Looking Ahead

As the new year gets off to an icy start here at Andalusia, it doesn't take a fortune teller to see that there are many exciting changes and events in store for 2014.  This year marks the 50th anniversary of Flannery O'Connor's death and in commemoration of that event the next international conference on Flannery O'Connor will be held at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland July 24-26.  For more information on the conference click  here.  Closer to home, Georgia College will be hosting a National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored seminar, Reconsidering Flannery O'Connor, July 2-29.  Presenters include Robert Brinkmeyer, Gary Ciuba, Doreen Fowler, Brad Gooch, Christina Bieber Lake, and Virginia Wray.  For more information please contact Marshall Bruce Gentry (478-445-6928) or nehoconnor@gmail.com.  You can also go to their website for more details. We are all looking forward to the January 26 gala at the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta to celebrate the publication of Flannery O'Connor's A Prayer Journal.  Special thanks to Andalusia Board member, Helen Collins, for all her hard work in organizing this event.  It should be quite an evening.  The following Sunday our much anticipated February Lecture series gets underway with a reading from poet David Huddle.  As with all events at Andalusia, this lecture is free and open to the public.  Perhaps the biggest event happening this year occurs next Monday when our new Executive Director, Elizabeth Wylie, assumes her post. I am pleased to report that Elizabeth got out of Boston before yesterday's blizzard and is now in Milledgeville getting settled into her new home.  I know you will all join me in welcoming her to Andalusia and wishing her all the best.

- Mark