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Newsletter>
Good News and Bad News.......
February 17, 2009
As time has rolled on since my idea in Dec. 2005, it is with deep regrets that I have made the decision to put the reunion off this year, for a number of reasons. Let's plan on 2010.
First and foremost I feel the need to apologize for all those that I have not made personal contact with in the last six months or so. I would have made contact within a day or so of any question or query back then.
I was not working for a living at the time, but at the same time putting anywhere between 12 and 18 hours a day into getting this off the ground. At this point in my life, I am at work by 6 am and not home until 7 pm just about every day. Needless to say with the hours that I put in, I have had little to no time to concentrate on the reunion as much as I would love to do. I have made many attempts to coordinate a place in which to have this, with no help from one whom I was depending upon.
1. The economy is one of the major concerns of having the reunion this year. It is my hope that not many or any of you have been effected by the recent events e.g., economy, fires, wind storms, ice storms, loss of employment. It is the worse I have seen in my lifetime. I just turned 50 last week.
2. Many people volunteered their services when I tossed my idea out there. Since then, there has been very few that have made contact time and again to show their support. I have worked to break down committees in which there needs to help this get off the ground. These are not diffinative, just a foundation of ideas that I have been working on. Maybe this way, you will be able to see yourself doing it and having alot of satisfaction when it comes to fruition. The areas of need are:
A. Historical Societies: NEGHS, etc.
B. Family Name - Societies, Organizations, Associations: Walter Palmer Society, Thomas Minor...
C. Visitors Bureaus, Tourism Boards, Chamber of Commerce: in Connecticut and Rhode Island
D. Transportation: buses, shuttle services, boats...
E. Location of Events: Main events, lunches, dinners...
F. Advertising: online & in print, major newspapers...
G. Lodging: all local hotels, motels, casino, camp grounds...
H. Food & Catering:
I. Cemeteries & Churches: there are many...
J. "Famous" name families: Gallup - George Gallup of the Gallup poll, The Baldwin brothers - acting family....
K. Corporate Sponsorship w/family name connections: Avery-Denison Co. - office products,
L. Entertainment:
M. Fundraising & Merchandising:
N. Reception/Sign In:
O. Set Up/ Clean Up:
P. Recorder: video, audio, news stations...
Q. Printing: tickets, programs...
I think that I have touched upon all the bases. If you don't feel so, please let me know.....I could use all the help I can get with getting this celebration off the ground. For all the aforesaid catagories, I have done my homework, I have more information for each. It will be just a mattter of a few more people to help coordinate a few areas and everyone will attend the most memorable event in their lifetimes, and could quite possibly be the largest genealogical-historical events in history.
I look forward to working with you and eventually meeting as many of you as possible in 2010!
Until then, all the best,
Donna
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