Canonical Convocation and Caper
REUNION 2001!
For ten consecutive years many Sherlockians enjoyed the scholarship, fellowship and fun offered by The Canonical Convocation and Caper (better known as CCC). Then, on Spetember 26, the dreaded blow fell! Don Izban, the founder and Regularae of CCC announced that the event would be no more! (see announcement)The 1998 event was to be the final fling for CCC! The attendees left that august event with fond memories, but with sadness for a loss almost like the passing of an old friend!

BUT
In September of 2000, while waiting for a performance of "Forever Plaid"to begin in a Door County Wisconsin (the traditional home of CCC) theater, out of the blue, Mr. Izban said, "What do you think would happen if we had a CCC reunion?" We said, "Well, Don, we don't think that would be a very good idea. After all, the '98 Convocation was so great, how could you possibly hope to top it?" Fortunately, Don didn't listen to us. Just a few weeks later he sent out a letter announcing a CCC reunion for September 2001. Even though the announced event was scheduled for almost a full year later, the entire Sherlockian Community knew that CCC was to be such a great affair that the 2001 event was fully registered in only EIGHT DAYS!

We lived to be very glad that Don did not take our advice!!

 

GETTING THERE!

Door county Wisconsin is not the crossroads of the nation. Ephraim, the "home" of CCC, is not really on the way to much of anywhere - folks who are there, in the main, made a deliberate effort to go there! But, getting to the site of the CCC in the northern outskirts of Ephraim can be a truly aesthetic experience. Here is where you go:

Door County Wisconsin is closer to the artic circle than to the equator, so it if pretty far north. Most of that little "thumb" of Wisconsin that sticks out between Green Bay (the body of water, not the city) and Lake Michigan is Door County. It is a very popular tourist area (it used to be called "the Cape Cod of the midwest," until the local folks started calling Cape Cod "the Door County of the east") for summer getaways, for autumn foliage viewing, as well as for winter sports. One of the very best times to be in Door County is the weekend after Labor Day - the summer people have mostly gone and the autumn foliage viewers haven't shown up yet. This was the traditional weekend for CCC - Sherlockians had the peninsula virtually to themselves.

One generally goes north from Chicago via Interstate 94 to Milwaukee. From Milwaukee, Interstate 43 takes you on northward near Port Washington, Sheboygan, and ManitoWOC (accent on the last syllable). At that point one has a choice. If one is in a hurry, then follow Interstate 43 to Green Bay (the city, not the body of water) and then state route 57 on up the peninsula. However, if you have time for a more leisurely trip, you might want to exit the expressway at Manitowoc and take state route 42 north. This route eventually goes through the middle of Ephraim, but on the way one gets to visit great places such as Two Rivers, Kewaunee, and Algoma. These are all lovely small towns on the edge of Lake Michigan.

We do call your attention to Two Rivers. There is a good spot to have lunch called "The Lighthouse Inn." On the left, above, Carolyn is urging me to stop taking pictures because our seating for lunch is ready. The center picture shows a lovely Lake Michigan beach near The Inn. One of Two Rivers' claims to fame is that that ice cream sundae was invented there. A sign prominently displayed in the city park outlines the details of the invention of the ice cream confection.

For most of the drive north on state route 42 parallels the shore of Lake Michigan and the views, alone, are well worth the trip! Kewaunee is a very picturesque lake town with the water front being dominated by a large marina filled with beautiful boats. At Algoma, route 42 swings inland, but if you have more time, we do suggest that you consider carrying on via county routes "U" and "S" (the county roads in Wisconsin are all designated with alphabetic characters rather than numbers). In either case, you will eventually wind up at Sturgeon Bay, Door County's major city. The county roads continue for some time along the Lake and offer some additional spectacular scenery.

On our way to CCC we stopped overnight in Sturgeon Bay.
Unfortunately, we didn't get assigned this room, but it was just across the hall!
Sunset acorss the canal at Sturgeon Bay.
Here is a monogramed rug at our hotel. The local folk said "SH" stood for "Stone Harbor" but we Sherlockians knew better!

BEING THERE!
Past the Peninsula golf course and through downtown Ephraim. The incredible view of Ephraim harbor and Green Bay from the main street (just across the street from Wilson's Ice Cream Parlor!).
And here is what we are looking for! The Waterbury Inn, the traditional home of the Canonical Convocation and Caper!

We got there early!
Since we were co-hosts of the CCC reunion, we had to arrive early to help pass conference packets out to each of the attendees' rooms.
Resting after serving the attendees' with their convention materials. Clockwise starting with Paul Smedegaard (back toward the camera), Joel Senter,Carolyn Senter, Fred Levin and Sunnie Levin, (photo courtesy Henry Zecher).

The Program of Events!

Friday, Sept. 7.
     7:00 PM: Opening remarks by the registrar and introduction of the CCC Master of Ceremonies, Joel Senter

     7:30 PM: Canonical "Dr. IQ" with Tony Cetera

     8:15 PM: David Hammer "Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes"

     8:45PM: George Vanderburgh "The Sage of Sauk City"

     9:00PM: Some Awards (Don Izban)

     9:15PM: Gerry Kaufmann toasts The Canon followed by the traditional CCC Pizza Party (with beer!)

    11:00PM: Benediction by Joel Senter

Saturday, September 8
    10:00 AM: Nancy Wroble "Tea Talk"

    10:45AM: Introduction to the 2001 Sherlockathon!

     11:00AM: Sherlockathon Begins!

        4:00PM: Sherlockathon Ends (turn in entires to the Master of Ceremonies

Dinner Break

         8:00PM: Henry Zecher's Famous William Gillette Lecture and Slide Show

          9:00PM: Coffee Klatch

Sunday, September 9
     10:00AM: Assembly for Awards

      10:15AM: Canonical "Who Wants to be a Millionaire!"

      10:45AM: Some Awards and Presentations

       11:15AM: Benediction and Adjournment

       

 

The CCCers pay undivided attention!

As

CCC "Regularae," Don Izban, introduces CCC Master of Ceremonies, Joel Senter

Then

 

Tony Cetera enacted the exacting role of "Dr. IQ."

Dr. George Vanderburgh, eminent Sherlockian, Master Bootmaker, and prolific publisher presents Don Izban with his royality check from the sale of Izban's "Sherlock Holmes Visits a Cemetery!" The amount of the check was not revealed, but it was reputed to have at least one digit to the left of the decimal point!

Tom and Jan Biblewski publishers of the Baker Street Dispatch (left)

Cincinnati's Steve and Barbara Winter attending CCC for the first time. (right)

 

 

Left to right: Paul Smedegaard (Wisconsin); Gael Stahl (Tennessee); Dr. George Vanderburgh (Canada)

Izban (background) poses with the Jerry Kaufmann (in baseball cap) team - the proud winners of the 2001 Sherlockathon!!


Upper Left: Joel Senter pretending to be the Master of Ceremonies; Upper Right: Gayle Simnick shows off her Sherlockian award; Bottom Left: Nancy Wroble presents her most informative "Tea Talk;" Bottom Right: Henry Zecher prepares for his famous William Gillette lecture and slide show:

Benediction
(Courtesy of Fred Levin)

Dear Lord
As we prepare to leave this place, let us remember the good times we had here, the good friends we made here, and the man who brought us all together. Help us to believe sincerely That Sir Hugo really was killed by a devilish hound, That a carbuncle can really be blue That as long as you take the third cab you are always safe That dogs do nothing in the night time, That snakes can hear whistles and that they really drink mild And that Mrs. Watson would really tolerate the amount of time her Husband spent away from home More Important, Watch over us Give us safe journeys home and keep us in good health so that we might all meet again.

Extras
Barbara and Steve Winter join Don Izban for breakfast (Joel Senter in the background).
At Al Johnson's famous Door County Restaurant.
One of the things that makes Al Johnson's famous is the sod roof growing grass and the goats on the roof grazing on it! This is always a "show stopper" for camera buffs.
Don Izban explains everything to us while at breakfast at Al Johnson's. The brilliant, lovely and talented Carolyn can be seen in this photo (Remind us to tell you the story about Izban, the waitress, and the US Senator.)
Gordon Shriver and Rich Vitaris from Atlanta strool down the picturesque street in nearby Fish Creek.
Celebrities at Dinner. Clockwise left to right: Audry Hammer, David Hammer, Barbara Herbert, Paul Herbert, Mary Ann , Mike Whelan, Henry Zecher, Carolyn Senter (back to camera) (Joel Senter, non-celebrity, taking the photo).

The living legend, Henry Zecher, world renowned expert on William Gillette, prepares to participate in the Dartmoor Open Golf Tournment!

 

And, if you haven't had a Door County "Fish Boil" you have missed something!

Here's what they do at a fish-boil

Out behind the restaurant there is a big, black kettle filled with water. Folks interested in partaking gather around as a wood fire brings the water to a boil and a "tour guide" explains the history of the Door County fish-boil. Next, potatoes are dumped into the boiling water, then onions, and finally, fine Lake Michigan whitefish tops off the kettle. When the fish have been boiling about ten minutes, an attendant comes out and finishes the ritual by dumping a small can of kerosene on the fire which, in turn, responds with a gigantic "whooosh" and flames shooting heavenward. This makes the water boil rapidly spilling over and taking the accumulated unappetizing fish oils, which have risen to the surface, with it. The fish, potatoes, and onions are then ladled out, hungry patrons grab their plates and the feast is on! If you are ever in Door County (and we have never seen a fish-boil anyplace else), we suggest that you partake of a fish-boil. It is great even if you don't particularly like fish! The show is worth the visit!

So, farewell to the 2001 Canonical Convocation and Caper reunion! If you were there, you know what a great time it was! If you weren't there, you missed a good one! Perhaps there will be another CCC one day so we can all join in!!