January 31 – We’re back from Sarasota. All went fabulously well.  We’ll soon post some of the many positive comments we’ve gotten from those who attended. Thanks to all who produced and attended the Civil War symposium, the Ed Bearss Florida History Tour, the World War I conference and the World War II conference. And CLICK HERE for a retrospective that Bob wrote about the first 20 years of the Sarasota Civil War Symposium. In the meantime, we’re already counting the days until we hit the beach again – on January 23, 2013!

January 16 – We head south today for our Sarasota, Florida Military History Festival, a four-part endeavor that includes an unprecedented array of top historians:

• the 20th Annual Sarasota Civil War Symposium, January 18-21 - with William C. “Jack” Davis, Edwin C.  Bearss, Joseph T. Glatthaar, Harold Holzer, Robert K. Krick, David E. Long, John F. Marzalek, Richard M. McMurry, James I. “Bud” Robertson, Charles P. Roland, Jeffry D. Wert and Frank. J. Williams
• the Ed Bearss Florida History Tour, to sites in and around St. Augustine, January 22-24
• the National World War I Conference, January 25  - with Robert J. Dalessandro, Ed Bearss, Carlo D’Este, Edward G. Lengel, Erin Mahan, and Jerry D. Morelock
• the 7th Annual Sarasota World War II Conference, January 25 (PM) - 28 – with Robert J. Dalessandro, Robert F. Baumann, Harold Baumgarten, Ed Bearss, Ron Bushaw, Roger Cirillo, Carlo D’Este, Bruce Gamble, Rob Havers, Erin Mahan, Darren Moran, Jerry Morelock and Craig L. Symonds, 

If you wish to attend any of these stellar programs, please review the detailed information by clicking through where shown in the 2012 Calendar section of this site – then just show up and enroll at Sarasota. If you can’t be there, follow the progress of the events (to some degree) on our Civil War Education Association Facebook page. But if you can, join us in Sarasota for all or any part of these adventures – it will be warm, fun and incredibly informative - and you should be a part of it!

January 5 – MAPS – Read below a message we received from Hal Jespersen. And click on the link below to his website to see a remarkable collection of free Civil War maps and to learn about cartography services he offers.  Hal writes:

“Over the years, I have created hundreds of free Civil War maps, but recently I started doing it as a modest business. I drew maps for eight commercial history projects in 2011. For 2012, I have developed a number of new techniques and can produce attractive, accurate maps at reasonable prices. I have created a new website with some of my portfolio and a description of my services (along with all
the free maps): http://www.cwmaps.com

If you or someone you know is working on a Civil War project for a book, magazine, or website, I would appreciate a referral. Thanks! And I hope to see you on a Civil War battlefield in 2012.”

January 4 – Our annual Year in Review Report will be posted on this site after we return from our four Sarasota, Florida based programs – we’ll post the report around mid-February. The report is a bit more of a project than usual, as it will review not just 2011 but our first 20 years as an organization (just completed) – the Memorable Moments section alone will be a bear.

Several of you have expressed concerns that Frank Stouter will be excessively, even brutally, pilloried in this upcoming report. So here is the truth on that: what we will say about Frank will

December 30  Here it is, 5 1/2 months early: the menu for the sumptuous Saturday night, June 16 dinner at the home of Roger & Lynn Heller in Gettysburg during our 7th Annual All-Star Tour of Gettysburg, June 15-17, 2012 – a meal to be gifted and prepared by our own master-chef and benefactor, Paul Dorsette:

• Mini Maryland Crab Cake appetizer
• Pulled Pork Barbecue
• Smoked Brisket of Beef
• Homemade Cole Slaw
• Homemade Potato Salad
• Southern Greens
• Rolls
• Various Home-Made Desserts
• Iced tea, water, soda, beer, wine, etc.

We just wanted you to know.

December 26 – Our Early Bird Discount Offer continues for a few more days – until December 31. Act now to SAVE 20% on most of our 2012 tours. See our 2012 Calendar on this site, and Register online – or call us at 800-298-1861 this week to sign up. If you mail out a check or call in a credit card this week you will SAVE 20%. From a marketing stand point, we’ll never come close to Omaha Steaks - get on their e-mail list and you’ll be forever bombarded with magnificent photos of prime steaks and succulent seafood – and promises of exotic savings such as 67% one day, and maybe 59% + free shipping the next. Meanwhile, we just plod along with our simple Early Bird 20% offer. Now if you want to send us some steaks and seafood this Happy Holiday Season, go to www.omahasteaks.com. At least, take a gander at the pretty pictures. How can we match those - with photos of Bob Krick playing shuffleboard at Sarasota?

December 24 - MERRY CHRSTMAS !

December 14 – The Early Bird Discount Offer – 20% Off of the registration fees for most of our 2012 programs - continues in effect only until December 31. On our 2012 Calendar compare the regular fees and the discounted fees. Then proceed to REGISTRATION to enroll and SAVE - or call us at 800-298-1861 to enroll for those programs which don’t yet click through to REGISTRATION. Plan now to join us for a very exciting 2012 season!

December 2 – How about a Gift Certificate for $20, $30, $40, $50, $75 – whatever amount – for your spouse, parent, child, grandchild, friend?

It’s easy to get it done – here’s how – call us at 800-298-1861 or send us an e-mail to cwea@earthlink.net, and let us know:

• to whom should the certificate be addressed
• what greeting would you like – e.g.: Merry Christmas, Sarah – from Your Loving Husband, Eric
• amount of the certificate
• mailing address to send
• any other special instructions

We’ll send the certificate promptly – overnight if needed (at our expense) – and bill you for the amount of the certificate – settle up after the first of the year if it suits you.
This gift will certainly beat a tie, or a box of chocolates!

November 29 – We have put up the posts for three more tours:

• Lee Moves North in 1862, with Scott Patchan and Mike Priest – April 26-29 - including tours of Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Harpers Ferry, South Mountain and Antietam – this one is a real meat & potatoes offering
• Beyond Gettysburg: The Confederate Approach to Harrisburg in 1863 – August 11. This one should appeal to those who wish to expand on their knowledge of the Gettysburg Campaign, and who like to visit lesser-known Civil War sites. The two faculty leaders are perfect for this one.
• Embedded with the Troops: Following James Taylor as He Sketches the Valley in 1864 – October 4-7 - an artistic tour-de-force to be sure – see the 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign through the eyes of the great artist James Taylor.

To read about these exciting tours, click-through from the 2012 Calendar link.

November 21 - Donald A. Weiland, of Lexington, Ohio, died on November 19, 2011. He was 75 years old.

Don was one of the most-beloved members of the CWEA. Many of you will know him as the grandfather and mentor of Zack Fry, the young man who has rapidly developed into a history scholar and an outstanding Gettysburg tour leader.

Don, with his wife Dorie, was the recipient of the CWEA's Spirit of Gettysburg Award, presented in Gettyburg on September 3, 2011. Don's home away from home was always Gettysburg - and it is perhaps befitting that the date of his passing is the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

Cards of condolence can be sent to The Weiland Family, 299 Sherwood Drive, Lexington, OH 44906

November 16 – Our 2011 tour season – our 20th - is now complete. Over the past 20 years we have presented 452 seminars, symposia and tours. How time flies – and our 21st season begins at 7:00 PM, January 18, with the 20th Anniversary Presentation of the Sarasota Florida Civil War Symposium – featuring a faculty of historians as good as any ever assembled! See the program info in the 2012 Calendar section. Why don’t you join us in Sarasota?

November 13 – The post for June’s Great Cities of American History: Baltimore tour is now up. More 2012 tour descriptions will be posted this week. Meanwhile, the Early Bird Discount Offer continues – it runs through December 31.

We’ve put up some more book reviews by Mike Wolf. Click through on the Book Reviews button.

Holiday Gift Certificates for Seminars/Tours are available and ready to ship. See the info inside the 2012 Calendar section – at the very top.

November 11, 2011 - We Thank and Salute Our Veterans.

November 9 – We have posted up the program description for the Great Cities: Savannah and Beaufort tour in November, 2012. You should like this one!

Meanwhile, the Early Bird Discount Offer continues until December 31 – see the programs and discount prices on the 2012 Calendar section of this website.

November 8 – We’ve added programs descriptions for more of the tours: Shiloh, All-Star Gettysburg, the Sullivan Campaign, Greene versus Cornwallis and Gettysburg Day 2 – with more to follow.  

Last weekend’s Columbia, Spring Hill and Franklin tour, led by Eric Jacobson, was superb. There are a bunch of pictures of the tour on our FACEBOOK page. From your own FB page, search Civil War Education Association/American History Forum, and click us on as a LIKE.

Our 2011 Year-in-Review report will be along soon. We have just completed our 20th year, and will take a walk down memory lane. There is a lot to say, but we’ll try to keep it reasonably short – the Memorable Moments of the first 20 years, though, may hold your attention. As always - Stay Tuned.

November 5 – Our 2012 Calendar has now been posted. We are putting up the various program descriptions and click-throughs to the Registration section so that you can enroll online and take advantage of the 20% Early Bird Discount Offer, good until December 31. As of 9:45 AM, full descriptions are up for the Chattanooga, Valley of Death at Gettysburg, Sullivan Campaign and Vicksburg tours. More will follow shortly.