My friends - I want to stop by on this New Year's Eve and pass along my wishes for all of our subscribers to enjoy a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year. This past year has been a rough one in many ways with natural disasters as well as personal ones for many people. We can hope that 2006 will be a better experience. I also will give an update on the numbers associated with a possible JP genealogical conference in the summer of 2006. As of now, 44 individuals have responded as being interested in attending such an event, if it should occur. Our goal is at least 100, since a number under that plateau would not be sufficient to warrant all of the planning and preparatory work necessary. We have, I am sure, a number of our subscribers who are away on holiday, or necessarily tied up with family gatherings at this time. We'll extend the time frame for interested parties to let me know of their interest to January 10th. Should the conference "make", planning and preparation will have to start immediately thereafter. I also have received a number of questions, which I have answered in each case by private response to the inquirer, but I will repeat them here, as others may be interested in the answers to the questions: Q: Is there any speculated time in the summer when the event might be held? A: The time most frequently mentioned in the 2000 questionnaires was late July or very early August, so that is a possibility. Q: Are the only people who can attend subscribers to the maill lists you host? A: No. Anyone with an interest in Jackson Purchase genealogy/history(including those with an interest in the TN portion of the JP region)are welcome to attend. Q: Can family members of subscribers also attend? A: Absolutely, and, in the 2000 conference, they were wonderful links to an earlier generation and were delightful to have with us. Q: What sort of fees do the nationally known speakers charge? A: It varies considerably, but generally, between $300 and $500, plus transportation, lodging and meals. Q: Could someone from each county's genealogical/historical society give a short presentation of what resources they have available in their counties and where to find and access them? A: We would try to put this sort of presentation together. It was mentioned in the 2000 questionnaires as a possibility for the next conference. Q: Will there be genealogical book vendors present again? A: Probably a few. Q: Can a family have a surname table at the conference, as was done in the 2000 event? A: We would expect to be able to do the same thing this next time. Q: Will there be a Planning Committee as we had in 2000? A: Yes, if the conference reaches the needed attendee plateau, I will be calling for volunteers for this purpose. Those are the questions I have received so far, and I will continue to post and answer others as they come in. I will keep the lists posted on a daily basis in this subject area. ~~~~~~~~ And now, as we usher in the New Year, let us look back to the 19th century, and a group known as Father Kemp & His Old Folks, who presented songs of that era and earlier. A descendant brought this material to light recently. The program always closed with Father Kemp's slightly altered version of Auld Lang Syne, which seems very appropriate for those us who spend our mental energy peering through the mists of time, to know and honor our forbears. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind; Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And songs of auld lang syne? To sing the songs our fathers sang In days of auld lang syne We've passed through many varied scenes, Since youths' unclouded day; And Friends and hopes and happy dreams Time's hand hath swept away. And voices that once joined with ours, Are silent now and blend no more In songs of auld lang syne. Yet ever has the light of song Illumed our darkest hours, And cheered us on life's toilsome way, And gemmed our path with flowers; The sacred songs our fathers sang, Dear songs of auld lang syne; The hallowed songs our fathers sang In days of auld lang syne. Here we have met, here we may part, To meet on earth no more; And we may never sign again The cherished songs of yore; 'The sacred songs our fathers sang In days of auld lang syne; We may not meet to sing again The songs of auld lang syne. But when we've crossed the sea of life, And reached the heavenly shore, We'll sing the songs our fathers sang, Transcending those of yore; We'll meet to sing diviner strains Than those of auld lang syne; Immortal songs of praise, unknown In days of auld lang syne. ~~~~~~~~~~ -B ====================================================================