The Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites is pleased to announce that our 27^th Annual Meeting and Statewide Conference will convene at Sheppard Pratt Conference Center in Towson on Saturday, May 5. The day—beginning at 9 am until 3:30 pm—is planned to be educational, interesting, fun, and full of collegiality!

Morning sessions will feature Maryland experts eager to share their knowledge and experiences, and to engage with the audience.

First, a panel of local government preservation planners and archaeologists will showcase ways in which their Maryland counties have chosen to identify, protect, and preserve burial grounds in their jurisdictions …and not.  What laws are in place, and how are they practiced?  How do they handle situations involving burial grounds?  How do they keep track of cemeteries?  How do volunteers and advocates get involved?

Then, Glenn Wallace, advocate and project coordinator for a county cemetery survey currently in progress, will speak about documenting and mapping historic Maryland burial grounds. His experience with up-to-date technology shows how everyone can do this and then make information accessible to everyone.

Opportunities to present issues and discuss concerns at Open Forum are a regular feature of this gathering, as are a short business meeting, a delicious hot lunch, and a tombstone dessert.  Our silent auction and gift shop will be open for business.  Deserving volunteers will be honored with the coveted Periwinkle Award.  The day will conclude with a special tour of nearby historic Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Sheppard Pratt Conference Center is located on York Road in Baltimore County.  The facility is lovely, with plenty of parking.

Cost for the day is $50 per person for Coalition members, $55 for non-members. Please reserve your space by April 30.  Please pass this information onto colleagues, friends, and other interested Marylanders!