TIS is pleased announce the vendors’ area will be open to the public from approximately 2p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, with all vendors present. There is a $5 fee to visit the vendors’ large display area, payable at our convention registration desk for those not attending the convention.  Registered convention attendees will have other opportunities as well over the weekend for visiting the vendors’ room.  An unprecedented number of the East Coast’s premiere nautical memorabilia dealers are present this year- an opportunity no collector should miss!

Titanic International Society convention registration deadline has now been extended to Tuesday, April 29. This applies to convention registration AND hotel reservations.

David Hume, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Ship Society, Port of New York Branch will present a power point presentation on the restoration of the Nomadic after the Saturday night banquet. Mr, Hume will also be displaying items for sale in the vendors’ space.

It is with profound sadness that TIS trustees have learned of the passing of Lusitania survivor, Barbara McDermott. Mrs. McDermott was a special guest of honor at TIS conventions in 2003 in Newport and 2004 in Groton, Connecticut, and enjoyed meeting many members and guests.  A public memorial service at the Old Stone Church, 251 Main Street, East Haven will be held Tuesday morning at 11:30 a.m.

The following is a short biography of this amazing lady who brought all who knew her such joy. Hers was a remarkable life.

She booked passage on the Lusitania for her and Barbara for it’s May 1, 1915 voyage. Her husband was unable to join them due to work, but took them to the Cunard pier in New York City. Barbara, almost three years old, had scant memories of the fateful voyage.

“I remember standing beside my mother at the rail looking back at all the people on the pier. I tried to find my father in the crowd, but could not see him. I imagine he was there. The cabin we were in had the type of beds that were one on top of another. Our table was on the upper half of the charming dining saloon. It was a table for two and right by the railing. It also faced the corridor. Following lunch, on May 7, I got out of my chair and stood next to my mother and looked down through the railing at all those people having lunch at the long tables. Then the torpedo struck.”

Her mother’s account described a man who carried Barbara upstairs to the boat deck for her. This was Assistant Purser, William Harkness, who also helped lower the lifeboats and esaped with Mrs. Anderson and her daughter in boat 15. No sooner did the lifeboat begin to row away, the Lusitania began rolling over and sinking at the same time. The funnels shot out water and soot that covered the occupants of the lifeboat. Her only other memory was sitting facing her mother and being of the impression that they were lost as they were drifting about for a long time. They were eventually brought to Queenstown (now Cobh) Ireland and from there made their way to Darlington England. Her mother gave birth to a boy, Frank, in September 1915. The child lived till March 1916. Emily Anderson died March 22, 1917 of a TB related illness. It was blamed on her exposure in the open lifeboat.

Barbara continued to live in England till 1919, when her father sent for her. She arrived on the Lusitania’s sister ship, Mauretania on Christmas 1919. She settled back in Connecticut and was raised by her father and stepmother. Following her graduation, she married and worked for W.T. Grant department store. When it closed her final job was at the cemetery office in East Haven.

She did not speak about the sinking of the Lusitania until later in life. She often said, “No one believed me!”

She has granted numerous television and newspaper interviews in the past ten years and spoke at the Titanic International Society conventions in Newport, RI and Mystic, CT. Titanic International Society trustee Mike Poirier said about Barbara, “She will not be remembered just as a survivor of the Lusitania sinking, but as a dear friend.”

Best Wishes for smooth sailing, good weather, and happy convention memories from your

TIS friends on the other side of the Great Pond!

When is the deadline to register for the 2008 convention?

April 21st is the posted date for registrations to be submitted, as a courtesy to planners and hotel staff. Please make every effort to get the registration in by this date.

How long will the hotel hold special TIS Convention room rates?

Hotel Booking Rates are being held for TIS until April 28th.

What is the best way to register at the hotel?

Registration can be made by calling the hotel booking line at 1-800-381-9553 and asking for the special TIS rate, or call the hotel front desk directly, or fax the hotel directly at /Hotel Front Desk: 1-201-348-6900 | Hotel Fax: 1-201-3481407

Can I register online for the convention?

Yes!  If you have a Paypal account, registration may be paid using Paypal.  Paypal will convert any foreign currency into U.S. dollars. payment@titanicinternationalsociety.org is the Paypal address for sending funds. If you choose to do all registration online, don’t forget to answer the information required on the registration flyer (found at the upper right hand corner of this page).  This can be done in an email and it includes name, address, telephone, names of all attending, choice of entree for the banquet for each attendee, and choice of event options. Make a copy of the printable pdf. file to make sure you have answered all questions, then email your information to Robertbrac@aol.com  Please do not send any convention information to the TIS website address.

What is the best bargain option?

The total convention option will save $25 over the a la carte individual event pricing. This includes banquet, cocktail party, bus tour of Manhattan, registration fee, all lectures and presentations, auction, and any other scheduled events.  This does not include cash bar, hotel room, taxes,or  internet connection service in rooms.

Please visit the PAGES section in the upper right hand corner to see entree choices for the Saturday night banquet and menu for the Friday evening cocktail party and speaker’s programme.

It is with great pleasure that TIS announces that Dan Mansolino and Al Wilhelmi will be joining us in the vendor room for the convention weekend.  Both gentlemen go way back to TIS days in Philadelphia at some of our first conventions.  Great to have you both back aboard!

Having troubles with the 800 number?  You can call or FAX direct to make or confirm your convention hotel reservation and have questions answered by desk staff.  

Crowne Plaza Hotel
SECAUCUS-MEADOWLANDS

Hotel Front Desk: 1-201-348-6900 | Hotel Fax: 1-201-3481407

“On February 11, 2008, the chairman of the Ocean Liner Council of the South Street Seaport Museum announced that John P. Eaton and Charles Haas will be the next Silver Riband Award Recipients.  The award ceremony will be held at the museum on October 18, 2008 at 2 p.m.  A special exhibit of Titanic artifacts culled from the museum’s collection will be assembled for this program”.

It is the desire of the Ocean Liner Council to celebrate and recognize the life’s work of John P. Eaton and Charles Haas and their long dedication to the perpetual history of the R.M.S. Titanic.  Their scholarship, authorship of numerous periodicals and books, and significant enthusiasm for continuing exhibits, lectures and research, sets them apart in the realm of great ocean liner history.

“Previous recipients include Frank Braynard, Hisashi Noma, Bill Miller, Commodore Ronald Warwick, and John Maxtone-Graham”.