{"id":15770578,"date":"2025-04-10T00:32:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T05:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wodehouse2.websitesforasong.com\/?p=15770578"},"modified":"2025-06-05T10:57:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:57:38","slug":"convention-chicago-il-1997","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wodehouse.org\/test\/convention-chicago-il-1997\/","title":{"rendered":"1997: Chicago, IL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago, Illinois: What Ho, Chicago: October 2\u20135, 1997
\n<\/b>Speakers: Michael Dirda, Jon Lellenberg, Marilyn MacGregor, Helen Murphy, Will Richardson, Peter Schwed, Peter Sinclair<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The joy continued in Chicago, and again a precedent was set as the Chicago Accident Syndicate gave their convention a name, something that has been done ever since. Due to the knock-on effect of the <\/span>Jeeves & Wooster<\/span><\/i> television series, this was our largest gathering ever, with 200 members taking part. The weekend was particularly noteworthy for being the breeding ground of The Wodehouse Society Cricket Club, as well as for two contests: the Great Poetry Handicap (GPH) and the Great Scripture Knowledge Contest (GSKC), the latter being organized by Tony Ring and Neil Midkiff. Chapters and loose associations of members formed teams, and elimination rounds were held during the Friday reception and Saturday talks. In addition to a great roster of speakers, attendees enjoyed a performance by the City Lit Theatre, songs dazzlingly performed by Hal & Lara Cazalet, readings of the winning entries in the GPH, and a parade of clever costumes at the banquet. The final round of the GSKC was played Saturday night between the NEWTS and the International Team, the latter of whom emerged victorious, to great acclaim.<\/span><\/p>\n

See the full report of this convention in <\/span><\/i>Plum Lines<\/span><\/a>, Volume 17x, No. 4 (Winter 1997)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n