ROUTE 66 MILES OF POSSIBILITY ANNOUNCES SLATE OF SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS FOR 2021 ALL-VIRTUAL CONFERENCE EVENT
The Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference is back this year with its sixth annual event, to be held Thursday – Sunday, October 21 – 24, with the theme “A Worldwide Celebration of Route 66.” To that end, this year’s slate of speakers and presenters comes to you virtually from across all eight Route 66 states and from locations around the world. Embracing the virtual format, the organizers are able to create a truly “worldwide” event!
The by-now familiar conference format plus social activities will be followed again this year with a few new twists. The event kicks off with a Thursday evening virtual Happy Hour to meet and greet old and new friends and colleagues from around the globe! Friday and Saturday feature daytime conference sessions, with no need this year to choose from multiple breakout sessions. Our Celebrity Emcees this year are Jim Hinckley and Joe Sonderman. ROUTE Magazine editor Brennen Matthews will present the keynote speech on Friday morning, October 22nd, followed by an exciting slate of speakers that Route 66 enthusiasts won’t want to miss!
The Friday, October 22nd additional slate of speakers includes: Bill Thomas (Illinois) The Road Ahead Partnership – “Route 66 Centennial”; Casey Claypool (Illinois), Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway – “Extraordinary Women Initiative”; Toshi Goto (California/Japan), Japanese Route 66 Association – “Traveling Route 66: Reality and Prospects for Japanese Travelers”; Heather Paxton (Missouri), Author and Journalist – “Researching The Harvey Girls”; and David Clark (Illinois), the Windy City Road Warrior – “Chicago’s Route 66 Connection.” On both Friday and Saturday, short videotaped reports from each of the eight Route 66 states will be presented.
On Friday evening, the popular Roadie Roundtable will be moderated by Geoff Ladd, Assistant Director of Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, and Penny Black, Route 66 grass-roots ambassador! Participating this year as panelists will be two knowledgeable couples from either end of Route 66: Bart and Denise Kimberley (Illinois) and Mike and Jessica May (California).
The Saturday, October 23rd slate of speakers includes: Dries Bessels (Netherlands), Dutch Route 66 Association – “America Through the Eyes of Europe”; Marian Pavel (Slovakia), Route 66 Passport – “How has the pandemic changed international and domestic tourism on Route 66?”; Jim Livingston (Texas) – The “I AM RT 66” Project; Bonnie Game (Canada), Canadian Route 66 Association – “Canadians Get Their Kicks on Route 66”; Renee Graef (Wisconsin) Author/Illustrator “Route 66 with my Imaginary Friend.” Scott R. Piotrowski (California) – “Route 66 in California”; and Liz Vincent (IL), Pontiac Tourism – “Invitation to Pontiac’s live event in October 2022.”
On Saturday evening, Ron Romero and Debyjo Ericksen will present a very special presentation, “Introducing the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 Inaugural Hall of Fame Event,” from the new Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois!
On Sunday morning, the Windy City Road Warrior David Clark and Sherry Meyer of InSites to Go say, “Yup and yay! You don’t have to go home yet! Join us for a virtual Route 66 Revival Tour, roaming via ZOOM southwest on the highway that’s the best!” Plan to wrap up the 2021 Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference on Sunday, October 24, beginning at 11:00 am Central Time. A separate ticket is required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/route-66-revival-tour-zoom-oh-the-miles-of-possibility tickets-151259805149.
Route 66 Miles of Possibility is now an Illinois nonprofit organization, working on its 501(c)(3) status. We are a female-owned and -operated Illinois organization, working to continue to achieve annual inspiring, productive, collegial, informative, and FUN conference-format-plus-social/networking events. We are looking forward to beginning live, in-person events again in October 2022 with a fabulous weekend in everyone’s favorite hometown, Pontiac, Illinois!
But meanwhile, please join us THIS year on October 21-24 from the comfort of your own home for a fun, entertaining, informative virtual event with some of the brightest stars of the Route 66 scene! The cost of this year’s conference per person is just $49.99 to gather with fellow Route 66 friends and colleagues all around the world. We hope to see you online October 21-24. Registration is now open at www.route66milesofpossibility.com. For updates and fun facts, join us on Facebook and Instagram.
This year, the conference fee has been reduced to $49.99, enabling “virtually” everyone to attend from their easy chair! Register now to secure your place in the 2021 version of the only annual, ongoing conference event dedicated to Route 66! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-miles-of-possibility route-66-conference-tickets-152266255469.
As a special registration incentive, register online before October 1st to be entered into a special drawing for an authentic Illinois Route 66 shield highway sign.
This year’s conference is presented by Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, the McLean County Museum of History/Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center, Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Springfield Illinois. Thanks to all for your support!
Contact: Cheryl Eichar Jett | 618-567-6895 | route66mop@gmail.com
More information and registration details can be found at www.route66milesofpossibility.com.
