An excerpt from the Dick Eastman's Newsletter Jan 16,2000 - An Internet Homecoming Last year Cheryl Adams had an idea. She decided to have a Danville Crossing Homecoming. Cheryl is a county coordinator for TnGen Web on Stewart, and Dickson Counties, Tennessee. Danville Crossing is an email list and web site that encompasses Benton, Houston, Henry, Humphreys, Stewart and Dickson Counties (Tennessee). With the blessings of list manager Dave Snow, Cheryl decided to explore the idea of a "homecoming." That is, an event publicized online but held in person in the counties covered by the mailing list. Cheryl started the publicity online and was rewarded with a lot of interest. In fact, many people did travel to the "homecoming." Cheryl reports: The interest was amazing. We met in June of 1999. We had booksellers, games, drawing, silent auction, antiques display, volunteers with PC's and regional information packets. Historical and Genealogical Societies of these counties were represented. Folks went to cemeteries, historical and genealogical meetings, libraries, courthouses and homeplaces during the day. In the late afternoon and evening hours we met at the Paris Landing Lodge Resort Park at Buchanan, Tennessee for more info swapping. On Saturday evening we had an awards banquet and it was a great success. We had 120 people in attendance, from coast to coast. It was agreed that we wanted to meet again. That is where you come in. We are meeting again on June 22, 23 and 24, 2000. We are having guest speakers and seminars added to the evening meetings and they will be informative and entertaining. The banquet will be held again on Saturday but the exact time and cost are not set at this point. This was more than just a few Internet folks gathering... it was a happening. I know the potential for this to become a real presence in the Tennessee Genealogical Community is real and the need is there. With your assistance I can continue to make this grow to its potential. It strikes me that such homecoming events could bring together internet communities with most any common interest. In addition to residents of a common area, we might imagine gatherings of families or surname groups whose only contact has been through email lists or websites. The web has already helped dispersed people reunite through cyberspace; perhaps such creative events will bring families still closer in the future. For information about the Danville Crossing You can contact Cheryl Adams directly at: [email protected] Listowner: [email protected] and [email protected] Listowner: [email protected] County coordinator TNGenWeb http://www.rootweb.com/~tndickso/index.htm