In my first segment:  http://distributistparty.bravejournal.com/archive/09/25/2009

  I talked about my first day in Minnesota..Saturday, got up and got on my new suit and was rather hot.

It was unseasonal and in the 80’s. I drove my compact rental to the college I had staked out and surveyed the night prior. I saw a few fellows standing to the left of what I perceived was the great hall (would find out shortly it was the new Church, the old with its lovely wood work and windows is no the Great Hall).

I got talking to them and found out that the science building was the meeting place. We got talking and I felt immediately at home talking to people that felt the way I did! Distributists.

Shortly, I heard a rather familiar voice, one that I had heard on youtube broadcasts on Chesterton…yes, it was Dale Ahlquist himself.I introduced myself to him and tried to make my self useful with displays and any help..But as I was starting to meet and greet, another voice was recognizeable, British-Joseph Pearce!. Very soon, other heroes would filter in-including John Medialle, author and contributor to the The Distributist Review

I would invite you to watch the videos I recorded from that day for the speeches: 

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EATEN+ALIVE+CONFERENCE&search_type=&aq=f

But will continue with my experiences, I quickly set up my video camera and sat in the back. Intermittently Dale and others speakers would perch near me. It was a long day, but I barely noticed the time as great speaker after great speaker took the podium each followed by some Q&A. We then had lunch and settled in for more talks.

I wound up talking to 3 fellows on my way to the lunch hall and only when we  were getting in line I noticed that one was Michael Matt of the Remnant. One of his companions noted he had attended the college and was our tour guide after lunch, touring the beautiful campus.

Each was featuring different parts of Catholic Social Teaching. Each one had a wealth of experience and insights into CST. We then ajounred for dinner. Walking by the new Church, its brooding and dark, it reminded me of the large, bland buildings of Hitler’s Reich.

The reception, on the other hand, was held in the middle of the old church.Still in place were the beautiful wood floors and walls, artwork and stain glass windows.

(see http://distributistparty.viviti.com/#image;collection_23836,/files/resized/15946/700;500;c9ce4f9547f4052d755b72598dcd42a143ed52fc.jpg)

As it would turn out, on our way to the dining hall, roughly were the old sacristy was, I got talking to Robert Hanten and wound up sitting next to him and at the main table.I aksed Dale if he minded and he said no.I settled into to wonderful dinner buffet and a speech by Dale. He is working right now on getting a mster database of Chesterton's writings and search engine.Also, he recently wentto the Library of Congress and found several lost Chesterton writings that he will in the future reveal. He read a few select pieces that were excellant and sadly, I did not get most of it on video.

After a tiring and hot day, I was exhausted.I was able to get in a picture with Joseph Pearce and speak a few minutes more with an equally tired John Medialle and then back to my hotel room.

I did take a detour to the hotel lobby to try to get my airline information in order, but after a few failed attempts, I was exhausted.It did not take me long to go to bed, once I packed everything back up and got my plans in order to attend Mass downtown St.Cloud on my way out of town and to the airport.

(last installation coming soon, as is my pictures-some glitches still)