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Heather and I are sitting in the main conference room of the Hickory Convention Center, getting ready to listen to the kick-off session. Here are my notes:

• First time since 1953 to meet west of US-77!
• Theme: “Telling our story”
• Several awards, names, involved people, were named.
• North Carolina Poet Laureate Katherine Stripling Byer
  • Read a poem about her library
• David Holt grammy winner
  • Played music
  • Told stories
  • Pointed out it’s important for the library to collect others’ stories as well as our own
  • Collecting strong images about ourselves can be powerful outreach
  • Strong images, something that happens: these types of stories move people

• Fun and entertaining opening to the conference!