FLARE’s First National Conference, First Lady Betty Ford: 50th Anniversary Celebration is on April 26 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our conference is being held in partnership with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and American University’s School of Public Affairs.
The half-day conference begins at 2:15 pm eastern dst. It features two panels: a panel on Mrs. Ford’s leadership as a First Lady, and a panel on the historic 1984 conference, the first-ever on First Ladies, convened by Mrs. Ford. Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States and FLARE member, will welcome guests in a special video presentation along with welcomes from Gleaves Whitney, the Executive Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and me on behalf of FLARE. Other speakers include FLARE members Susan Ford Bales, Brooke Clement, Diana Carlin, Stacy Cordery, Myra Gutin, Lisa McCubbin Hill, Alison Jacknowitz, Anita McBride, and special guest Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld,
The conference is an important milestone for FLARE as we approach our three-year anniversary, and continue to provide groundbreaking offerings that support our mission and vision to promote research and education of the important legacies of U.S. First Ladies.