A joint annual meeting of the Historical Society of the United Methodist Church and the North Central Jurisdictional Commission on Archives and History will be held July 7-10 2008 on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD.

Convocation attendees will tour the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service and Senator McGovern, a life-long Methodist, will speak at the convocation. We will also see the University’s new library, which houses the archives for the Dakotas Conference.

Deborah Kiesey, Bishop of the Dakotas, will preach at the opening worship service. Other presenters will include Dr. Stephen Perry (to speak on “Writing the History of the Dakotas Annual Conference: Who would be included?”); Dr. Bruce Forbes (“A History of Christmas Traditions”); Lori Holmberg (“ Dakota Discovery Museum and its Methodist Connection”); James McLaird (“Calamity Jane and the Methodists”); and the Rev. Scott McKirdy (“A.B. Smart, Pioneer Preacher”). Also scheduled are business sessions, tours, a buffalo barbecue, and musical entertainment.

Registration materials will be provided in the January 2008 issue of Historian’s Digest and here from the home page of our website.

See you in South Dakota!