Providence, Rhode Island: Divine Providence: October 11–14, 2007
Speakers: Daniel Cohen, Anne Cotton, Charles Gould, David Jasen, Norman Murphy, Sophie Ratcliffe, Margaret Slythe, Brian Taves, David Trumble, Wendell Verrill

The NEWTS returned as convention hosts and once again did themselves proud, putting on our second-largest convention (180 attendees). Friday’s activities included a tour of the mansions of Newport and, following the evening reception, an overly long but still enjoyable Clean, Bright Entertainment starring Plummies from many corners of the society. At the Saturday banquet, Doug Stow and Jean Tillson both received gifts in recognition of their contributions to the society’s health and happiness. The NEWTS had done a fabulous job with fund-raising, particularly the rummage sale, and this was capped at the banquet with a highly successful auction. But perhaps the highlight of the weekend was the Brotherly Love Sermon Handicap on Sunday morning. Attendees were invited to place bets on how long Rev. Wendell Verrill could talk on a topic chosen at random out of the Bible. Wendell’s skill at rambling on, diverging from the main topic and yet eventually coming back to it, resulted in his clocking in at 11 minutes and 45 seconds—the exact time picked by the winner, Mike Iwanaga. It was an exciting finish to a divine convention.

See the full report of this convention in Plum Lines, Volume 28, No. 4 (Winter 2007)