All,

Those of you into Edgar Allan Poe.there is a special treat if you come to this year's symposium. The famous poet is celebrating his 200th birthday this year. He lived in Baltimore for several years and died and was buried in the city. And there is a Poe Museum at the Baltimore house he lived in before his death.

The year-long commemoration of Poe will culminate with a recreation of his funeral that occurs around the Symposium dates. Poe died on October 7, 1849. There will be a recreation of a wake for Poe from noon to 11 pm at the Poe House. This will be followed up with a mock-funeral for Poe on Sunday October 11 (12:30 and 4:30). John Astin (Gomez Addams from the Addams family fame) will officiate the funeral services.

If you want more information on this, go to the following web sites:

www.nevermore2009.com

www.poebicentennial.com

www.annabelleetavern.com This "all Poe" tavern was named after one of Poe's last poems.a virtual shrine to Edgar Allan Poe with his poetry covering the walls.

www.westminsterhall.org Where he is buried.and where a mystery man dresses in black leaves a bottle of cognac and three red roses on Poe's birthday.

If you didn't know it before, now you know why the Baltimore Football team is called the Ravens...

73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO 2009 AMSAT Symposium Co-Chair