The bad news is next month’s annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference won’t be in person because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is the virtual format will allow speakers from virtually all over the world.
The Oct. 21-24 conference is called “A Worldwide Celebration of Route 66,” with speakers from all eight of the route’s states and several foreign countries. Tickets for the virtual event are $49.99 and are available here. Those who register before Oct. 1 will be eligible for the giveaway of an Illinois Route 66 sign. (Editor’s note: The conference is an advertiser with Route 66 News.)
The event begins with a Thursday evening virtual Happy Hour to meet and greet people from around the globe! Friday. The celebrity masters of ceremonies are Jim Hinckley and Joe Sonderman. ROUTE Magazine editor Brennen Matthews will present the keynote speech on Friday morning, followed by these speakers:
- Bill Thomas (Illinois), The Road Ahead Partnership – “Route 66 Centennial”;
- Casey Claypool (Illinois), Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway – “Extraordinary Women Initiative”;
- Toshi Goto (California and Japan), Japanese Route 66 Association – “Traveling Route 66: Reality and Prospects for Japanese Travelers”;
- Heather Paxton (Missouri), author and journalist – “Researching The Harvey Girls”;
- 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 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 Bart and Denise Kimberley of Illinois and Mike and Jessica May of California.
Saturday’s slate of speakers:
- 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”;
- Liz Vincent (Illinois), Pontiac Tourism – “Invitation to Pontiac’s live event in October 2022.”
On Saturday evening, Ron Romero and Debyjo Ericksen will present “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, Clark and Sherry Meyer of InSites to Go will present a virtual Route 66 Revival Tour. Tickets for this tour are available here.
Organizers for the nonprofit Miles of Possibility Conference plan to have the 2022 event in person in Pontiac, Illinois.
(Logo for the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference courtesy of the event)
Alas, if only all of the COVIDIOTS had taken the pandemic seriously and gotten vaccinated — we’d all be in a much better place.