Unknown Civil War Soldier

Kim Villalva – Lincoln the Servant Leader

Chris Burns – Lincoln and Grant, the Alliance that Won the Civil War

Margaret Kruckemeyer – Lincoln Living Legacy

Lunch is on your own at the Carillon Historical Park Café – Culps’s Café a very short car ride from the hotel.  Colonel Edward and Edith Deeds built a large Carillon in 1942. This carillon is a 151 foot tower with 57 bells. Colonel Deeds, National Cash Register Chairman was fond of history.  In 1950 he opened the historical park with exhibits about Dayton’s unique contributions to the world.  Over the past 75 years, Carillon Park has grown into one of the finest regional history museums.   Enjoy a long lunch and a leisurely stroll in the museum.

Friday will be an opportunity to relax and engage in networking.  Enthusiasts, scholars, and presenters alike will share their passion for Lincoln, fostering connections that extend beyond the confines of the conference venue.

After a plated dinner at the hotel, the Association will hold its Annual Business Meeting on Friday evening.  The Silent Auction will end after the Annual Meeting and a Consignment Sale will start on Saturday morning.

Cultural Excursions:

Saturday the group will visit two Lincoln Statues, the first one is still located in the warehouse and the Association will have the opportunity to meet and talk to the artist, Mike Majors.

A driving bus tour of the Dayton Veterans Association will be narrated by Margaret Kruckemeyer.

Lunch is at the Dayton Women’s Club.  Women will have their annual Mary Lincoln meeting, Margaret Kruckemeyer will present a short program about Civil War Nursing and then enjoy a hammered dulcimer concert by our member MaryAnne Mathews.  The men will also have lunch, the speaker will be Martin Gottleib, “Lincoln’s Nemesis: Clement Vallandigham.”

Back at the hotel the Mary Lincolns will be making Victorian earrings with Holly Ray.

Saturday evening the group will return to the Women’s Club for a buffet dinner and a presentation about Henry Box Brown. (c. 1815 – June 15, 1897) He was a 19th-century Virginia slave who escaped to freedom at the age of 33 by arranging to have himself shipped in a wooden crate in 1849 to abolitionists in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For a short time, Brown became a noted abolitionist speaker in the northeast United States.

Sunday – There will be a devotional service in the Hotel Conference room.  Members are welcome to contact Teena to volunteer to do something at this worship service.

As Association members disperse, they carry with them not only a renewed appreciation for history but also a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, ensuring that Lincoln’s impact continues to resonate in the hearts and minds of those who attended.