BLANKENBECKLER / GERMANNA COLONIES 2002 REUNION THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL REUNION TO BE HELD IN WILLOW SPRINGS, MISSOURI........ MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 26th and 27th SUNDAY and MONDAY 8 AM to 5 PM THE REUNION WILL BE IN THE CITY PARK AT THE PAVILION. Put this on your calendar and make your motel reservations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIAL UPDATE We are honored to have as our guest speaker this year at our Blankenbeckler Germanna Colonies Reunion, THOMAS FAIRCLOTH, President of the Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. You will find below a print of the message from Mr. Faircloth ; Dear Helen, Although the timing of your reunion is at the peak of my preparations for the annual Germanna Reunion held the third weekend in July, I feel this is a great opportunity for The Foundation to present itself to a large group of people who may not know of our existence. So I have set the Memorial Day weekend aside for travel to Missouri to attend your reunion. It may be that your speaker schedule is already set, and if so I understand, however, I would be happy to speak to the group about the Germanna Story and to tell about The Germanna Foundation if you need me to. I have prepared a 45-60 minute presentation that tells about the exciting adventure that our ancestors undertook nearly 300 years ago. It talks of the trip to the Colonies, and the Colonial experience, then tells the story of the migration west by our ancestors. I also would like to bring along copies of our books for sale to the attendees, along with membership forms. Of course part of my job with the Foundation is to increase the membership. We would like to have all of your family members belong to the Foundation. We will be happy to publicize the event in our bulletin, and if possible on our website. Thomas Faircloth, President Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. P. O. Box 693 Culpeper, Virginia 22701-0693 E-Mail: office@germanna.org <mailto:office@germanna.org> Web: www.germanna.org <http://www.germanna.org> Office: 540-423-1700 Fax: 540-423-1747 Visitor Center and Office: 2062 Germanna Highway, Locust Grove, VA 22508 Open to the Public:Tue - Sat Noon - 5 P.M. GERMANNA REUNION: July 19 - 21, 2002 Watch the website for information www.germanna.org <http://www.germanna.org> END OF THOM'S MESSAGE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 11:20 AM 02/09/2002 -0500, I sent this message to Paula Speraneo of West Plains, Missouri . Hi Paula, Our "Blankenbeckler/Germanna Colonies 2nd Reunion" will be held in Willow Springs on the 26th &27th of May this year. That is on a Sun & Mon. I have suggested to all who are thinking of attending that since most will be there on Sat. it would be a shame to waste that day & if there is enough interest we could meet & spend a couple of hours doing some research at the West Plains Library. Before doing that I called to make sure the library will be open that day & of course it will be. I would like to ask your permission to insert your response below into the next updated information that I send out to all our cousins that are attending the 2002 reunion. Regards, Helen hcast@dmv.com Paula's response; .As for your proposed "meet" on that Saturday, I'd bet if you had enough people coming and phoned Mrs. Wheeler, she might be able to have a Society volunteer there that day, as they used to open the old offices on occasion with prior arrangements. The volunteers, especially the older members, just have so much to offer in the way of personal memories.... not to mention their familiarity with the materials. Update on the South Central Missouri Genealogical Society holdings: All the Society's materials have been placed in the genealogy room at the West Plains Public Library, 750 Broadway, West Plains, MO 65775 phone 417-256-4775, email ctiques@townsqr.com <mailto:ctiques@townsqr.com> Hours for the library are 9-5 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9-6 on Tuesday and Saturday. I spoke with library personnel in late January, and there are Society volunteers there every Monday and Wednesday. Library personnel are there every day if you need help. All the materials have been logged into the library computer system, and materials seem to be expanding every month according to the SCMGS newsletters. Other than wishing that we could get a knowledgeable, "knows-everything-that's-gone-on-in-the-area-for-umpteen-years" Mary Ellen Wheeler or her clone there to work every day, I think the expanded hours are a great asset to those of us on irregular schedules, and especially for those who come in from out of town who wouldn't necessarily be able to access the records during the old hours. The SCMGS meets every other month beginning in January. Annual membership is $8 per individual or $10 per couple, and include a quarterly newsletter with free queries and surname listings. Requests for information or membership should be sent to: Mrs. M. E. Wheeler 1043 W 5th St. West Plains, MO Ph. 417 256-3966 Hope your reunion goes well. Paula (END OF PAULA'S MESSAGE) In the next few days you will receive a condensed form of the plan schedule plus other supporting information. Also, if you need help or questions answered contact me. That's why I'm here. I will do everything in my power to make this a pleasant trip for you. HELEN CAST hcast@dmv.com 310 PARK ROW SNOW HILL, MARYLAND 21863 hcast@dmv.com hcast@dmv.com