Conventioneers speak up at international Torch event

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Torch Club hosted the 79th Annual International Association of Torch Clubs convention at the Holiday Inn in Boardman from June 24 to June 27.

Some 130 people representing some 40 clubs in the IATC network gathered to hear papers related primarily to the theme “From Rust Belt to Renaissance.”

Jay Williams, mayor of Youngstown and the opening speaker, discussed “Youngstown’s Renaissance.” Other speakers at the convention on subsequent days were Rick Shale, Youngstown State University professor and author of “The History of Mill Creek Park”; John Russo and Sherry Linkon, YSU professors and co-directors of the Center for Working Class Studies, on “Steel Town USA”; and Charles Darling, historian, author and radio host, on “Messages of Dissent.”

In addition to papers and presentations, those who attended took tours of Youngstown landmarks, including the Butler Institute of American Art, the Arms Family Museum of Local History, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor and Mill Creek Park. After a private tour of Powers Auditorium, guests dined at the Overture Restaurant.

The highlight of the convention was the Saturday evening gala banquet at the hotel, at which the Paxton Award for the best paper of the year was presented to Dr. Barton C. Shaw, professor of American History at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pa., and a member of the Lehigh Valley Torch Club. His paper, “The United States Vice Presidency: Its History and Hard Times,” will be published in the fall issue of Torch magazine.

The 2011 IATC Convention will take place in Hagerstown, Md.

The Youngstown Torch Club has set its schedule for the 2010-2011 season. The speakers and paper titles follow:

Robert Coggeshall: “The Wonderful World of Butterflies” (September)

Charles Darling: “Myths of the American Revolution (October)

Linda Porter: “Three Ladies Much Maligned in History” (November)

Lowell Satre: “Are We Making Things Too ‘Easy’ for Ourselves?” (December)

Paula Allen: “Amber: A Mother’s Experience Raising a Handicapped Child” (January 2011)

Debate: “Should Government Elections Be Publicly Financed?” Dennis Thompson and John Fockler (February)

Guest speaker Bob Scheetz: “Youngstown: Final Thoughts” (March)

Donald K. Allen: “Flag Day USA-June 14” (April)

Janet Moy-LaMonica: “The Ancient Art of Hypnosis and How I Used it to Have a Pain-Free Double Hip Replacement” (May)

Debate: “Should Prostitution Be Legalized?” S. Floyd Barger and Janet Moy-LaMonica (June).

The Youngstown Torch Club, established in 1928, meets on the third Monday of the month from September through June.

For more information about the club call 330-792-7351.