Proposed Elderhostel Program Schedule (9/10/01):

TUESDAY

Afternoon arrival with evening welcome session at Robinson Best Western.

Breakfast at Toffee House

Board bus to Lincoln Trail College

An Introduction to James Jones: "From Reveille to Taps" documentary by Dr. J. Michael Lennon, past James Jones Literary Society president and Wilkes (PA) University English professor

Overview of '40s culture and adjustment of returning soldiers (Ray Elliott with Charlie Dukes, WWI combat veteran from the European Theater who was taken prisoner in late 1945 and was one of the last documented POWS to reach Allied lines after the war. After being detained in a Russian-controlled camp at Luckenwald, German, Dukes escaped and reached the elbe River on May 27, 1945, 20 days after the official end of the war)

Lunch at Lincoln Trail College

Introduction to James Jones' early writing life and publication of "From Here to Eternity" with Helen Howe, wife of Jones' childhood friend and who taught the short stories, and Don Sackrider, Jones friend and second member of the Handy Writers' Colony

View "From Here to Eternity." Discussion to follow. (If we have Tony Williams from Southern Illinois University make his presentation, it will have to be Friday. The film is 118 minutes long and should be viewed, I think, before Friday, when there would be little or no time available.)

Dinner at Toffee House

Winery Visit (Tour & Tasting)

Breakfast at Toffee House

Board bus to Marshall (or a bit earlier)

Field trip to Marshall, Illinois, to tour former Handy Writers' Colony and house James Jones had built on the grounds after the 1951 publication of "From Here to Eternity." Trip includes early lunch at historic Archer House. Tour can be accompanied by Earl Turner, brother of Lowney Handy, and Dr. Jim Turner, Lowney's nephew, to offer insights about the Colony and what took place there. (Lowney ran the Colony and was Jones' writing mentor and lover.)

WWII Presentation (War Without Mercy) on the American-Japanese war by WWII Veterans of the South Pacific and retired Wright State University (Ohio) history professors Carl Becker & Bob Thobaben

Review of the music of the '40s with Dr. Don Runyon, retired Lincoln Trail College music, and drama professor, adn singalong of '40s music with Runyon, Joan Craig and others

Dinner at Toffee House

View "Some Came Running" with discussion to follow on Friday.

Breakfast at Toffee House

Tour of Robinson, including a look at newspapers from the era, and other locations depicted in "Some Came Running" with Helen Howe and other James Jones friends

Study of other significant writers of the '40s, including James Jones, Norman Mailer and Carl Sandburg, featuring Mailer and Jones scholar Mike Lennon; and Jones and Carl Sandburg scholar Dr. George Hendrick, retired University of Illinois English professor and first James Jones Literary Society president

Lunch at Lincoln Trail College

Discussion of films made of James Jones' novels with Southern Illinois University film professor Tony Williams

Writers workshop with author and daughter of James Jones, Kaylie Jones (Your suggested 12:45-2:15 may be a bit early, Dick, as Kaylie will be flying from New York to Indianapolis and driving a rental car to Robinson. She called Thursday evening and said she'd make her reservations and let me know when she could arrive.)

Cocktail hour at Quail Creek Country Club (former PGA tour site)

Board Dinner at country club (Pre-registration and payment required)

Dramatic reading of former Colony member Jon Shirota's play, "The Last Retreat," inspired by the Handy Writers' Colony (optional)

James Jones Symposium

Lunch at Lincoln Trail College (dismissal)

Symposium and Banquet (optional w/additional cost for banquet)

Registration at LTC

Annual Society Board Meeting

Awards Recognition --

First Novel Fellowship Award

George Hendrick Research Award

James Jones Creative Writing Award for Crawford County students

LTC Scholarships

Update on First Novel Fellowship Award winners and runner-ups ——

Mike Lennon

James Jones' 80th birthday —— Kaylie Jones (Jones' daughter)

Pearl Harbor Attack —— former Marine Sgt. Dick Lewis (Eyewitness of Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor who was wounded on Ford Island in the first attack)

Publication of "From Here To Eternity" —— Helen Howe (friend of James Jones) and Don Sackrider (friend of James Jones and second Colony member)

Lunch at the LTC cafeteria

Book signings for authors (John Bowers, George Hendrick, Helen Howe, Kaylie Jones, Jon Shirota, Don Sackrider)

John Bowers (former Colony member, author of "The Colony" and other books) address and insights about the Colony

Former Colony members/friends panel discussion with John Bowers, Helen Howe, Jon Shirota and Don Sackrider on the Colony's effectiveness and value of teaching creative writing

Lowney Handy brother Earl Turner and nephew Jim Turner discussion of Turner family background of involvement with the Colony and George Hendrick, Helen Howe and Don Sackrider talk about their recent books ("James Jones and the Handy Writers' Colony" and "Writings from the Handy Colony")

Cocktail hour at the Elks

Symposium Dinner (Pre-registration and payment required.)

Songs from the '40s by The Sunshine Sisters